Overview

Beginning Wednesday afternoon, August 22nd, experience Ukraine’s largest ethnic festival–Etnovyr (“Ethnowhirl”). The 2012 festival will welcome folk groups from around the world including Turkey, Spain, and Togo.  Enjoy 5 days of ethnic folk dances, parades, concerts and food (picture something akin to a Brazilian carnival). This annual event was created under the auspices of the International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art (CIOFF) and the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV) with support from UNESCO.

Location

Most events take place in Lviv’s city center on Rynok Square and along Prospect Svobody, close to downtown tourist sights.

Tickets & More Info

Program

Wednesday, August 22nd
Rynok Square

• 6:00 p.m. – Festival participants’ parade downtown.
• 6:45 p.m. – Opening ceremony on the central square of the city (main stage).
• 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m – Concert (folk groups from Algeria, Spain, Poland, Belorussia, Turkey and Ukraine).
• 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m – World cuisine*, Ukrainian artists’ crafts fair.

Metro Club, 14 Zelena Street

• 10 p.m. – “Friendship Evening” (party with visiting folk groups).

Thursday, August 23rd
Rynok Square, main stage.

• 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Solo concerts (folk groups from Algeria, Turkey, Belorussia and Ukraine).
• 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. – World cuisine from the countries of all festival participants; Ukrainian artists’ crafts fair.

Friday, August 24th
Rynok Square

• 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Ukrainian Independence Day concert featuring children groups performances and Lviv musicians.
• 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Classical music concert.
• 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – World cuisine from the countries of all festival participants;, Ukrainian artists’ crafts fair.

King Cross Shopping Center

• 1:00 p.m. – “Etnovyr” Festival opening march parade in King Cross Shopping Center.

Main shopping center stage

• 2:00 p.m. – Concert with children’s folk groups.
• 4:00 p.m. – Ukraine Independence Day concert (folk groups from Ghana, Algeria, Spain, Turkey, Poland and Belorussia).
• 6:30 p.m. – Closing parade in shopping center.

1st floor, shopping center

• 1:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – Folk dances master classes by groups from Algeria, Ghana and Spain.

2nd floor, shopping center

• 1:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – Folk dances master classes by groups from Spain, Belorussia and Poland.
• 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – World’s beverages map presentation.

Saturday, August 25th
Rynok Square

• 7:00 p.m. – Solo concerts (folk groups from Ukraine, Spain and Poland).
• 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m – World cuisine from the countries of all festival participants; Ukrainian artists’ crafts fair.

Sunday, August 26th
Rynok Square

• 6:00 p.m – “Etnovyr” Festival participants parade downtown.
• 7:00 p.m. – Gala concert (folk groups from Algeria, Spain, Poland, Belorussia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Ukraine).
• 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m – World cuisine from the countries of all festival participants; Ukrainian artists’ crafts fair.

Watch this performance by a Ukrainian dancing troupe at Etnovyr 2011: