Ukrainian Heritage Festival comes to St. Michael's Catholic Church in Yonkers

Today is the last day of the Ukrainian Heritage Festival in Yonkers, where the Ukrainian American Youth Association is bringing traditional culture to the Hudson Valley at St. Michael’s Catholic Church.

News 12 Staff

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Jun 19, 2022, 8:49 PM

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Updated 920 days ago

Today is the last day of the Ukrainian Heritage Festival in Yonkers, where the Ukrainian American Youth Association is bringing traditional culture to the Hudson Valley at St. Michael’s Catholic Church.

The celebration of Ukrainian heritage had rides for the kids in attendance, while the adults enjoyed ethnic music and dancing on the stage.

Under all the smiles and enjoyment at the event, there was an underlying sadness and concern for the war that’s underway more than 4,700 miles away.

For Ukrainian Alina Koblosh, it is especially hard to have fun knowing that her home country is under siege.

“I can’t comprehend it. The feeling where you don’t have a home anymore… that’s what tears me apart,” said Koblosh.

She fled when Russia invaded in February and left her parents behind.

This is the 35th year the Ukrainian community held the festival, but the festival’s chairwoman Tracey Kuzemczak says she’s never seen so much community support.

“Usually, we get about 5,000 people a day, so we average about 15,000. I think we hit that yesterday," said Tracey Kuzemczak, Ukrainian Heritage Festival Chair.

Typically, the money raised goes toward the church and the local youth organization, but this year all the profits will be going to Ukraine to help with the war.