Jason Stockfish | [email protected]
UFest Edmonton Ukrainian Festival hosted its inaugural Mountain Malanka event in celebration of the Ukrainian New Year at the Jasper Activity Centre on Jan. 21.
As part of Jasper in January 2023, tickets quickly sold out, and a packed house filled the multipurpose hall at the Activity Centre as the evening kicked off with cocktails and entertainment.
Upon entry, patrons were welcomed with traditional Ukrainian bread and “horilka” (vodka) while Mitchell Palahniuk masterfully played the “tsymbaly,” a Ukrainian hammer dulcimer instrument.
The exceptional talents of the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton then performed traditional songs for the crowd as they enjoyed cocktails and the aroma of the feast to come wafting from the kitchen.
Before the meal was served, the Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble performed a Winter Dance for amazed onlookers who cheered on the meticulously choreographed high-flying routine as the intriguing and richly-preserved folk story of Malanka unfolded before them.
After the dance ensemble’s stunning performance, a Ukrainian buffet of “pyrohy” (perogies), “holubtsi” (cabbage rolls), “nachynka” (cornmeal dressing), mashed potatoes, smashed white beans with garlic, meatballs in mushroom gravy, oven roast chicken and more was uncovered.
The male chorus and dance ensemble each performed once more before the energetically infectious groove of Ukrainian band, Euphoria, had the dance floor bouncing as the New Year fast approached.
A late-night snack was served to tide over any lingering hunger pangs and to help soak up the evening’s cocktails, and at 11:59 p.m. the countdown to the Old New Year began.
Mountain Malanka is a fundraising event for the largest Ukrainian festival in Western Canada, with this year’s celebration taking place in Edmonton’s Borden Park on May 26-27.
More information about UFest Edmonton Ukrainian Festival can be found at Ufest.ca.
