The Seventh Washington Ukrainian Festival combined with unusually warm weather for this time of the year to attract many U.S. visitors to Silver Spring, Maryland, on Sept. 19-20.

“I visited the festival last year and I liked the music, dances and fun here. I am local, I live in Silver Spring, so, I am back,” said Henny Haddad, a returning guest of the festival to Kyiv Post. The two-day festival attracts not only Ukrainian students in the United States and local diaspora. Many Washingtonians are getting more and more understanding about Eastern Europe and Ukraine, in particular. The cultural events organized by the Embassy of Ukraine and the local Ukrainian community became a crucial contribution to this.

For the Washington area, August and September are usually the time when it is a good idea to be near the air conditioning because of the humid and hot environment outside. This is the time when we really appreciate the inventors of modern technology. However, last weekend was especially welcome for outdoor activities. The St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church united all members of the Ukrainian community of the Washington, D.C., area, Ukrainian guests from other states, a variety of vendors and crowds of “pure American” guests who have no connection with Ukraine, many of whom were introduced to our culture for the first time.

“Wonderful! I learned about the event because local newspapers in Silver Spring told us about it. I also saw the road signs. I love everything here,” says Art Ciampa, a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland.

The guests were welcomed by traditional performances of the Barvinok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of New Jersey, Fantaziya Dance Ensemble from Washington, D.C., Veseli Kozachata (“Merry Little Kozaks”) Junior Dance Group, music of bandura player Larisa Pastukhiv-Martin, and other musicians.

The Embassy of Ukraine was not only the main supporter of the festival, but its representatives were actively dancing and singing. Oleksandr Mykhalchuk from the embassy, together with Yevhen Shcheglakov, performed a few songs. They also accompanied famous Ukrainian violinist Solomia Horokhivska in performing “Chervona Ruta,” a popular Ukrainian song written by Volodymyr Ivasyuk in 1968 and recognized all over the world since then. I remember my personal experience of singing this song with Hungarian high schoolers in the summer camp in Tata, Hungary, in the 1990s. More modern repertoire was presented by Solomia Dutkewych.

The Ukrainian National Association, a fraternal benefit insurance organization, was present among vendors at the event. Founded 115 years ago, the association not only offers insurance and other services but also sponsors Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, has a number of volunteering activities in Ukraine, including teaching English in the villages and other programs. The event was an excellent chance not only to increase the 40,000-member association, but also to create awareness about its unique non-profit activities in Ukraine.

“I drove from Dover, Delaware, for two hours. I really miss the Ukrainian cuisine,” said Сathy Pindzola, whose grandparents are Ukrainian. She does not speak much Ukrainian, because there was no Ukrainian school in the area when she was a kid. The children in Washington have more luck. The students of the Saturday Ukrainian School of Washington actively participated in the event and greeted the audience with the Ukrainian National Anthem.Even though the festival was organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the audience was greeted not only by its priest, Rev. Volodymyr Steliac, but also by the clergy of other churches, including Rev. Taras Lonchyna from Holy Trinity Particular Ukrainian Catholic Church. The Ukrainian community in Washington, D.C. area demonstrated exceptional unity and example of hospitality to anyone who wanted to join and celebrate our culture.