Kyiv is gradually taking on a festive look as preparations continue for one of the biggest national holidays yet – the 25th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence as a nation. The Kyiv Post has picked out these events that highlight the celebrations.
1. Arts exhibition
The house of Artists on Lvivska Square presents an art exhibition.The exhibition aims to showcase diversity with wroks from modern Ukrainian artists. More than 400 pieces of art of different genres and styles will represent everyday life of Ukrainians and Ukraine’s natural beauty.
2. Spivoche Pole flowers
Those who want to combine the beauty of nature and learn more about outstanding Ukrainians should plan a visit to Pechersk Spivoche Pole Landscape Park over the holiday.
Visitors attend the 60th annual flower festival at Kyiv’s Spivoche Pole Park on Aug. 22, 2015. This year’s festival will feature 3D representations in flowers of famous Ukrainians. (UNIAN)
The 61th annual flower exhibition on Spivoche Pole is this year dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Ukraine, and features the 3D flower portraits of famous Ukrainians, among them the pioneering surgeon Mykola Amosov, composer Mykola Lysenko, engineer Evgen Paton, and artists Maria Prymachenko and Kazimir Malevich. Visitors will be able to feast their eyes on 10 flower portraits made out of more than 300, 000 flowers.
The exhibition is open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. until Sept. 18. The entrance fee is Hr 30 – 80.
3. Military parade
A military parade will proceed along Khreshchatyk Street, past dignitaries on the podium on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, or Independence Square. More than 3,000 uniformed servicemen and servicewomen will take part, along with 200 pieces of military equipment. The parade will be held on the morning of Aug. 24.
Celebrations will be overshadowed again by the deaths of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Russia’s war against Ukraine. To commemorate fallen Ukrainian soldiers, visit Khreshchatyk Street and Maidan Nezalezhnosti at noon to watch the March of the Undefeated – a parade by soldiers, war veterans, doctors, chaplains and volunteers.
There will also be flower-laying ceremonies at the monuments to Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine’s first president Mykhailo Hrushevsky and the Heavenly Hundred – the EuroMaidan Revolution protesters gunned down in Kyiv by the security forces of the ex-President Viktor Yanukovych.
Several events are planned to celebrate Ukraine’s 25th birthday as an independent state on Aug. 24.
4. Run in Vyshyvankas
Sports lovers and patriots alike won’t want to miss one of this Independence Day’s main sport events – a race in which the competitors wear traditional Ukrainian embroidered skirts, or vyshyvankas. The Run In Vyshyvankas will start at Rusanivka Quay at 9 a.m. This charity event aims to raise money for athletic equipment for Kyiv’s schools. Runners can compete at distances of 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and 500 meters. Registration is available at http://vyshyvanka.club/. The registration fee is Hr 350, but runners in vyshyvankas enter for free.
5. Independence Festival
Independence Festival will be held at Kyiv’s Parkovka recreation area not far from the Ocean Plaza shopping mall. The event’s program includes various music concerts – Ukrainian music bands The Velvet Sun, Odyn v Canoe, Vivienne Mort and Gapochka will perform their top hits on Parkovka’s stage from 11 a.m. until 12 a.m.
Festival visitors will also be able to try street food and browse for souvenirs. Those who love Ukrainian literature will get the chance to listen to lectures given by famous Ukrainian writers and poets, including Liubko Deresh, Artem Polezhaka, Ella Yevtushenko, and many others.
The festival starts at 11 a.m. and will last until midnight. Tickets are available at website karabas.com and cost Hr 150-350. n
