Toronto's Ukrainian Festival scheduled for August 27-29

TORONTO - Last year the Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival attracted over 250,000 attendees who enjoyed the fabulous food, music, dance and crafts, as well as a parade of floats, marching bands and colorful costumes.

Once again this year, the festival will showcase Ukrainian culture and demonstrate how it has become part of the fabric that is Toronto - marking over 111 years of contributions made by Canadians of Ukrainian heritage to Toronto's economic, social and cultural growth.

Jurij Klufas, chair of the Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival, emphasized: "We want to share our culture with the broader Canadian community and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the eighth Annual Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival."

The festival kicks off Friday, August 27, at 6 p.m. with the opening of the beverage and Ukrainian food gardens. The Festival stage comes to life at 7 p.m. with entertainment from Ukraine, Canada and the United States. There will also be a dance under the stars at Bloor and Jane streets to the great music of the Dunai Band.

On Saturday, August 28, the festival starts at 9 a.m. with a free breakfast for the first 1,000 people. A colorful parade of over 1,000 participants begins at 11 a.m. at High Park and travels along Bloor Street to Jane Street.

Sunday, August 29, offers a special treat - birds of prey - featuring owls, hawks and Eagles from Ukraine and other countries.

Through the sponsorship of The Ukrainian Credit Union Limited and Aerosvit Airlines, the festival will be headed by one of Ukraine's hottest rock bands - Okean Elzy. Also from Ukraine will be Anytchka. Other performers include Rusalka from Winnipeg; Hromovytsia from Chicago; the Kyiv Duo of Violin and Electric Piano from Windsor; rhythm and blues singer Suzie Vinnick; the Canadian Bandurist Cappella ;and bandurist Michael Kostowskyj. Also on the bill: ever popular dance groups such as Toronto's Desna, Ukraina and Vesnianka, and the modern dance company Silhouettes; Barvinok from Windsor; and Dunai from Niagara Falls.

Through the sponsorship of So-Use Credit Union and TD Bank, a Youth Stage will be a new addition to this annual festival, offering not only non-stop children's and youth entertainment but an evening street dance for the kids.

See the festival website www.ukrainianfestival.org for more details, or call the hotline at (416) 410-9965.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, August 8, 2004, No. 32, Vol. LXXII

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