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UkraineFest

Free Cultural Celebration

Colorful Ukrainian painted eggs.

Thu, Oct 6 | 5-7:30 PM | 1200 block of State St.
(in front of The Granada Theatre)

Part of Downtown Santa Barbara’s 1st Thursday Art Walk next month, UkraineFest is a free cultural celebration featuring craft displays, short music and dance performances, a custom “sunflower” cocktail at The Good Lion and more.

  • 5:00 PM - Cultural display and tables open
  • 5:30 PM - Dance performance by members of Ukrainian Art Center of Southern California
  • 6:00 PM - Performance by bandura player Siuzanna Iglidan
  • 6:15 PM - Welcome
  • 6:30 PM - Dance performance by members of Ukrainian Art Center of Southern California
  • 7:00 PM - Performance by bandura player Siuzanna Iglidan

Presented in conjunction with:
DakhaBrakha
Thu, Oct 6 | 8:00 PM | The Granada Theatre
(following UkraineFest)
Get Tickets >>

Siuzanna Iglidan in a field of yellow flowers, holding a bandura in both hands.

Bandura player Siuzanna Iglidan is an award-winning Ukrainian-American artist. She is a master of the bandura, piano and orchestra conducting, and recently added opera to her extensive repertoire. In April 2022, she performed alongside John Legend at the 64th annual Grammy Awards.

Close up of a sunflower being held up against a sea of blurred faces.

A beloved symbol of Ukrainian identity, the sunflower’s ubiquitous presence in the countryside made it a popular snack, a key driver of the Ukrainian economy, and ultimately, a sign of solidarity.

Read "Why Sunflowers are Ukraine's National Flower" from Smithsonian Magazine.

DakhaBrakha members all wearing black and holding either a fish or a bread loaf.

"DakhaBrakha is not their father's Ukrainian folk band – with their global rhythms and instruments, theatrical influences and costumes, and mix of blues, trance and opera that give old Ukrainian folk songs new relevance."

Watch the PBS News story, "Ukrainian folk band DakhaBrakha uses music to bring attention to the war in their homeland." 

UkraineFest Community Partners: The Granada Theatre, The Good Lion, Santa Barbara Downtown Organization’s 1st Thursday Art Walk, Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture and Voice Magazine

DakhaBrakha presented in association with Direct Relief, UCSB Department of Music and UCSB MultiCultural Center

Special Thanks:
KCBX logo     KCRW logo     KCSB

Check out the full 2022-2023 lineup