TORONTO – The 23rd annual Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival takes place on September 13, 14 and 15 on Bloor Street West between the Runnymede and Jane subway stations in Toronto.
More than 800,000 visitors are expected to come to the festival to immerse themselves in an all-Ukrainian experience – music, dancing, history, art, cultural fashions, embroidery and culinary delights. This year’s festival focuses on the central region of Ukraine, Dnipro (100 miles west of the war zone in eastern Ukraine), and an example of its unique Petrykivka art is featured on the festival poster.
There are three stages, each with a unique performance program. The festival headliner this year is renowned group – voted Ukraine’s best rock band – Bez Obmezhen (Without Limits).
The long list of performers includes world-renown Canadian bandurist Victor Mishalow, the Ukrainian Male Choir from Edmonton, the Toronto-based electro-folk group Balaklava Blues, famous violin virtuoso Vasyl Popadiuk and his band Papa Duke, the fun polka band Those Idiots from Buffalo, N.Y., soloist Auresia from Montreal, The Iskra Ukrainian Dance Ensemble from New Jersey and the folk ensemble Korinya from New York.
The OMNI-sponsored parade, with the Canadian Army Lt. Gen. Paul Wynnyk (retired) as parade marshal, will start on Saturday, at 11 a.m.
Besides the street celebration, a film festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday at the Runnymede Library.
On Sunday, September 14, beginning at 10:30 a.m., an ecumenical service will be held on the main stage on Jane Street. All three stages have performances continuing up until 7 p.m., when the festival officially closes with traditional Hopak performed by Barvinok dance ensemble.
Jurij Klufas, chair of the Festival Board, said: “We are very excited about our 23rd year program with various leading artists from all over Canada and the United States, as well as Ukraine. We are very happy to share our over 128-year-old Ukrainian Canadian culture with the city of Toronto and its many visitors.”
More information is available at www.ukrainianfestival.com.