CHICAGO โ The first-ever MoLoKo Ukrainian Festival brought together thousands of Ukrainians, friends of Ukraine, and visitors from across the United States for a two-day celebration of Ukrainian culture, music, food, community, and charitable giving.
Held June 27โ28 in Chicago, the inaugural festival transformed the city into a vibrant gathering place for the Ukrainian-American community while introducing a broader American audience to contemporary Ukrainian culture and traditions.
Throughout the weekend, the festival featured a diverse lineup of established and emerging Ukrainian and Ukrainian-American performers, including BEZ OBMEZHEN, TNMK, SKYLERR, Vova zi Lvova, Vsiudysvoia, Vlad Darwin, MAZEPA BAND, and others.
A special guest of the festival was internationally recognized Ukrainian chef Yevhen Klopotenko, who presented a unique culinary stand-up show and served guests his signature Ukrainian borscht. The festival was hosted by popular Ukrainian television personalities Anatoliy Anatolich and Iryna Ellis.
Beyond the main-stage performances, visitors enjoyed Ukrainian food and beverages, a marketplace featuring local businesses and brands, a dedicated childrenโs area, interactive activities, and opportunities to connect with nonprofit and community organizations.
More Than $68,000 Raised for Ukraine
Charity was a central part of the festivalโs mission.
Participating nonprofit organizations included Razom for Ukraine, Liberty Ukraine, the Ukrainian National Womenโs League of America (UNWLA), Protez Foundation, and others. Their work supports a variety of Ukraine-focused initiatives, including humanitarian programs, and rehabilitation and prosthetic care for Ukrainian service members wounded in the war.
According to festival organizer MoLoKo, charitable initiatives organized by participating foundations and artists raised a combined $68,700 during the festival.ย
The festival therefore served not only as a celebration of Ukrainian identity but also as a platform for turning community engagement into tangible assistance for Ukraine.
Community and Civic Leaders Join the Festival
The inaugural MoLoKo Ukrainian Festival welcomed a number of distinguished guests and leaders from Chicagoโs Ukrainian-American community.
Among them were Kostyantyn Vorona, Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago; Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer; Maria Dmytriv, president of the Illinois Division of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America; Father Mykola Buryadnyk of St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Catholic Church; and Vitaliy Kutny, President and CEO of Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, one of the festivalโs major sponsors.
Their participation highlighted the festivalโs growing role as a major cultural gathering connecting Ukrainians, American civic leaders, community organizations, and friends of Ukraine.
Over the course of two days, thousands of attendees created an atmosphere of unity, support, and pride in Ukrainian culture. The event demonstrated the strength and engagement of the Ukrainian-American community in Chicago and its continued commitment to preserving Ukrainian identity while supporting Ukraine.
โWe are sincerely grateful to everyone who became part of the first MoLoKo Ukrainian Festival. This festival was the result of the collective work of hundreds of people โ our partners and sponsors, volunteers, artists and, of course, our guests,โ said Roman Panychevnyy, founder of MoLoKo. โTogether, we created an event that we believe can become a new annual tradition for the Ukrainian community in North America and grow into an important Ukrainian cultural event in the United States.โ
Charity Soccer Tournament Extends the Festival Spirit
Another highlight connected to the festival was a charity soccer tournament featuring FC Tryzub, a Chicago Police Department team, and the MoLoKo Fest All-Star Team.
The friendly competition extended the festivalโs mission beyond music and entertainment, bringing together sport, community engagement, and charitable support for Ukraine.
The festival was organized by MoLoKo, a leading Ukrainian-American event agency with nearly 15 years of experience producing cultural, charitable, and entertainment events. During that time, the company has organized more than 500 events throughout the United States and Canada.
Official websites:
MoLoKo Ukrainian Festival: www.molokofest.live
MoLoKo: www.moloko.us
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