Don't miss a spectacular 3-day showcase of Ukrainian Culture at the 52nd Annual Pysanka Festival in Vegreville! Experience the marketplace, workshops & demos, unbelievable food, Grandstand Shows, evening Zabavas, and more! This year's performers include Millenia, Trembita, the Sparkling Tones, Polka Ramblers, Volya, Viter Ukrainian Dancers & Folk Choir, and more!

Canadian-Ukrainian Music Hall of Honour
On Friday at 2:00pm, our own Jackie Rae presents the 2025 Canadian Ukrainian Music Hall of Honour Award on behalf of CFCW and the Vegreville Cultural Association. This year there are two recipients, John Bandura and a posthumous award for Bill Lutyck.

John Bandura was born and raised on his grandparents homestead, north of Andrew, AB. Influenced by his musical family, at age 12 he took an interest in the accordian. His parents couldn't afford to buy him one, but an appeal to his uncle fulfilled his dream...eventually his parents saved up enugh money for one formal lesson, and at 15, he joined his first dance band. An engineer by trade, John and his wife of 50+ years, Bernice, started their own construction business in Rocky Mountain House, still running the business 40 years later in his 80's. From 1991 - 1994, his studies in Environmental Science helped him develop two patents for environmental advances in Canada and the US. Balancing work and his passion was difficult, so filling in for various bands like the Northern Kings, the Starlites, Bill Shandro, and more, was the best way to stay on the stage in his spare time. Eventually, John started his own band, John Bandura & Friends, composing and recording his own music.

Bill Lutyck's love of music began in 1944, when a neighbour loaned him their guitar. The following year, he bought his first guitar for $10.00, tuned it as a banjo and taught himself to play with mail-order music books. His teacher encouraged him to accompany him, and his first duo played at at local events. In 1954 he helped George Strynada build his first Dulcimer with supplies from the Ukrainian Book Store, and in 1955 he founded "Rural Music Sales", selling and servicing instruments. He joined numerous bands over the years, The Farmlands, Willing-tones, Sunset Serenaders, and finally with the Country Kings from 1985 until his passing, with whom he recorded an album.

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

• Gate Admission: FREE
• Parking: $10.00
• Grandstand Shows:
  • Adults: $35.00
  • Age 13 - 17: $25.00
  • Under 12: FREE
• Zabavas:
  • Adults: $20.00
  • Age 13 - 17: $15.00
  • Under 12: FREE

Schedule

• Thursday
  • 1:30pm - 4:00pm: Touring Concert - Broken Banjos
• Friday
  • 12:00pm - 4:00pm: Farmers Market
  • 12:00pm - 6:00pm: Pioneer Village Demonstrations
  • 12:00pm - 7:00pm: Trace Your Roots
  • 12:00pm - 7:30pm: Beer Gardens
  • 12:00pm - 8:00pm: Folk Arts
  • 12:00pm - 9:00pm: Yarmarok Marketplace
  • 1:00pm - 6:00pm: Petting Zoo
  • 2:00pm - 3:45pm: Opening Ceremony & Hall of Honour Presentation
  • 3:00pm - 7:00pm: Craft Corner
  • 3:30pm - 7:00pm: Music Tent
  • 4:00pm - 7:30pm: Cultural & Band Showcase
  • 7:00pm - 9:00pm: Grandstand Show
  • 9:00pm - 3:00am: Evening Zabava
• Saturday
  • 8:30am - 11:30am: Ukrainian Dance Competitions
  • 10:00am - 3:00pm: Farmers Market
  • 10:00am - 6:00pm: Petting Zoo
  • 10:00am - 7:00pm: Trace Your Roots
  • 10:00am - 7:00pm: Pioneer Village Demonstrations
  • 10:00am - 7:00pm: Yarmarok Marketplace
  • 10:00am - 8:00pm: Folk Arts
  • 11:00am - 7:30pm: Beer Gardens
  • 12:00pm - 4:00pm: Craft Corner
  • 12:00pm - 7:00pm: Music Tent
  • 12:30pm - 7:30pm: Cultural & Band Showcase with The Sparkling Tones & Ukrainian Tradition
  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm: Grandstand Show
  • 7:00pm - 9:00pm: Grandstand Show
  • 9:00pm - 3:00am: Evening Zabava with Millenia
• Sunday
  • 10:30am - 1:00pm: Ukrainian Dance Competitions
  • 10:00am - 2:00pm: Farmers Market
  • 10:00am - 2:00pm: Trace Your Roots
  • 10:00am - 3:00pm: Petting Zoo
  • 10:00am - 4:00pm: Pioneer Village Demonstrations
  • 10:00am - 4:00pm: Folk Arts
  • 10:00am - 5:00pm: Yarmarok Marketplace
  • 11:00am - 2:00pm: Music Tent
  • 11:00am - 4:00pm: Beer Gardens
  • 11:30am - 1:30pm: Craft Corner
  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm: Grandstand Show