"Khmel Zabava" rocks Wildwood during annual "Ukrainian Week"

by Adrian Horodecky

WILDWOOD CREST, N.J. - Hundreds of Wildwood beachgoers gathered at the Crest Pier Recreation Center for a night of dancing and fun. In only its third year, the "Khmel Zabava" has become an annual unifying event for the Ukrainian community in Wildwood. With the Hrim band providing live music, the dance floor was filled with kids of all ages dancing the night away to rock 'n roll and traditional Ukrainian music like the Kolomyika. Hrim rocked the house with an excellent performance.

The dance crowd spilled out beyond the deck and into the Crest Pier parking lot. The Khmelnychenky fraternity of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization anticipated the overwhelming turnout. In true Kozak style, the Khmeli provided a safe place for Ukrainians to uphold and celebrate their proud heritage.

The Khmel Zabava has become a yearly social combining a "Party for Ptashata" (preschoolers) and a "Teen Vechirka." It is traditionally held during what has become known as "Ukrainian Week" in Wildwood (the week before the week leading up to Labor Day weekend).

Proceeds of the event go toward two Plast campsites: Vovcha Tropa in East Chatham, N.Y., and Novyi Sokil in Buffalo, N.Y.

Pictures of the Khmel Zabava will soon be available for viewing in the Galleries section of www.xmel.org - the official website of the Khmelnychenky.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, September 10, 2006, No. 37, Vol. LXXIV

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