HORSHAM, Pa. – Tryzubivka’s festival grounds, sports pub, banquet hall and 40 beautiful acres of parks, streams, picnic groves, sports fields and other recreational facilities beckon to be a part of your Ukrainian summer.
The most popular community event – over 3,000 now attend – at the Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center is the Ukrainian Independence Day Festival, outdoor summer concert and “zabava” (dance) scheduled for Sunday, August 27, commencing at noon, in Tryzubivka’s luscious fully shaded festival glade.
courtesy of Iryna Lonchyna
Singer-songwriter Iryna Lonchyna.
To celebrate the 26th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, the artists – dance troupes, musicians, singers and ensembles that have performed in previous years – have again created a fresh dynamic and integrated collaborative program. (See ad on page S9 for details.) Two new featured artists will join the Tryzub family of performing artists: Honored Artist of Ukraine Iryna Lonchyna, a singer-songwriter; and a full contingent of the Crimean Tatar ensemble Efsane (Crimean Legend).
The concert’s theme – “United Ukraine – United With Us” – will reflect the unity of Ukraine’s people, their struggle for freedom and dignity, and Ukraine’s entry into the family of democratic nations.
A dance to the tunes of the Vox Ethnika Orchestra will follow the stage show. Arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities, and Ukrainian foods, picnic fare, desserts and refreshments will be abundant.
On Sunday, June 18, at 1 p.m., Tryzub will hold its popular Father’s Day Fest (admission is free), a family-oriented picnic event that features the Philadelphia area’s Voloshky School of Ukrainian Dance, accordionist Walt Syzonenko, and several excellent younger singers and musicians. A zabava to the unique and versatile music of Mr. Syzonenko follows.
Over that entire Father’s Day weekend, Tryzub will host (also free admission) the U.S. Adult Soccer Association’s Region I U.S. Open and Amateur Cup National Championship games. With the U.S. divided into four regions these are effectively the quarterfinal games for the American championships in the men’s, women’s, men’s over-30 and men’s under-23 categories. At least two of the men’s finals games will be Sunday afternoon, during the fest.
Over Memorial Day weekend, on Saturday night, May 27, Tryzub members as well as all guests and families participating in the weekend youth soccer tournament, are invited to attend an outdoor family-oriented parents’ appreciation picnic under the stars. There is no admission fee; attendees will enjoy an array of live music by popular local bands, social dancing, food, refreshments and fraternity.
During the Memorial Day weekend, there will also be a commemoration of our fallen heroes, as the tournament supports, both in terms of finances and awareness, the Travis Manion Foundation, an organization dedicated to assisting our heroes and their families and to challenging our youth proactively to volunteer and to perform works of charity.
On Sunday, June 25, Tryzub will host a very popular fund-raising event planned by the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America: the “Ivana Kupala” spring fest celebration, whose proceeds are earmarked for humanitarian relief in Ukraine.
On Saturday, September 16, Tryzub members and the entire Ukrainian Nationals Tryzub community can share in a family fun day picnic. No admission is charged, and Tryzub members can enjoy free food, refreshments, kid’s fun, music, and dancing.
In the early fall, the Ukrainian community is invited to attend a Fallfest (free admission for Tryzub members and tournament guests and families) on Saturday night, October 7. The celebration is part of the immensely popular Columbus Cup girls’ youth soccer weekend tournament. Enjoy great food, live music, social dancing and refreshments. Significant proceeds from the tournament will support the Fox Chase Research Center for Breast Cancer, as Tryzub raises awareness about this tragic illness and the fight to eradicate it.
Sports
Tryzub invites Ukrainian clubs and non-Ukrainian teams to participate in either of two immensely popular soccer tournaments: the Memorial Day youth soccer tournament scheduled for May 26-28; and the Columbus Cup girls’ soccer tournament on October 6-8.
Tryzub continues to retain the services of Omid Namazi, current U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team coach, a former professional and World Cup player, and an assistant coach for other U.S. national teams, as its director of soccer and of coaches. Throughout July and August, Coach Namazi and his staff of professional coaches and counselors will offer a number of camps at Tryzubivka. For additional information about these specialty camps, check the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals’ website, http://www.ukrainiannationals.com/. In the fall and spring, Tryzub offers youth, from novices to experienced players, an opportunity to hone their skills through a Soccer Academy led by Coach Namazi.
Soccer families and other fans can enjoy games at Tryzubivka throughout the weekends of the season. The Majors Division games are particularly popular on Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. The soccer season opener games on Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10, like the Ukrainian Nationals Family Day Picnic on Saturday, September 17, are particularly good days to enjoy great soccer.
Tryzub offers all golfers in the Ukrainian community a fun-filled golf outing and banquet on Sunday (yes, Sunday this year), June 11. The entry fee is very reasonable and includes greens fees, a cart, food, refreshments, and valuable door prizes and gifts. Trophies are awarded as well.
You can learn more about beautiful Tryzubivka and the opportunities it offers the community at www.tryzub.org and at www.ukrainiannationals.com. The club is located at Lower State and County Line roads, Horsham, PA 19044, in the northern suburbs of Philadelphia.
Christine Syzonenko
The “Kyivskyi Hopak” presented by Voloshky.