16TH ANNUAL TORONTO UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 14 – 16, 2012
North America’s Largest Ukrainian Street Festival
Toronto, ON -The Festival Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that music legend Oleh Skrypka of Ukraine will perform 4 shows over the three day Festival as follows: Friday Sept. 14 at 9PM – Lviv Jazz with Vasyl Popadiuk & band on the Main Stage; Friday Sept.14 at midnight – with VV; Saturday at 9PM the main HEADLINE SHOW on the MAIN STAGE with VV celebrating their 25th anniversary as Ukraine’s top rock band and Saturday midnight a special DJ show. This is being made possible through the generous grant from Celebrate Ontario and the sponsorship of Ukrainian Credit Union Limited and the 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 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 and the 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 Festival.
As well, the UCC 120th Anniversary Commemorative Committee has announced that the year-long national anniversary celebrations will be officially brought to a conclusion at the 2012 Bloor West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festival.
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Olena Gisys
Communications Coordinator, Bloor West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festival
