Celebrating 60 years at the Gardenton Ukrainian Festival

A celebration of all things Ukrainian will take place Saturday in Gardenton, and while it’s an annual celebration, this year is special.

That’s because the Ukrainian Museum and Village Society is celebrating 60 years.

Board president Kelvin Chubaty said they’re proud to be able to boast a few changes.

This year the pich, a historic clay oven has been restored, and festival attendees will have a chance to enjoy freshly baked bread.

Even those who have come to the museum before will want to come again as the changes have been made to displays.

“The museum has a new look, all redone on the inside,” he said.

In recent years the festival has taken a multicultural approach to the entertainment, recognizing the fact that much of the local population is no longer Ukrainian.

While that’s given the festival new life, Chubaty said to celebrate the 60th, they chose to include a full Ukrainian slate of entertainers.

Coming to the stage this year are performers including Zoloto Ukrainian Dance Ensemble & Company, Druzhba Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Melos Ukrainian Folk Ensemble, Romanetz Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Sarto Polevnyi Dancers, Susydka Ukrainian Dancers, Ivanka Watkin, Vodohrai Ukrainian Choir and Bohdan Hoi.

Chubaty said they remain a popular destination for their entertainers.

“We don’t really have to phone them too much because they’re phoning us to see if they can come,” he said.

The event includes an opportunity to sit under the oak trees and watch traditional dance, enjoy delicious Ukrainian food, explore the museum grounds and dance at a traditional Zabava.

Kid’s activities, a gift shop and vendor market, wagon rides and camping are available.

Chubaty said people that come out for the first time are always impressed.

“A lot of people are shocked at how big the park is, the big outdoor stage that we do have, the museum and one-room schoolhouse,” he said. “They all rave about the food as well.”

Chubaty said the success of the annual festival is dependent on the people who step up to help.

“We have a lot of volunteers which is really, really nice,” he said.

He added that it’s important for people to remember what Ukrainians went through to establish themselves.

Though they were promised good land, they were instead dropped off on marginal rock-filled soil with a box of tools.

“I think it’s important to let our younger generations know and come and see the tools that they had to use,” he said.

The festival is also a homecoming of sorts for many people who grew up in the Gardenton area.

Admission to the festival is $15 for adults and $7 for children.