Two Community Celebrations Mark the 35th Anniversary
Ukrainian communities across North Texas marked the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence with events combining music, culture, and fundraising for Ukraine.
Ukrainian Cultural Club of Dallas Independence Day Celebration
On August 22, the Ukrainian Cultural Club of Dallas held an Independence Day celebration at the Lewisville Grand Theater. A concert, charitable fair, and auction raised funds for Ukrainian military needs, ranging from equipment such as a GoPro camera to a vehicle.
Among the items auctioned were two flags signed by members of Ukraine’s 160th Separate Mechanized Brigade, brought from Ukraine by Tonya Levchuk of Liberty Ukraine Foundation.
Ukrainian performers from North Texas and beyond included the Veselka choir, Zorya Ukrainian Dancers from Plano, and Sonyashnyk Ukrainian Dance Ensemble from Austin.
Two members of KORD—the Rapid Operational Response Corps—from Kyiv also attended the celebration. KORD is a special-purpose unit of the National Police of Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, its officers have served not only in high-risk police operations but also in the defense of Ukraine.
U.S.–Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Independence Day, National Flag Day and Kharkiv Day
On August 23, the U.S.–Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce marked three occasions at once—Ukraine’s Independence Day, National Flag Day, and Kharkiv Day—at The Revel in Frisco. The event combined live music and dance with an exhibition about Kharkiv and fundraising for charitable initiatives in the city.
Among the items offered at the charitable auction was a bottle of Artwinery sparkling wine evacuated from Bakhmut before the historic winery was lost during Russia’s invasion.
The celebration featured Ukrainian performers from North Texas and beyond, including the American Ukrainian Choir “Burvinock,” Marina Dichenko, Daria Tsykalo, Anastasia Hodureva, and Honored Artist of Ukraine Ludmila Kasyanenko. Sisters Ulyana and Nataliya Malgivski traveled from Chicago for the event.
August 23 is also Kharkiv Day. An exhibition presented the city’s history and culture alongside photographs documenting the destruction caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov addressed the gathering in a video message.
Although different in atmosphere, both celebrations connected Ukraine’s Independence Day with continued support for the country during Russia’s war. Thousands of miles from Ukraine, the events brought together Ukrainian culture, community, fundraising, and direct connections to those defending and rebuilding the country.
The celebrations followed an official City of Dallas recognition of Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day, signed by Mayor Eric Johnson. [Read about Dallas’s Special Recognition for Ukraine’s Independence Day ]
