ELLENVILLE, N.Y. – Another summer approaches as the membership of the Ukrainian American Youth Association prepares for a stellar summer of festivals, concerts, camping, outdoor recreation and outdoor dances in Ellenville, N.Y., at what is popularly known as “Oselia CYM.”
George Mykytyn, president of the Ukrainian American Youth Association’s national board, states: “We are very enthusiastic this year about the changes and new initiatives being launched by a new Oselia board under the newly appointed leadership of Teodor Bodnar, long-time member. Volunteers under the expert supervision of Mr. Bodnar are starting with a renovation of the Café as a developed space focusing on family use by our parents and their children. New initiatives also include upgrades to the electrical systems and a large new TV in the renovated Café that will broadcast programming and events from Ukraine.”
The festival season kicks-off with the annual Lemko Vatra produced by the Organization for the Defense of Lemkiv-shchyna. This colorful festival scheduled for the weekend of June 24-25 is unique in its style and entertainment focusing on the deep cultural traditions and heritage of Lemkivshchyna and the Carpathian regions of Ukraine.
A focal point of this summer’s events is the seventh annual Nadiya Ye! Festival scheduled for the weekend of June 30 through July 2. This year’s guest performers from Ukraine are 2Rika, an internationally popular and innovative mega-rock group. Music publisher and president of Duma Music Oles Kuzyszyn writes, “2Rika has honed a singularly visceral musical approach and favors a starkly elemental approach to songwriting, foregoing any of the typical folk inflections or Europop conventions often heard in this part of the world. The originality of their lyrics is particularly noteworthy and will be greatly appreciated by young diaspora audiences.”
The main concert is scheduled for Saturday, July 1, at 9 p.m.
This year’s festival will also include the crowd favorite Friday night performance of DJ Stas and his laser light show, and a full concert on Sunday night featuring various singers, instrumentalists and the Barvinok Ukrainian Dancers from Mississauga, Ontario, under the artistic direction of legendary dancer and choreographer Fedir Danylak.
The 2017 summer will also include many activities for youth, a golf tournament, a softball tournament, Dibrova Lounge pub nights, and a variety of weekend performances by Ukrainian folk dance groups, singers and much more.
For additional information about Ukrainian American Youth Association children’s camps or the organization, call 845-647-7230 or visit cym.org/us-ellenville.