On the first Sunday of August, Palos Park, near Chicago, Illinois, USA, became a center of Ukrainian culture and hosted the annual Ukrainian Dumpling Festival. The event took place near the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Sts. Peter and Paul. This is reported on the site of Radio UA Chicago.
The festival began with the blessing of Father Vasyl, who greeted the guests and thanked the defenders of Ukraine and volunteers. Jazz singer Olga Tsvyntharna performed the national anthems of the United States and Ukraine, creating an emotional atmosphere. The event was hosted by Olenka Levko-Sendega and Vitaliy Kulyk in two languages, ensuring the comfort of all participants.
The festival featured performances by children's groups from Smart Mind and The Elegy Studio, as well as dance ensembles Svitanok and Haidamaky. Guests enjoyed the performances of musicians and dancers and were treated to traditional Ukrainian dishes such as dumplings, cabbage rolls and various desserts.
Children could visit a mini-zoo, play in a bouncy house, draw and jump. There was also a fire truck, which was especially popular with young visitors. The fair offered embroidered shirts, national jewelry and other souvenirs.
The festival also included a raffle with cash prizes. The organizers thanked all the sponsors, volunteers and guests for their support and organization of the event.
Author: Inna Mikhno