Three event highlights
1
The food. The festival kitchen, run for years by George Hanushevsky of Irondequoit, serves up plates full of traditional, homemade Ukrainian foods such as varenyk (also called pyrohy or pierogies), a potato and cheese dumpling; holubets, stuffed cabbage rolls; kovbasa, Ukrainian sausage; kapusta, Ukrainian-style sauerkraut; and borshch, a beet soup. Prices range from $10 for a combination plate to $1 to $4.50 for single items.
2
The entertainment. The festival’s featured folk dancers from near and far are always a hit, as are music for dancing each evening, and performing groups like Melody Lane, Heavenstar, Mosaic, and more. Look for the high-flying dancers, including the Chaika Performing Ensemble from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 and 5 p.m. Sunday.
3
The activities. There are “interactive” rides by Adventures in Climbing, traditional Ukrainian arts and crafts, a tour of St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Church at 1:15 p.m. Saturday, a Divine Liturgy at 11 a.m. Sunday under the tent, and more.
Why you should attend
The St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Festival was established in 1973 and is marking its 40th year. Its original purpose was to introduce Ukrainian arts and crafts, Ukrainian food, and Ukrainian music and dance to the greater Rochester community.
Today, it has become a late-summer, family-friendly tradition celebrating the culture of Ukraine. Its goals are still to preserve Ukrainian traditions and heritage; reacquaint Ukrainians with their roots, and to share the Ukrainian culture with others.
Three event highlights
1
The food. The festival kitchen, run for years by George Hanushevsky of Irondequoit, serves up plates full of traditional, homemade Ukrainian foods such as varenyk (also called pyrohy or pierogies), a potato and cheese dumpling; holubets, stuffed cabbage rolls; kovbasa, Ukrainian sausage; kapusta, Ukrainian-style sauerkraut; and borshch, a beet soup. Prices range from $10 for a combination plate to $1 to $4.50 for single items.
2
The entertainment. The festival’s featured folk dancers from near and far are always a hit, as are music for dancing each evening, and performing groups like Melody Lane, Heavenstar, Mosaic, and more. Look for the high-flying dancers, including the Chaika Performing Ensemble from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 and 5 p.m. Sunday.
3
The activities. There are “interactive” rides by Adventures in Climbing, traditional Ukrainian arts and crafts, a tour of St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Church at 1:15 p.m. Saturday, a Divine Liturgy at 11 a.m. Sunday under the tent, and more.
Why you should attend
The St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Festival was established in 1973 and is marking its 40th year. Its original purpose was to introduce Ukrainian arts and crafts, Ukrainian food, and Ukrainian music and dance to the greater Rochester community.
Today, it has become a late-summer, family-friendly tradition celebrating the culture of Ukraine. Its goals are still to preserve Ukrainian traditions and heritage; reacquaint Ukrainians with their roots, and to share the Ukrainian culture with others.
