Walk Toronto's Ukrainian Festival, September 2025 Virtual Tour

The Toronto Ukrainian Festival: History and Development
Origins

The festival was founded in 1995, under the auspices of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Toronto Branch. Its creation was tied to the twinning of Toronto with Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.

The first event was modest: a showcase of Ukrainian culture in music, dance, food, visual arts, and community. It took place along Bloor Street West in the Bloor West Village neighbourhood.

Growth Over Time

What began as a local event has grown enormously in scale. By the 2000s and through to the 2010s, the festival had attracted national (and increasingly international) attention.

The programming expanded: more stages, more performers, including groups from Ukraine and other countries; more food vendors; more cultural pavilions; and more interactive exhibits.


In 2020, the festival pivoted to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, trying to preserve the spirit of the event despite restrictions.
BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival

Recent Milestones

In 2022, after a two-year break from normal operations (due to COVID-19), the festival returned in full force. The 26th edition was its largest to date, with an estimated 900,000 visitors.

By 2023, attendance exceeded 1 million people, signalling that the festival has become one of the major cultural events in Toronto.


Cultural and Social Significance

The festival is not just “a street fair” but plays a number of important roles for different communities and in the broader Canadian context.

For the Ukrainian Diaspora

Cultural preservation: The festival provides a vital space to maintain and display traditional culture—music, dance, folk crafts (like embroidery, pysanky, etc.), food, and language. For many in the diaspora, these are ties to heritage, identity, and memory.

Community connection and intergenerational bonding: Multiple generations of Ukrainian Canadian families attend. Young people, recent immigrants or refugees from Ukraine, and those born in Canada all find places to connect. The event helps transmit culture across generations.

Visibility and pride: In contexts where diaspora can sometimes feel marginalized, a large, visible public festival affirms that Ukrainian culture is part of Canada's multicultural fabric. The parade, costumes, flags, and public performances add to a sense of pride.

For Toronto and Canada

Multiculturalism in practice: The festival exemplifies how Toronto embraces cultural diversity. It’s open to the public, with many non-Ukrainians attending; performers from other cultures are sometimes featured; and the event fosters cross-cultural awareness.


Civic engagement and political symbolism: Over time the festival has become a place for public statements—particularly in recent years with respect to Ukraine’s political situation (especially since 2014, and intensifying after 2022). Marches of solidarity, exhibitions about Ukraine’s struggles, and support for refugees are part of its programming.


Economic & urban impact: The festival draws visitors from across Canada, the U.S., and abroad. Local businesses along Bloor West Village benefit, as do vendors, artists, and craftspeople. It contributes to tourism in Toronto and helps animate the Bloor West Village neighbourhood during the festival weekend.


Social Solidarity and Global Context

Solidarity in the face of crisis: Especially since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the festival has become a locus for expressing solidarity: with Ukrainians in Ukraine, for refugees, and within the diaspora. This includes marches, displays, and amplifying voices of those affected.


Education & awareness: The festival is also a chance for those unfamiliar with Ukrainian history, language, politics, and culture to engage, learn, and build empathy. Exhibits and discussions help frame Ukraine’s history, challenges, and contributions.

Challenges and Future Directions

While the festival is well-established, there are some ongoing and potential challenges, as well as opportunities:

Sustaining volunteer and financial support: Such large events require many volunteers and funding. Maintaining momentum, especially when global attention contracts, is important.

Evolving with new generations: Balancing traditional culture with contemporary arts, music, and expressions so younger Ukrainian Canadians feel represented.

Political sensitivities: As the situation in Ukraine and relations with other countries evolve, the festival plays a role in political expression, which at times can attract controversy.

Conclusion

The Toronto Ukrainian Festival has grown from modest beginnings in 1995 into North America’s largest Ukrainian street festival. More than entertainment, it is a vibrant reflection of how diasporic culture can thrive in a multicultural society, offering continuity and connection for the Ukrainian community, while also enriching the broader Canadian social landscape.