Ukrainian Village Parade & Festival On Saturday, August 24

Photo © 2018, 2019 Stefan P. Stefaniuk

On August 24th, the Ukrainian Village Committee will hold its 10th annual Ukrainian Independence Day Parade in Parma’s Ukrainian Village. The Committee invites all to join them and celebrate this special occasion! The parade procession begins at 11 a.m. on Grantwood Drive, continues north along State Road, and ends at Ukrainian Heritage Park, located across the street from St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral (5720 State Road).

The Grand Marshal this year will be the Very Rev. John R. Nakonachny, pastor at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, who was instrumental in the creation of Parma's Ukrainian Village district. Thanks to his involvement, a productive dialogue was initiated with Parma city officials and Ukrainian Village was formally established in September 2009.

Father Nakonachny himself grew up in Taylor, Pennsylvania, and began his spiritual ministry in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He received his Licentiate of Theology (1969) and Bachelor of Divinity (1972) from St. Andrew's College in Winnipeg, and Bachelor of Arts (1972) from the University of Manitoba. His ordination took place on November 19, 1972, by Metropolitan Mstyslav, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and Europe. He served his first liturgy at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Holy Ascension in Maplewood, New Jersey, on December 14, 1972, as the church's pastor, where he continued to serve for 14 years. In 1987, he came to St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, where he has served for over 30 years.

This year’s parade will showcase more than 40 marching units. Parade participants will include Ukrainian church communities, Parma area social clubs, local businesses, the mayor and city council representatives, city school officials, police honor guards, Veterans organizations, floats, and more! Spirited musical numbers will be performed by local high school marching bands.

After the parade, at Ukrainian Heritage Park, there will be a flag-raising ceremony celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day.

There will also be a festival at St. Josaphat’s astrodome for all to enjoy! Festival admission and parking are free. It begins at noon and will feature a beer garden, authentic Ukrainian cuisine, live music, the Kashtan Dance Ensemble, and the Zorya Ukrainian Female Vocal Ensemble. There will also be games for kids, a petting zoo, hay wagon rides, balloon twisting, face painting, and more!  

Questions? Email the Ukrainian Village Committee at ukrainianvillageparade@gmail.com. 

Remember to visit UkrainianVillageParma.org, Facebook.com/UkrainianVillage, and Twitter.com/UkrainianParma to keep up with the latest news in Parma's Ukrainian Village.