Ukraine’s 30th anniversary is a landmark and the country has prepared grand celebrations.
The festivities such as an arms parade, festivals, concerts and exhibitions will take place on the big day of Aug. 24, as well as days before and after the holiday. The Kyiv Post has gathered a list of celebrations planned in Kyiv:
Pylyp Orlyk Constitution
For the first time in history, the original Constitution of Pylyp Orlyk will be available for public viewing at St. Sophia’s Cathedral. The 1710 document was written by the Hetman of Cossack Ukraine. The constitution established the principle of the separation of powers in government, limited the authority of the hetman and established a Cossak parliament. Some historians consider it to be the first constitution in history. The document predates the American constitution by over 65 years.
St. Sophia’s Cathedral (24 Volodymyrska St.) Aug. 20 onward. Free
‘For the Freedom of Ukraine!’ exhibition
This showcase will unite exhibits from 19 museums, archives and libraries from Ukraine and the U. S. It will feature 176 unique artifacts from 1914–1921, covering the Ukrainian War of Independence and the history of the Ukrainian army in the early 20th century. It will also offer a peek into the history of military uniforms from the Ukrainian People’s Republic, Ukrainian Sich Riflemen and Cossacks.
Five leading Ukrainian scientific and cultural institutions from the U.S. will be featured in the exhibition. They include the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago, Ukrainian Museum in New York, the Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford and more.
National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the World War II (24 Lavrska St.) Aug. 20, 2021 — Aug. 20, 2022. Hr 10–50
Etnika festival
The Etnika festival will demonstrate works of folk art and offer master classes with professional artists. Twelve types of folk art will be presented with celebrity guests assigned to each craft as an ambassador. The guests include Eurovision fan favorite band Go_A, Ukrainian rapper Alina Pash, Olympic medalist Daria Bilodid, prima ballerina Kateryna Kuhar and others.
Ten tents will host workshops of pottery, carving, painting, blacksmithing, embroidery and more. Products of collaborations between these craftsmen and modern Ukrainian brands will also be on display.
National Museum of History of Ukraine (2 Volodymyrska St.) Aug. 21. 10 a. m. — 6 p. m. Free
Travel Ukraine festival
The Travel Ukraine festival celebrates Ukraine’s birthday by featuring the best aspects each region of Ukraine has to offer. Organized by the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine with the support of the culture ministry, the festival aims to promote domestic tourism in Ukraine. Each of the country’s 24 oblasts and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea will present their most prominent events, cultural and gastronomic strengths, as well as hold workshops on traditional Ukrainian crafts. Attendees will also be able to buy souvenirs and products from all corners of Ukraine.
National Museum of History of Ukraine (2 Volodymyrska St.) Aug. 22. 3 p. m. — Aug. 24. 8 p. m. Free
Ark Ukraine: 10 centuries of Ukrainian music
The Ministry of Culture invites all to the Ark Ukraine concert to celebrate the country’s independence through decades of Ukrainian music. Held on Mykhailivska Square in central Kyiv, the show will feature performances of old carols, ancient spiritual songs, Ukrainian baroque music, classics and pieces by modern Ukrainian composers.
The program includes twenty music acts such as acclaimed band DakhaBrakha, Eurovision winner Jamala, Okean Elzy frontman Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, rapper Alina Pash, ethno-group Kurbasi, the youth symphony orchestra of Ukraine and more. The concert will be accompanied by a multimedia installation with holographic projections and augmented reality special effects.
Mykhailivska Square. Aug. 22. 9 p. m. Free
State Flag Day
On State Flag Day, Ukrainian national flags will be raised all over the country. The largest ever Ukrainian flag will be unveiled at Kyiv’s Peremohy Park. A map of Kyiv Oblast will be set up next to the 72-meter flagpole of greenery. In the Ukrainian capital, people will also be able to observe the flags flying on the parliament’s building, the National Opera, the Palace of Ukraine, TsUM department store and the Gulliver shopping mall.
Near the fountain at Peremohy Park (Henerala Zhmachenka St.) Aug. 23. 9 a. m. Free
Independence Day Parade
This year, Ukraine will have its first full-fledged military parade on Independence Day since President Volodymyr Zelensky was elected in 2019. The parade will involve more than 5,000 military personnel, 400 weapons and equipment and 100 aircraft including iconic cargo plane Mriya. The parade will take place in the city center with the armed forces walking down Khreshchatyk Street, accompanied by the cheers of onlookers. After that, Kyivans can relocate to the embankment near the River Port to witness a boat showcase on Dnipro River.
Independence Square, Khreshchatyk Street. Aug. 24. 9:30 a. m. Free
Andrea Bocelli concert
Grammy-winning Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli will give a show at Constitution Square near Mariinsky Park on Independence Day. The performance will be accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and the Hryhoriy Veryovka Folk Choir. The funds raised during the concert will be used to create a center of contemporary art museum named after prominent Ukrainian artist Ivan Marchuk.
Constitution Square. Aug. 24, 5 p. m. Invitations are sent out to a select number of people who donate to the fundraiser of the Ivan Marchuk museum on its website.
Independence Day Concert
The “Independence in our DNA” concert will take place at the Olympic Stadium, with 33 star musicians, performing with ballet dancers and Kyiv Symphony Orchestra. The lineup features Okean Elzy, Jamala, Ruslana, Verka Serduchka, Monatik and many more. The artists will perform nonstop, each giving way to the next performer until the very end of the concert, when a fireworks show will start.
Olympic Stadium (55 Velyka Vasylkivkska St.) Aug. 24. 9 p. m. Hr 550-2,500
Spalakh music festival
The Spalakh music festival will celebrate new Ukrainian culture with concerts, markets, art exhibitions and other cultural activities. The spectacular lineup of artists that will perform on two different stages include Cape Cod, Zbaraski, Stas Korolyov, Palindrom, Hyphen Dash, Vagonovozhatye, Komissiya and more.
Platforma Art Factory (1 Bilomorska St.) Aug. 24. 12 p. m. Hr 549.
