House of Ukraine in San Diego celebrates 45th year of operation (07/17/05)

House of Ukraine in San Diego celebrates 45th year of operation

SAN DIEGO - House of Ukraine Inc., located here in Balboa Park, will sponsor its annual Ukrainian Festival during Labor Day weekend, Friday through Sunday, September 2-4.

This year marks House of Ukraine's 45th year of operation. It is thanks to three generations of volunteers and supporters that the center has had its doors open every Sunday to what now totals tens of thousands of visitors.

Festivities start on Friday, September 2, with a Welcome Get-Together in the sand near Lifeguard Station 13 located just south of "The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster" in Mission Beach, Calif. This is a great opportunity for festival guests to meet the festival's Canadian performers and to visit this popular beach attraction.

On Saturday morning the festival continues at one of San Diego's most popular tourist destinations, the USS Midway. A private tour has been organized at a discounted price for participants of the Ukrainian Festival. This aircraft carrier was commissioned in 1945 and served as the flagship in Desert Storm in 1991. No other carrier in U.S. history has served as long as the USS Midway.

The annual concert starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 3, featuring the Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble from Selkirk, Manitoba, with a special guest appearance by violin virtuoso Vasyl Popadiuk from Toronto. This event will take place at the Casa Del Prado Theater located in Balboa Park. Organizers advise festival-goers to come early to mingle and support a good cause.

As part of the House of Ukraine anniversary celebration, a pre-concert reception will be held on Saturday night at the additional price of $10 per ticket. Revenue from the additional ticket sales will go directly to the House of Ukraine Preservation Fund. Participants will be able to meet old friends, make new acquaintances over a glass of wine, and pick their preferred seats for the performance. Board members from the previous 44 boards of directors are especially invited to celebrate this milestone.

On Sunday, September 4, beginning at noon, Ukrainian ethnic food and refreshments will be available for purchase at the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages' Lawn Stage located in front of House of Ukraine in Balboa Park. At 2 p.m. a short program of Ukrainian entertainment will begin on the lawn stage featuring Troyanda and Mr. Popadiuk.

Festivities conclude on Sunday night with a dinner and zabava (dance) at 6 p.m. at the Red Lion Hanalei Hotel in Hotel Circle, with Ukrainian dance music by Dunai from Toronto.

A Preservation Fund has been set up to maintain and operate the cottage for years to come. To help keep House of Ukraine open to the public, organizers are seeking donations and advertisements for Saturday night's program. Questions regarding the program book or advertisements should be directed to Natalie at (619) 447-1252 or e-mailed to orlins@usc.edu.

For more information on House of Ukraine's Ukrainian Festival in San Diego, readers may call House of Ukraine at (619) 460-5733, e-mail housandiego@aol.com or log on to www.houseofukraine.com.

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