While the 2020 celebrations of Ukraine’s Independence Day have been scaled down because of the COVID‑19 quarantine, there are still things to see and places to go on Aug. 24 around Kyiv.
Besides the official ceremony, there will be an alternative march of Ukraine’s defenders in the city center. For music, dances and theater performances it might be a good idea to visit the Bouquet Kyiv Stage happening in the capital that same day.
And for those staying at home, there will be music shows and celebrations happening online as well.
Official ceremony
This year, the government’s official Independence Day ceremony has been transferred from Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square and Khreshchatyk Street to Mykhailivksa and Sofiivska squares, the sites of Ukraine’s most prominent Christian temples. The government’s plan for the celebrations says that this year they will have a “more spiritual component.” The start time of the ceremony has not been announced yet.
The official Independence Day ceremony. Mykhailivksa and Sofiivska squares. Aug. 24.
Defenders’ March
Ukraine’s soldiers, military veterans and volunteers will march from the Taras Shevchenko Park to the Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square starting at 9 a. m. on Aug. 24. The participants will only carry national symbols. The march, organized by the Veterans’ Movement of Ukraine, first took place last year after President Volodymyr Zelensky canceled the traditional military parade. Similar marches will be organized in other cities.
Defenders’ March. Starts at Taras Shevchenko Park (Taras Shevchenko Boulevard). Aug. 24. 9 a. m.
Bouquet Kyiv Stage
A festival of Ukrainian high art, Bouquet Kyiv Stage, is taking place on Aug. 20–25, and will have special events planned for Aug. 24. The festival combines symphonic and chamber classical music with jazz, experimental music, theater and visual art. Some of the Aug. 24 highlights are Ivan Taranenko’s Fusionfonia project that combines Ukrainian folk and jazz, as well as the joint performance of Nazgul Shukaeva Quartet, composer Vlada Buchko and D’arts dance project. Some of the festival events will also be streamed online at Bouquet Kyiv Stage Facebook page.
Bouquet Kyiv Stage. St. Sophia’s Cathedral (24 Volodymyrska St.) Aug. 20–24. 11 a. m.-11 p. m. Streaming live at www.facebook.com/bouquetstage.
Okean Elzy online show
The famous Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy gives music shows for every Independence Day, and this year won’t be an exception. The only change is that the show will be online only. The band, whose frontman Svyatoslav Vakarchuk has just quit politics again, will stream their show on YouTube and Facebook at 11 p. m. on Aug. 24. Ukraina TV channel will also broadcast it live.
Streaming live at Okean Elzy’s YouTube and Facebook pages, Ukraina TV channel. Aug. 24. 11 p. m.
Ukraine’s 29
An online event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine’s 29 will feature music shows and DJ performances, movies, VR and video tours about Ukraine, and greeting from the country’s embassies from around the world. Some of the featured music artists are electro-folk band Onuka and pop-diva NK, also known as Nastia Kamenskykh. The event will be streamed for the whole day at Facebook pages of the MFA starting at 4 a. m.
Streaming live at www.facebook.com/UkraineUA.MFA. Aug. 24. 4 a. m.-11 p. m.
