The Ukrainian Community Center in Palatine transformed into a vibrant hub of Ukrainian culture for two days. This year’s Chervona Ruta Festival took place in a new format, combining a Hutsul-themed celebration with Youth Day festivities, bringing together community members, artists, performers, and admirers of Ukrainian traditions.
This was reported by Radio UA Chicago.
The first day of the festival was dedicated to the culture of the Hutsul region. Visitors had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Carpathian Mountains through folk music, traditional clothing, handcrafted works, and authentic Hutsul cultural elements.
Event host Myroslava Bakhur invited guests to “tune their hearts to the Hutsul rhythm,” while the concert program became a true journey into the world of Ukrainian folk culture. Performers included accordionist Tetiana Hrytsai, the bandura trio Alvia, vocalists Khrystyna Hrytsenko and Vita Kotyk, DJ Verni Muba, and singers Bohdan Savchuk and Yurii Yaremchuk.
A particularly memorable moment of the evening was the sound of authentic Hutsul trembitas performed by Mykhailo Boichuk and Taras Halko. The highlight of the program was a performance by Ukrainian singer FIINKA, who presented a contemporary interpretation of Hutsul culture and the musical traditions of the Carpathians.
Volunteers from the Ukrainian Youth Association (SUM) of Palatine and local community activists played an important role in creating the festive atmosphere and organizing the event. One of the festival’s main attractions was a Hutsul-themed photo area created by members of the Ethnos and Fitness Hopak ensembles under the direction of Nataliia Fihel.
Guests also had the opportunity to view traditional crafts, including Hutsul wool blankets and sheepskin coats from the Kosiv region, presented by Tetiana Drozhzhyna. As always, Ukrainian cuisine attracted considerable attention, with visitors enjoying varenyky, crepes, шашlyk, homemade pastries, and other traditional dishes.
The following day, the festival continued with Youth Day celebrations. The event was blessed by Father Yaroslav Mendyuk, pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
The concert program brought together representatives of several generations of the Ukrainian community. Performers included members of the Ukrainian Youth Association, the Bohdan Plishka Church Choir under the direction of Ihor Shumskyi, the children’s choirs Vodohrai and Anhelyk led by Mariia Kyrychenko, participants of the Smart Minds studio, and young performers Vadym Oksenchuk, Maksym Pashchuk, Anastasiia Proniuk, Angelina Sovych, Diana Kutynska, Adriana Zam, and Bozhena Sholom.
The Ethnos ensemble, the Elegia Vocal Studio directed by Svitlana Poliak, and the Barvystok Vocal Studio led by Tetiana Baryliak also performed. Barvystok presented a new song titled “Sun of Ukraine.” Singers Vira Boichuk and Vita Kotyk also took the stage.
As in previous years, dance performances drew significant attention from the audience. Featured groups included Iskra under the direction of Kalyna Vasiunets, the junior groups of the Vyshyvanka Ensemble led by Pavlo and Oksana Fedkiv, and the Hromovytsia Ensemble directed by Roxana Dyka-Pylypchak.
The festival concluded with a performance by Honored Artist of Ukrainian Popular Music Tetiana Baryliak (BARVA). Due to technical difficulties, the singer performed her new song “I Was Born Here” a cappella. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause and joined in singing, creating a special atmosphere of unity.
Organizers noted that this year’s festival format was an attempt to showcase the richness of Ukraine’s regional traditions while bringing the community together around shared cultural values. Over the course of two days, Chervona Ruta once again demonstrated that Ukrainian song, dance, and folk traditions remain an essential part of life for Ukrainians overseas and help preserve a connection to their cultural heritage.
Photos: Petro Kovtun, Tetiana Drozhzhyna
Author: Danylo Pievchev