(BWVUF) Fabulous food, music, dance and crafts, along with a parade of floats, marching bands, horses and colourful costumes will be returning once again to Toronto’s Bloor Street West. “Canada’s largest Ukrainian street festival” will be held this year on September 21-22. The Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival, now in its fifth year, has grown to the point where 15,000 celebrated in the festivities last year.
The festival is a project of the Winnipeg-based Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko ànd a community partner – St. Joseph's Hospital. The festival showcases Ukrainian culture and how it has become part of the diverse ethnic fabric of Toronto, comprising over 100 years of contributions made by Ukrainian Canadians to the city’s economic, social and cultural growth. This year’s festival coincides with a special celebration for Ukrainians around the world, as Ukraine marks its tenth year of independence.
Alex Ling, Chair of the Bloor West village BIA, states, “The Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival keeps getting better year after year. It is now recognized as a large celebration and valuable event for the Bloor West Village area, celebrating the prominent Ukrainian influence here. People from all cultures and all parts of the city come to celebrate and enjoy the festivities”.
The festival kicks off on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Those in attendance will be able to dance to live bands and enjoy live performers under the stars at Bloor and Runnymede. On Saturday, the festival starts at 11:00 a.m. with a colourful parade of over 1,000 participants. It begins at High Park and travels along Bloor Street to Jane Street. This year's Parade Marshall is renowned Canadian actor and Hill Street Blues star Mimi Kuzyk. A street closure between Runnymede and Jane will offer thousands of square feet of entertainment, a children’s area, and cabaret shows. All are welcome to hone their talents or learn new ones at the “Be Ukrainian for A Day” area and sample delicacies at the many kiosks and food courts serving traditional Ukrainian and other ethnic fare. The festival “Artcrawl” will provide a glimpse of both renowned and up-and-coming artists while a fashion show will present current styles from local businesses and designers from Ukraine. A refreshment garden will ply beer, vodka and wine to wash down generous helpings of traditional perogies and other fine Ukrainian foods. Artisans and vendors from across Canada, the US and Ukraine will have their goods on display at a large yarmarok or market. International entertainers including this year’s headliners – a cappella group Pikkardiyska Tertsija from Lviv, Ukraine – will delight audiences of all ages throughout the day and evening. A new highlight this year is a day long Ukrainian Film Festival at the local Odeon Theatre. The Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival is a celebration of the past, the present and the future. Jurij Klufas, Chair of the Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival enthuses, “I am very pleased with the huge support we are receiving from the Ukrainian and Canadian community. This year, we wanted to share our culture with the broader Canadian community and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the 5th Annual Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival”.
For more information visit their web site at www.ukrainianfestival.org or call (416) 410-9965.