In Princeton, Texas, the Roman Villa Winery & Vineyard hosted “The First Ukrainian Festival in Texas” – a large-scale celebration of Ukrainian culture, music, cuisine and traditions, organized by the U.S. Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Roman Villa Winery & Vineyard.
This was reported by the event organizers.
The first Ukrainian festival in the region brought together the North Texas community, guests from other states, artists, craftsmen and connoisseurs of Ukrainian culture. The event became a bright celebration of the heritage, unity and support of the Ukrainian community.
The festival lasted throughout the day and was open to all comers. A rich program was prepared for guests with live musical performances, dance numbers, master classes, a fair, cultural presentations and family activities.
“This is more than a festival – it is a space of community, unity and joy that unites people around Ukrainian heritage and strengthens ties in North Texas,” the organizers note.
Daria Tsykalo, Ukrainian dancing group “Tanock”, Ludmila Kasyanenko, Kateryna Pushkina, Nadiya Band and Lesya Verba performed on stage.
Lesya Verba’s ethno-jazz program, in which bandura, folk song, modern sound and theatrical expression created a deep dialogue between tradition and modernity, attracted particular attention from the visitors.
""The festival was held at a winery amidst incredible nature. The morning rain did not get in the way – there were many people, the atmosphere was lively, sincere and very warm. The rich concert program united different voices, styles and cultures – from Ukrainian choirs and dance groups to international guests. It was a space where Ukraine sounded. It was a great joy for me to perform as a special guest – with bandura and original songs. I felt a very warm welcome and real contact with the audience…”, shared Verba’s impressions.
The bandura player also presented her small Ukrainian collection of hand-painted denim jackets at the fair, some of which were inspired by the works of Maria Prymachenko.
“I sincerely congratulate everyone on the birth of such an important festival. This is more than an event – it is about community, memory, culture and the future,” she adds.
Festival guests also had the opportunity to attend master classes on Petrykivka painting, sculpting dumplings and creating wreaths from fresh flowers. Vendors, delicious Ukrainian food and an exhibition of traditional clothing became a separate part of the holiday.
In addition to the Ukrainian program, the event also included international cultural performances. The festival was joined by Amihan Philippine Dance Society and PeiYi Lei, the latter presenting the art of Sichuan Opera.
The Princeton festival became not only a cultural event, but also a space for community meetings, where Ukrainian heritage was heard through music, dance, art and live human communication.
Photo: Navid Nader
Author: Inna Mikhno