At the annual Ukrainian Festival

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The St. George Ukrainian Festival continues today on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. 

Here are a few scenes from yesterday... when the intermittent drizzle didn't dampen the festivities...

Team Veselka was on hand with refreshments...

Today's outdoor stage performances begin at 1 p.m. ... before the festival concludes later in the afternoon...

The annual Ukrainian Festival is this weekend

The St. George Ukrainian Festival takes place on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square this coming weekend. 

The three-day festival — one of the best neighborhood events — celebrates Ukrainian culture, music, and food with various performances and vendors selling traditional arts and crafts. 

The Festival kicks off on Friday evening, May 17, and continues through Sunday late afternoon, May 19. 

We haven't seen the schedule times for the outdoor performances just yet — they're usually on Saturday afternoon and evening and again on Sunday. We'll update you when we hear more about them.

The Ukrainian Festival continues this weekend on 7th Street

The St. George Ukrainian Festival continues today and tomorrow on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. 

Our previous post has more info... or check out the festival's Facebook page.

The annual Ukrainian Festival is this weekend

The St. George Ukrainian Festival returns to Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square this coming weekend for its 45th edition. 

The three-day festival celebrates Ukrainian culture, music, and food with various performances and vendors selling traditional arts and crafts. 

The Festival runs from Friday evening, May 19, through Sunday late afternoon, May 22. Here are a few highlights: 

• Friday at 4 — Food and crafts vendors open for business 
• Saturday at 2 — Outdoor song and dance stage performances 
• Saturday at 5 — Ukrainian Liturgy inside St. George Church 
• Saturday at 6 — Outdoor stage performances 
• Sunday at 11:30 — Concert inside St. George Church by Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York 
• Sunday at 1 p.m. — Outdoor stage performances begin 

Find more details on the Festival's Facebook page.

Sunday's parting shot

A moment on Seventh Street today... photo by Derek Berg...

Getting ready for the St. George Ukrainian Festival

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The annual St. George Ukrainian Festival got underway yesterday on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church, where volunteers were busy prepping for the festivities...

... and on Seventh Street (before the rain arrived)...

Hit this link for the festival highlights today and tomorrow.

Reminders: The St. George Ukrainian Festival takes place THIS WEEKEND

As noted back on Monday, the St. George Ukrainian Festival returns to Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square after a two-year pandemic-related hiatus. 

Here are some details via the EVG inbox... 

Following a 2-year absence due to COVID-19, this year's festival takes place during the worst period of violence the Ukrainian homeland has experienced since WWII. According to the United Nations, almost 13 million people are believed to have fled their homes in Ukraine since Russia began its war 

As the heart of the Ukrainian American community in the city with one of the largest Ukrainian immigrant populations in the United States, parishioners of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church have worked tirelessly to raise funds for their countrymen. 

Over 30,000 sought-after Ukrainian dumplings have been prepared in advance by church volunteers ... and in addition to these 'varenyky', there will also be plenty of cabbage rolls (holubtsi), beet soup (borshch), sausage (kobasa) and sauerkraut for sale. Veselka Restaurant will also be on hand all weekend long with some of their favorite Ukrainian menu items. A portion of these sales will be used for Humanitarian relief efforts.

And the schedule...

Friday 5/20

No stage show ... the vendors will be selling as they set up

Saturday 5/21 

Outdoor stage performance @ 2-4 p.m. 

Open-air Memorial Service for the Victims of Russian Aggression @ 4-4:30 p.m. 

Ukrainian Liturgy inside St. George Church @ 6-7 p.m. 

Outdoor stage performance @ 7-8:30 p.m. 

Sunday 5/22 

Ukrainian Liturgies inside St. George Church @ 7 a.m., 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. 

Concert inside St. George Church by Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York @ 12-12:45 p.m 

Outdoor stage performances begin @ 1-3 p.m.

The St. George Ukrainian Festival returns to 7th Street this weekend

After a two-year pandemic-related hiatus, the St. George Ukrainian Festival returns to Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square this coming weekend. (The 2019 Festival was the 43rd edition.) 

The three-day festival celebrates Ukrainian culture, music, and food with various performances and vendors selling traditional arts and crafts...

This has long been the neighborhood's best annual event. With Ukraine in the hearts and minds of so many people worldwide, this promises to be an especially emotional festival. 

Sunday's parting shot

A moment at the Ukrainian Festival festival today on Seventh Street... photo by Derek Berg

Reminder: The Ukrainian Festival starts this afternoon!

The 43rd edition of the Saint George Ukrainian Festival kicks off later this afternoon in the usual place — Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

The main stage shows are tonight at 6:30 ... tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. ... and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.


[Photo from 2017 by Derek Berg]

And the Festival hours to enjoy Ukrainian culture and traditions:
Friday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

And the weather looks promising...

The 43rd annual Saint George Ukrainian Festival is May 17-19

The 43rd edition of the Saint George Ukrainian Festival starts next Friday (May 17!) evening in the usual place — Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

We'll post/link to the schedule for the three-day event "to experience, feel, listen and taste Ukrainian culture" closer to the date.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-and-A with Andrew Stasiw, chairman of the St. George Ukrainian Festival

The 42nd annual Saint George Ukrainian Festival is this weekend

The festival officially begins this evening at 6:30 on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

You can find the full schedule of events here.

5 big events in May that you may or may not already know about

[Loisaida Festival photo by Stacie Joy]

May marks Lower East Side History Month, the annual celebration created by Fourth Arts Block and Downtown Art, with other local organizations and businesses taking part.

In addition to the activities (see the calendar here) associated with the History Month, here are a few more high-profile events this May...

• May 18-20 — Saint George Ukrainian Festival, Seventh Street. Details here.

• May 19 — Dance Parade and DanceFest, Astor Place, St. Mark's Place and Tompkins Square Park. Details here.

• May 25-27 — The Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave. Details here.

• May 27 — Loisaida Festival, Avenue C. Details here.

Do you wanna dance?

[East 4th Street at the LaMama Block Party]

EVG contributor Derek Berg took in some of the dancing that was going on around the neighborhood yesterday... here's a selection...

The Dancing in the Street La MaMa Block Party







The 41st annual Ukrainian Festival











The Festival continues today on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. Performances are at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

The Dance Parade







DanceFest









Find more DanceFest pics here.