The BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival was established 28 years ago to promote Ukrainian culture in North America. The idea and founding of the festival is credited to Ukrainian Canadian Jurij R. Klufas. Inspired by his visit to the Ukrainian National Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba, Klufas recognized the need for a similar event in Toronto. He envisioned the festival as a significant platform to highlight Ukrainian culture and the history of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.
5 Facts that make the Toronto Ukrainian Festival so special
- The first Festival was a one-day, 2 hour event in the parking lot at Bloor and Jane. Initially attendance was only expected to be around 200 hundred people, to everyones surprise, well over 1000 people attended. Over 27 years, the festival has grown to a three-day event that attracts over a million visitors and is a huge economic driver for the City of Toronto.
- Prime Ministers, representatives of political parties, public activists, celebrities and major sponsors come to the Festival opening ceremonies to cut the ribbon and declare the Festival open.
- As a not for profit organization, the festival is built on the tireless work of volunteers and the important support of sponsors.
- Ruslana, Taras Chubai, Kozak System, Oleg Skrypka, Mandry, TIK, Ot Vinta, Bez Obmezhen, Lisapetny Batalyon, Jerry Heil, and many other famous performers from Ukraine performed on the Festival stage throughout the years.
- The BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival goals are to showcase rich Ukrainian culture, traditions, history, cuisine and the role of the Ukrainian diaspora in the development of Canada as a country. We welcome all to the BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival to become Ukrainian for the day.
With less than 3 weeks to Toronto’s highly anticipated Bloor West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festival, the 28th annual Festival promises to deliver an unforgettable performance by Ukraine’s Patsyki z Franeka. Mixing ethnic Ukrainian melodies and instruments with modern groove, Patsyki z Franeka creates a wild energy on stage that is this years must see performance. Catch the Patsyki z Franeka free headliner performance on the Temerty Foundation Stage on Saturday night. 
Melania’s heartfelt take: why we love the Ukrainian Festival
“The festival is our favorite place to gather,” says Melania. “Even in the rain, we went to Bloor. And it didn’t stop anyone, and it didn’t disperse the people who came to watch. You know, it’s not just people who live in Toronto who come together, they come from all over Canada and America. Everyone who feels Ukrainian wants to be in this festival atmosphere. I know that Canadians who don’t have Ukrainian roots are also interested, for example, my friends or colleagues from work.
I really enjoy the performances of Zirka Band, and also when folk groups perform. I am very grateful to the festival committee for inviting modern groups from Ukraine to us. It’s such a unity that we are all together. We know their songs, sing along and dance along.
Through this festival we can tell more about ourselves, about our history, cuisine, our connection with other cultures. This is an important part of our life here.”
Read Melania’s story on our Instagram
Ukrainian Festival through newcomers’ eyes
Marina and Yuliana, recent arrivals from Ukraine, attended the Ukrainian festival in Bloor West Village for the first time last year. Their heartfelt impressions of this vibrant and emotional event give us an opportunity to see the festival through the eyes of people for whom Ukrainian culture is not just an ancestral heritage, but also a part of their new life in a foreign country.
What impressed Marina and Yuliana the most was the parade of Ukrainian organizations in Toronto. “Imagine our surprise when Ukrainians walked along Bloor Street, who had put a lot of effort into making us feel at home here today,” Marina shares. Hundreds of organizations – educational institutions, dance groups, financial institutions, choirs, youth associations, Ukrainian private businesses, doctors, community representatives, bikers – all carried flags of Ukraine and Canada, the names of their organizations, smiled sincerely, and the audience applauded them, expressing gratitude and support. “Without any pathos or sentimentality, everything is so sincere that you get charged with such positivity and you want to hug everyone,” Marina recalls.
This emotional charge became just the beginning of the festival kaleidoscope for Marina and Yuliana. Her daughter, Yuliana, had the opportunity to volunteer at the festival, which became not only an interesting experience for her, but also a great opportunity to express herself and help others. “This is a great opportunity to get a volunteer report and experience,” Marina emphasizes.
And then they were waiting for them: varenyky with different fillings, a variety of Ukrainian goods and, of course, wonderful concerts on several stages.
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