Don't miss a spectacular 3-day showcase of Ukrainian Culture at the 51st Annual Pysanka Festival in Vegreville! Experience the marketplace, workshops & demos, unbelievable food, Grandstand Shows, evening Zabavas, and more! This year's performers include The Cimarrons Orchestra, Dunai, Brandon Hachkowski & Zenon Horobec, Millenia, Nova Mria - Hoba Mpia, Pereveslo, the Sparkling Tones, Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Ukrainian Connection and Viter Ukrainian Dancers & Folk Choir!

Canadian-Ukrainian Music Hall of Honour
On Friday at 2:00pm, our own Jackie Rae presents the 2024 Canadian Ukrainian Music Hall of Honour Award on behalf of CFCW and the Vegreville Cultural Association. This year there are two recipients, James Yacey and a posthumous award for Ludvik "Louis" Marianych.

James Yacey was born in Myrnam, AB on December 10, 1942. He learned to play the dulcimer, banjo and his Uncle's 12 bass accordion at age 15, and at 16, he bought his own used 120 bass Hohner accordion and started to play with Alex Rudkowski and The Northern Serenadors, then with Marshall Pankiw and The Sparkling Tones. While working in Edmonton at Certified Auto Radio, he helped form The Cimarron Band in 1965 and played a variety of events in Alberta and Saskatchewan. His son Bill joined the band in 1985, playing violin, bass guitar and button accordion. After 34 years working in Electronics with Edmonton Catholic Schools, James retired and is starting to learn how to read music, because you're never too old to learn!

Ludvik "Louis" Marianych was born in 1952 on the family farm in Two Hills earning his BA in Economics and Sociology, and his BEd with a focus on art at the U of A. He was Program Coordinator and Assistant Rector at St. John's Institute for 6 years, running music, dance and drama programs for students before teaching band, choir, orchestra and Ukrainian language at H.A. Kotash School in Mundare from 1984 - 2011. After retirement, he didn't slow down, conducting, producing, arranging, and directing throughout the province, including "Vinok", an Ukrainian Wedding operetta at the Pysanka Festival which went on to the Citadel, and playing guitar, stand up bass and cello in the Vesnianka vocal and instrumental trio. He received numerous awards in his lifetime, including the Governor General of Canada Commemorative Medal. Ludvik passed away on January 28, 2020, but his contributions live on.

Tickets:
Available at the Ticket Booth on the grounds or Festival Office

• Admission: FREE
• Grandstand Shows:
  • Adults: $30.00
  • Age 13 - 17: $25.00
• Zabavas:
  • Adults: $20.00
  • Age 13 - 17: $15.00

Schedule

• Friday
  • 12:00pm - 3:45pm: Ukrainian Bread Doves, Beehive Gnome
  • 12:00pm - 4:00pm: Farmers Market
  • 12:00pm - 6:00pm: Pioneer Village Demonstrations
  • 12:00pm - 7:30pm: Beer Gardens
  • 12:00pm - 8:00pm: Folk Arts (Workshops till 6:00pm)
  • 12:00pm - 8:00pm: Pysanky Writing, Dough Dove making
  • 12:00pm - 9:00pm: Yarmarok Marketplace
  • 1:00pm - 6:00pm: Thistle Hill Petting Farm
  • 2:00pm: Opening Ceremony & Hall of Honour Presentation
  • 2:00pm - 5:00pm: Leatherworking
  • 3:00pm - 7:00pm: Craft Corner
  • 3:30pm - 7:30pm: Al Horton Ukrainian Bilingual School
  • 4:00pm: Pioneer Village Flailing
  • 4:15pm - 8:00pm: Embroidery & Paper Crafting
  • 7:00pm - 9:00pm: Grandstand Show
  • 9:00pm: Evening Zabava
• Saturday
  • 8:30am - 11:30am: Ukrainian Dance Competitions
  • 10:00am - 2:00pm: Farmers Market
  • 10:00am - 2:45pm: Embroidery & Ukrainian Bread Doves
  • 10:00am - 5:00pm: Pysanky Writing
  • 10:00am - 6:00pm: Thistle Hill Petting Farm
  • 10:00am - 7:00pm: Pioneer Village Demonstrations
  • 10:00am - 8:00pm: Folk Arts (Workshops till 6:00pm)
  • 10:00am - 9:00pm: Yarmarok Marketplace
  • 11:00am - 6:00pm: Floral Vinky Headpiece & Korai Beaded Necklaces
  • 11:00am - 7:30pm: Beer Gardens
  • 12:00pm: The Sparkling Tones, Band Showcase
  • 12:00pm: Pioneer Village Flailing
  • 12:00pm - 2:00pm: Blacksmithing
  • 12:00pm - 4:00pm: Craft Corner
  • 2:00pm: Grandstand Show
  • 4:00pm - 6:00pm: Pysanky Games
  • 4:30pm: Pioneer Village Flailing
  • 5:00pm - 7:00pm: Blacksmithing
  • 5:30pm: Ukrainian Connection, Band Showcase
  • 7:00pm - 9:00pm: Grandstand Show
  • 9:00pm: Evening Zabava 
• Sunday
  • 8:30am - 12:15pm: Ukrainian Dance Competitions
  • 10:00am - 1:00pm: Embroidery & Ukrainian Bread Doves
  • 10:00am - 2:00pm: Farmers Market
  • 10:00am - 3:00pm: Thistle Hill Petting Farm
  • 10:00am - 4:00pm: Pioneer Village Demonstrations
  • 10:00am - 4:00pm: Folk Arts (Workshops till 6:00pm)
  • 10:00am - 4:00pm: Pysanky Writing
  • 10:00am - 5:00pm: Yarmarok Marketplace
  • 11:00am: Pioneer Village Flailing
  • 11:00am - 4:00pm: Beer Gardens
  • 11:30am - 1:30pm: Craft Corner
  • 12:00pm - 2:00pm: Leatherworking
  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm: Grandstand Show