The annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival was held in Balboa Park in San Diego, marking the 65th anniversary of the House of Ukraine cultural museum. The event was not only a celebration of national identity, but also an act of solidarity with the people, who have been resisting a full-scale Russian invasion for the third year in a row.
This was reported by “House of Ukraine” and NBC 7 San Diego.
This year’s festival brought together hundreds of visitors – representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora, American allies, and interested guests. The House of Ukraine, part of the Balboa Park International Cottages complex, organized an event that combined tradition, contemporary art, and philanthropy.
“This is the country where my parents are from, and this is a part of me. And that part of me is crumbling now,” said 10-year-old Anna Bodnar, with tears in her eyes. Together with 16-year-old Mick Muschenko, she performed a song about losing her home. Mick is a refugee from Ukraine who arrived in the United States three years ago. “I can’t go back home. Music is what I love. And now it’s also a way to combine what I have to do with what I want,” the boy shared, holding a guitar in his hands.
This year’s festival was special – it marked the 65th anniversary of the Ukraine House, which has become a center for preserving Ukrainian culture for thousands of families. According to Vera Skop, vice president of the House, today more than 15,000 Ukrainian families live in San Diego County, and since the war began, the number of refugees has increased significantly.
“This is personal. I have friends there. This is a place where they can see each other, grieve together, and celebrate life at the same time,” said Skop, whose parents were also refugees after World War II.
The festival had a rich program. Guests enjoyed performances by the band “U3Zub”, the dance groups “Chervona Kalina” from Los Angeles, and “Namysto” – an ensemble of the Ukrainian School of San Diego, created in 2023. Young artists from the children’s vocal ensemble “Likhtariki” moved the audience with songs about hope and unity.
The food court was no less vibrant. Visitors tasted traditional varenyky, Crimean Tatar chebureks, salads, cookies, ice cream, and other Ukrainian delicacies.
Among the festival participants was Inna Kanevska – a Ukrainian Jew, a professor of psychology at Mesa College, who moved to the United States more than 30 years ago. She makes her own jewelry, and donates the proceeds to help Ukrainian refugees.
“There’s this inner desire to do something. And even the Americans who work with us feel the need to help — especially over time, when the struggle continues and public attention fades,” she said.
Scott Hodson, an American ally of Ukraine who first visited the country 20 years ago as a Mormon missionary, couldn’t hold back his emotions.
“My heart breaks when I hear the news from Ukraine. It’s especially painful when I see the destroyed houses where I lived or where my friends lived,” he said.
The festival also featured cultural booths where guests could view Ukrainian artifacts, learn about history and traditions, and talk to volunteers from the Ukraine House.
Photo: Shield Of Freedom, Sohaila Zyba
Author: Inna Mikhno