16th Annual Toronto Ukrainian Festival –

September 14-16 in BWV

North America’s Largest Ukrainian Street Festival, the Toronto Ukrainian Festival will be held September 14–16, 2012 in Bloor West Village  The Festival Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that music legend Oleh Skrypka of Ukraine will perform four shows over the three-day festival as follows: Friday, Sept. 14 at 9 pm – Lviv Jazz with Vasyl Popadiuk & Band on the Main Stage, and at midnight – with VV; Saturday, Sept. 15 at 9 pm. in the Headline Show on the Main Stage with VV celebrating their 25th anniversary as Ukraine’s top rock band, and at midnight in a special DJ Show. This is being made possible through a generous grant from Celebrate Ontario and the sponsorship of Ukrainian Credit Union Limited and Four Points Sheraton Hotel Lakeshore.

Also through a Celebrate Ontario grant, the Festival will feature more great bands such as the Philadelphia Fralinger String Band that will enhance not only the Saturday parade but also the Main Stage; UB from Edmonton; Zhyto from Calgary; Harmonia from Cleveland and Toronto’s own Burya  Band will entertain and dazzle audiences during the three day festival.

This lineup is in addition to the many professional and amateur GTA performers and artists of Ukrainian heritage who celebrate Ukrainian culture through music, dance and visual arts. Hundreds of musicians and dancers will perform live on a majestic stage for Torontonians and an influx of tourists and guests (almost 600,000 in 2011). Included in this line up will be Cleveland’s popular Kashtan Dance Company and Zorya Vocal Ensemble appearing for the first time at the Festival.

As always, the Festival will offer the best in Ukrainian food, beverages and artistic crafts from a variety of local vendors as well as a chance to explore Bloor Street West, see the gala parade on Saturday morning and enjoy family time with activities for young and old. With rich Ukrainian history and culture on display, Chairman Jurij Klufas adds there is “lots to discover about being Ukrainian” by visiting the 16th Annual Toronto Ukrainian Festival.

As well, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress 120th Anniversary Commemorative Committee has announced that the year-long national anniversary celebrations will be officially brought to a conclusion at the 2012 Toronto Ukrainian Festival.

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Prairie Dreamscapes Features Alberta Artists at Festival

The Toronto Ukrainian Festival will showcase 30 works by 18 Ukrainian Canadian artists from Alberta in an exhibition titled “Prairie Dreamscapes: Re-Imagining Our Roots.” 

The exhibition is a special presentation of the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation and will be displayed at the KUMF Gallery from September 14-30, 2012.

The pubic is invited to the official opening reception of the exhibition on Friday, September 14 at 7 pm. at KUMF Gallery, 2118A Bloor St. West.