The sound of banduras and soaring vocals filled Edmonton’s Borden Park this weekend as thousands gathered for UFest, Western Canada’s largest Ukrainian festival. Against a backdrop of blue and yellow flags waving in the late summer breeze, the celebration took on special significance amid ongoing global events.
“This isn’t just about preserving traditions—it’s about showing our resilience,” explains Daria Luciw, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council. “For many attendees, this festival has become a powerful way to maintain connection with a homeland currently under siege.”
The three-day celebration transformed the park into a vibrant cultural hub where the scent of freshly made perogies and cabbage rolls mingled with the sounds of traditional folk music. Visitors moved between colorful vendor stalls showcasing intricate pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs), embroidered clothing, and handcrafted jewelry—tangible links to an artistic heritage spanning centuries.
What makes UFest particularly significant is its evolution from a small community gathering to one of the region’s most anticipated cultural events. This year’s attendance surpassed previous records, with an estimated 15,000 people participating throughout the weekend.
“Edmonton’s Ukrainian community dates back to the 1890s,” notes cultural historian Dr. Bohdan Kordan, who attended the festival. “These early settlers faced tremendous hardships, but they brought with them a cultural resilience that’s reflected in today’s celebrations. What we’re witnessing is the living continuation of that heritage.”
The festival’s main stage featured an impressive array of performances, from traditional dance ensembles to contemporary Ukrainian musicians fusing folk elements with modern sounds. The Viter Ukrainian Folk Choir particularly captivated audiences with haunting harmonies that seemed to transport listeners across continents.
Beyond entertainment, UFest serves a deeper purpose for Edmonton’s Ukrainian-Canadian population, estimated at over 160,000. For younger generations especially, the festival provides a crucial touchpoint with their heritage.
“I was born here in Edmonton, but when I dance or make pysanky with my baba, I feel connected to something ancient and meaningful,” says 16-year-old Sofia Petryshyn, who performed with the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. “Especially now, with everything happening in Ukraine, these traditions feel more important than ever.”
The festival’s culinary offerings proved equally popular, with long lines forming at food stalls serving traditional favorites. Visitors sampled everything from borscht and nalysnyky (crepes) to modern fusion dishes incorporating Ukrainian flavors. The varenyky (perogy) eating contest drew particularly enthusiastic crowds, with this year’s winner consuming an impressive 47 in under three minutes.
“Food is how we preserve memory,” explains chef Oksana Hrycyna, who ran one of the busiest food stalls. “These recipes have been passed down through generations, often surviving only because someone took the time to watch their grandmother cook. When people taste these dishes, they’re connecting with that lineage.”
Perhaps most striking was the festival’s ability to bridge generations. Elderly attendees in traditional vyshyvanky (embroidered shirts) shared stories with curious children, creating living links between past and present. Meanwhile, interactive workshops offered hands-on experiences in traditional crafts, ensuring these skills continue to thrive.
“What we’re witnessing is cultural preservation in action,” I observed while wandering through the festival grounds. “Far from being simply nostalgic, these traditions are actively evolving while maintaining their essential character.”
As the sun set on the final day, the festival culminated in a spectacular zabava (dance party) that seemed to capture the essence of the weekend—joyous celebration in the face of adversity, community strengthened through shared experience, and traditions not merely preserved but vibrantly alive.
For Edmonton’s Ukrainian community and the thousands of visitors who joined them, UFest represented something far beyond entertainment. In a time of global uncertainty, it stood as a powerful testament to cultural resilience and the enduring strength found in celebration.
As one attendee remarked while watching a group of children learning traditional dance steps: “This isn’t just about the past—it’s about ensuring there’s a future.”
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