Every year, Ukrainian dance groups and performers have been converging near Dauphin, Manitoba to celebrate the long and rich Ukrainian culture of western Canada. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival and organizers attribute its success to all the visitors and families who keep it going year after year.
“We’re a family friendly festival and if we don’t market towards the next generation, who else is going to come? Generation after Generation. Baba and Gido were bringing the grandchildren and now they’re bring their families and it just continues on,” explained festival president Kayla Gillis.
Performers this year include Ukrainian turbofolk group Tyi T Tam, Ukrainian singer and songwriter Viktorya Kantor, five-piece band High Profile of Winnipeg, The Sawchuck Sisters, Millenia, and many others will perform on the many stages at the festival.
“We’ve always had the four stages. We’ve always had the one in the hall, the two upper stages, and then our grandstand stage. This year they will all be fully occupied and we can’t wait to showcase that,” noted Gillis.
The grandstand stages features many of the large Ukrainian dance ensembles such as Saskatoon’s Rushnychok Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble, Veselka, Pavlychenko Folklorique Ensemble, Troyanda, and Canada’s National Riding and Dancing Cossacks, which has tailored a special performance for the 60th annversary.
“They have actually choreographed a brand new dance for the 60th and it’s a special dance for the 60th and their music is coming all the way from Ukraine, so we’re very much looking forward to them performing and they will be on the grandstand Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” Gillis said.
Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival runs August 1st to 3rd, ten minutes south of Dauphin, MB on the edge of Riding Mountain National Park. CLICK HERE for the full schedule and ticket information.
Dauphin is 361 kilometers northeast of Regina.
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