Ukrainian Day at Giants Stadium to feature festival, celebrities, sports, food and more (08/21/05)

Ukrainian Day at Giants Stadium to feature festival, celebrities, sports, food and more

by Danylo Peleschuk

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - On September 17 the Ukrainian American community of the tri-state area will witness what will surely be the largest single local Ukrainian festival to date, according to organizers.

That day, the Ukrainian Cultural Festival will be held at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The chairman of the Ukrainian Day Organizing Committee, Gene Chyzowych, said the festival will be held "to celebrate the renewal of democracy in Ukraine."

The all-day festival will feature an array of performances by bands, dance groups and vocalists. To add to the cultural flavor of the festival, various traditional Ukrainian foods will be offered for purchase. Food sold at the festival will be provided by the Soyuzivka resort, owned by the Ukrainian National Association.

Following the afternoon's festivities, which are to be held outside of the stadium, the Ukrainian American All-Star soccer team will face the NY/NJ Metrostars Reserve team in a match at 3:30 p.m. Immediately after the game, the Metrostars will play the New England Revolution in a regular-season game.

Guest celebrity appearances will be made by Olympic ice skating champion Oksana Baiul, along with Ukrainian boxing brothers Vitali and Volodymyr Klitschko. The special guests are scheduled to kick off both games, while both the American and Ukrainian national anthems are played.

The halftimes of both games will feature performances by dance troupes, along with the presentation of an award to the Klitchko brothers in recognition of the staunch patriotism they displayed during the Orange Revolution.

Mr. Chyzowych added that several other "VIPs" - whose identities will remain undisclosed until the festival - are expected to appear as well, adding a sense of greater importance to the celebration.

Following the soccer matches, the Ukrainian Engineers' Society of America will sponsor an end-of-the-summer dance, featuring Fata Morgana as the performing band. The post-festival bash will take place at the Ukrainian Center, 240 Hope Ave., in Passaic, NJ.

Admission to the festival will cost $26 (tickets must be purchased in advance). Proceeds will go to both local and international Ukrainian youth organizations. The goal of the committee is to satisfy the athletic needs of youths in Ukraine by providing them with necessary sports equipment.

Gates will open at noon, and parking will be available in the Giants Stadium lot. For tickets and further information, readers may call (973) 761-7500.

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