One of the most anticipated annual events on the Montreal community calendar takes place the weekend following Labour Day.
When is the Montreal Ukrainian Festival?
The 24th edition of the Montreal Ukrainian Festival is scheduled for three fun-filled days on September 6, 7 and 8. Everything about Ukrainian culture and heritage will be celebrated by Montreal’s Ukrainian community in particular and the Montreal community in general, whether it be song, music, dance, art, history and of course, food.
“The Ukrainian Festival is a great way to extend the summer a little longer and a great reason to have a party,” said Greg Bedik, a Montreal Ukrainian community leader and festival organizer during a recent phone interview. “We like to spread our wings and share our community’s wealth of tradition and culture with everybody, whether they are French, English, Greek, Italian or Jewish, or come from Quebec City, Halifax, Toronto or Ottawa.”
The festivities begin on Friday, September 6 with a pub night at the Ukrainian Youth Association headquarters, located at 3270 Beaubien Street East from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The evening will be complete with Ukrainian drinks and appetizers and a line-up of local talent.
The following day, Maisonneuve Park, located at 4601 Sherbrooke Street East, will once again be the place for the popular Festival in the Park event. Expected to attract over 40,000 people from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the park event will feature over 60 kiosks, including mechandise, crafts, exhibits and plenty of food. As well, there will be a full schedule of live performances by Ukrainian artists from Montreal and Ontario, and directly from Ukraine, a rock group called Hayadmaky.
“They’re a rock group that’s full of loud, high energy, and they are about to go through an arduous journey to come and perform at the festival. That means going by train or car from Ukraine to Poland, followed by long plane flights first to Frankfurt, and then to Montreal. It’s a long trek, but we are looking forward to experience their show, which will close the event,” added Mr. Bedik.
The festivities go full circle on Sunday, September 8, as a special cultural journey day takes place at the Ukrainian Youth Association headquarters on Beaubien Street East. “This will be a day of artistic expression, with workshops and master classes led by Ukrainian artists, who will teach the guests about a number of traditional crafts — such as painting on glass — music and dance,” said Mr. Bedik. “And the Gerdan Theatre group from Chernivtsi, Ukraine will be there to offer a master class workshop on how to be a vocalist.”
“The Ukrainian people have garnered a sense of culture and tradition for over 7000 years,” he added. “It’s long and proud culture and we love to share it with everybody.”
For more information about this year’s Montreal Ukrainian Festival, go to ukefestmontreal.org.
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