Watch them kick their feet really high: Ukrainian Folk Festival

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed or get FREE updates by e-mail. You can find over 800 events each month on our event calendar

17 years ago, Ukraine broke away from the Soviet Union and became its own country in every sense of the word. Now it’s time to start watching your back.

In 2004, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered these reassuring words about Russo-Ukrainian relations: “I am convinced that on the basis of mutual understanding and compromise on unresolved issues we can reach the level of true strategic partnership, a fundamental principle recorded in the treaty of friendship, cooperation, and partnership.”

In light of recent Russian adventures in the Republic of Georgia, another Soviet Union breakaway, I offer this translation of Putin’s message: “Don’t try anything silly or we’ll beat you like a stray dog.”

Enough of that. The 17th Annual Ukrainian Folk Festival will STILL be celebrated at the Ukrainian American Sport Center Sunday, August 24, 2008, beginning at noon. We’re pretty sure that here in the Philadelphia region the risk of incursion by Russian tanks and war planes should be minimal.

And what a party it’s going to be! The festival stage show swings into high gear at 1:30 pm with these headliners: Syzokryli Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble, Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, The Luna Band and Eastern European women’s Vocal Ensemble. At 4:30 pm a public dance, called a Zabava, follows the stage show, and you’ll have your chance to chow down on honest-to-goodness authentic and delicious Ukrainian foods like pyrohy, holuptsi, and kowbasa, plus baked goods, picnic fixings, and cool refreshments.

An arts and crafts bazaar and children’s fun area will be open all day. The Ukrainian American Sport Center is located at Lower State and County Line Roads, Horsham, PA 19044.

I don’t know about you but watching those colorful costumes and feet kicking and flying in the air makes me want to become a Ukrainian dancer when I grow up. Whether you’re Ukrainian or not, you’ll be welcome at the festival. Try it. You might like it.