August 22, 2007 -- Ukraine Day in the Park, Saskatchewan's only outdoor Ukrainian Festival, continues to grow. Ukraine Day stages its 7th annual festival this Saturday, August 25th.

This ever-more-popular annual event has introduced several new features this year. For the first time, the entertainment stage will include out-of-province world-class entertainers with European concert tour experience, Vasyl Popadiuk, from Toronto and Myron Bloschychak, of Lviv, Ukraine. The hours of the event have been extended to include the morning, beginning with an 8:30 am pancake breakfast at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada. The museum’s galleries will be open to the public, free of charge, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The Kiwanis park near the Museum will feature a number of buskers/entertainers. In addition, Ukraine Day in the Park is introducing its own private label beer.

Vasyl Popadiuk has just returned from a European tour in June and July where he performed in France, Germany, Italy and Ukraine. He has toured with many prestigious troupes, including Ukraine's Hopak National Ensemble, Kyiv's Gypsy Music Theatre Company, and the Nazarov Music Theatre Company of Moscow with whom he performed for many international dignitaries including the late King Hussein of Jordan. He was asked to accompany Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife as part of the cultural entourage during a state visit to Spain where he performed for Queen Sofia. His many fans include Don Was, Tom Cochrane, Ian Gillan (Vasyl was asked to play on his solo album) and Jesse Cook. In the past, he often appeared as special guest to Mediterranean guitarist Pavlo in Canada (including Saskatoon), the U.S., and the UK. More recently he has made several appearances as special guest for world-music guitarist Jesse Cook, and has been a special guest for celebrated Canadian tenor John McDermott in Toronto this summer. Popadiuk last played in Saskatoon at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada’s Medieval Gala in April. His appearance at Ukraine Day in the Park is being sponsored by the New Community Credit Union.

Myron Bloschychak is an expert in Ukrainian folk instruments and plays many including pan-flute. He was educated in a music school and conservatory, majoring in the clarinet. Bloschychak is also an excellent saxophone player. However, ancient and folk instruments are closest to his heart. He also plays novelty instruments. There is hardly anything that he cannot use for playing music, such as a piece of garden hose and he believes he may be the only person in the world who can play the difficult piece "The Flight of a Bumble Bee" on a plastic bottle. In the past, Bloschychak has toured with his performances to Canada (including Saskatoon), USA, France, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic. He has performed for many dignitaries including the presidents of Ukraine and Georgia.

Also appearing on the show stage Saturday will be Sofia Bilozor & Larissa Klymkiw of Winnipeg, a vocal duet who performed on the main stage at this year's National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, MB. Sofia and Larissa will be busking in the park in the morning, so festival participants can meet them personally.

On the south side of the Delta Bessborough Hotel, activities will commence at 11:00 am with an ecumenical prayer service at the band shell. From noon to 9:00 pm, delicious Ukrainian food, a beer garden (featuring private labels “Bood’mo” and “Zabava”), children’s activities, and cultural displays will complement a continuous stage show, featuring 15 performing groups, to provide an enjoyable family experience. Participants may watch the colourful show in the shade of huge elm trees. The show will culminate with a celebratory balloon launch. Admission is free. Bring your lawn chairs.

Ukraine Day in the Park is sponsored by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress -- Saskatoon Branch, in partnership with the New Community Credit Union.