Dear Editor:
Thank you very much, for assisting us in the past, by publicly announcing our participation in the 2014 International Folk Festival in Fayetteville, N.C. It was a total success. People from nearby states came, and assisted in promoting Ukrainian culture.
I am once again asking for assistance. Last year, 48 countries were represented, with 1,100 in the parade, which was observed by over 100,000 visitors. This year at the 37th International Folk Festival, the parade will be on Saturday, September 26, at 10 a.m. to noon. Afterwards, vendors will be selling international foods. On the next day, international performers will take to the stage. Presently, the committee is negotiating with local hotels for discounted prices on rooms for out of town participants.
The Ukrainian American Group chaired by this writer is appealing to fellow Ukrainian Americans for assistance as the Ukrainian community here is very small, consisting of five families, including senior citizens.
Our group must meet in our tent, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 26. Our request to fellow Ukrainians is a simple one: come to Fayetteville, attend this free festival, have some fun and represent Ukraine. If you are traveling North/South on 1-95, near Fayetteville, why not stop, take a break and visit with us!
Volunteers should wear traditional Ukrainian attire – at a minimum an embroidered shirt for men, with dark/tan pants and dark shoes; for women – an embroidered blouse, dark/tan skirt, dark shoes/red boots. For single young women, a “vinok” would be awesome. If anyone can come in full Ukrainian attire, we heartily encourage that.
The festival takes place in the center of town, which will be closed to traffic. To volunteer for participation in the Ukrainian contingent, or for more information, readers may contact this writer at 910-822-3177 (feel free to leave a voice message).
The American people in our area love Ukrainians, and are anxiously awaiting our presence. Our local TV station will broadcast this event over the Internet. We await the participation of fellow Ukrainians!
Fayetteville, N.C.