Cultural Events

49th Annual Ukrainian Festival Planned For August 24

Published: Aug 16, 2025 7:00 am

On Sunday, August 24, the 49th annual Ukrainian Festival will be presented at Paproski’s Castle Hill Farm Pumpkin Patch, 25 Sugar Lane (off Route 302).

The outdoor event will begin at 11 am with the Celebration of the Ukrainian Catholic Divine Liturgy by Father Ivan Mazuryk.

Following, from 12:30 pm, Ukrainian and picnic-style food and beverages will be served. Ukrainian food, made by the parish women, will include varennyky (potato and cheese dumplings), holubchi (stuffed cabbage), borscht (beet soup) and more. The festival’s celebrated grilled liver and onion sandwiches will be available.

At 2 pm, entertainment by Ukrainian performers will begin. They include the Kalynonka Ukrainian Dance Group of Stamford, singers Olga Olichka, Lanka Halychana, and duet Yaroslavna.

During the day, there will be Ukrainian vendors selling Ukrainian arts and crafts including embroidered blouses, shirts, jewelry, T-shirts, children’s books, flags, stickers, and more.

Additional attractions include hayrides, petting zoo, volleyball and soccer tournaments.

The event is sponsored by Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church of Bridgeport. A portion of the festival proceeds are designated for Aid to Ukraine.

The rain or shine event is open to the public.

Admission is $5 per adult. Parking is free parking. BYO chairs.

For additional information call 203-269-5909 or 203-426-5487.

Father Ivan Mazuryk leads the Celebration of the Ukrainian Catholic Divine Liturgy to open the 2024 Ukrainian Festival at Castle Hill Farm. This year’s festival, the 49th presentation of the annual event, will return to the farm later this month. —Bee file photos

Among those participating in last year’s festival were representatives from Liberty Ukraine Foundation, an Austin, Texas-based 501(c)(3) that fundraises for Ukrainian residents, servicemen and women, first-aid workers, medical facilities, and victims of the war in Ukraine.

Torpedoes Swim Team Members Make A Splash During Summer Season

Derek Piotr To Show Fieldwork Archive Via Zoom On Tuesday, August 19

Dr Richard Auerback Is August’s Medical Staff Honoree

Ability Rocks Free Community Concert Planned

I can’t help but wonder how many young people heard this advice as a life lesson: cheating is fine if the other side cheats first. What does that teach about character? About fairness? About playing by the rules even when it’s hard? Sports are supposed to instill integrity, teamwork, and resilience. When we replace those values with “win at any cost,” we risk raising a generation who believe that bending or breaking the rules is acceptable if it gets them ahead. And I wonder — how many of those players, years later, carried that lesson into other parts of their lives? How many crossed ethical lines in business, relationships, or even the law, because they’d been told that it’s okay to do wrong if you feel wronged? A society that embraces “two wrongs make a right” doesn’t become more just — it just becomes more wrong.

Dems And Reps Coming Together And Gerrymandering In Texas

It’s pretty clear that David completely missed the point. The comment about building a stadium—just like the tongue-in-cheek suggestion of suing Newtowners for “being stupid”—was obviously satire. If Dave took the stadium idea literally, maybe the “stupid” comments struck a little closer to home than he’s willing to admit. Sometimes satire isn’t meant to be taken at face value—but then again, if you have to explain the joke, maybe that’s part of the problem.

Facts First

If, as Mr. Gaston states, the property between Main Street sidewalks and the road belongs to the private property owners, then let me ask this: Would I, as a property owner, be within my rights to post “No Trespassing” signs and have any protesting group arrested for trespassing on that strip of land? If the answer is yes, then these protests are occurring on private property without permission, and the conversation shifts from free speech to property rights enforcement. If the answer is no, then there’s clearly some form of public right-of-way or easement that permits public use, which contradicts the argument that this land is entirely private. Either way, this issue seems far less clear-cut than Mr. Gaston suggests.

Bruce Walczak’s promise of RESPONSIVENESS sounds great on paper, but my own experience tells a different story. After his July 25th announcement, I congratulated him and asked a sincere question about the ongoing traffic disruptions on Main Street caused by frequent rallies at the flagpole—a concern shared by many residents and businesses. I never received an answer. No acknowledgment, no follow-up, nothing. If a candidate pledging openness and “no evasive answers or silence” can’t even respond during the campaign, how can voters expect better once in office? Responsiveness is proven by action, not slogans. Newtown needs better!

A Commitment to Responsiveness

Hi Bruce, I am not sure what meeting you attended but there was no extensive discussion. It was pretty much a popularity contest with over 200 protestors in attendance. In my estimation, no one on the LC even did any research on the subject, and those who voted NOT TO EVEN CONSIDER the benefits of an ordinance was a blatant act of conflict of interest and dereliction of duty. I for one presented 4 quantifiable benefits. If you are not able to think critically, then you really shouldn't be chiming in on the subject.

Says ‘No’ Vote Sidestepped Due Diligence

<< Aug 2025 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
27	28	29	30	31	1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	1	2	3	4	5	6

Log In

49th Annual Ukrainian Festival Planned For August 24

Leave a Reply Cancel reply