Key Takeaways
- UkraineFest 2025 will be held on Saturday 22 August in Town Gardens, Swindon, from 12 pm to 7 pm, and is free to the public.
- Last year’s festival attracted over 4,000 visitors; organizers anticipate an even larger crowd this year.
- The event is organized by Swindon Welcomes Ukraine in partnership with Swindon Borough Council.
- This year’s festival coincides with ongoing plans to formalize a twinning arrangement between Swindon and Rivne, a city in western Ukraine.
- Attractions include live Ukrainian music, authentic food, an art exhibition, a cultural market, family‑friendly activities, children’s workshops, a giant bubble show, trampolines, a music‑zone instrument trial, and a documentary photography exhibition titled Home with an Open Heart.
- A Parade of Freedom and Unity will invite participants to carry national flags, celebrating diversity and friendship.
- Leaders of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, Anastasiia Banatska (Chair) and Kris Talikowski (Vice‑Chair), emphasized the festival’s growth from a modest cultural gathering to what may become the UK’s largest Ukrainian Independence Day celebration, reflecting the deepening bond between Swindon and Rivne.
- Over 500 Ukrainians now reside in Swindon, supported by volunteers, host families, local organisations, and community groups.
- The festival aims to educate residents about Ukrainian culture while showcasing the compassion, generosity, and community spirit demonstrated by Swindon’s populace over the past four years.
Event Overview and Logistics
UkraineFest 2025 is set to take place in the scenic Town Gardens of Swindon on Saturday 22 August, opening at noon and concluding at 7 pm. The festival is free of charge, removing any financial barrier for attendees and encouraging broad community participation. Organisers have chosen this date to align with Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations, allowing the event to serve both as a cultural showcase and a commemorative gathering. The venue’s central location and ample green space make it well‑suited for the anticipated large crowds, providing space for stages, food stalls, exhibition areas, and recreational zones.
Attendance Expectations and Historical Context
Building on the success of the inaugural festival, which drew more than 4,000 visitors, the organisers project an even larger turnout for this year’s edition. The increase reflects both the growing Ukrainian community in Swindon and the heightened interest from local residents eager to experience Ukrainian traditions. By surpassing last year’s numbers, UkraineFest aims to become the most significant Ukrainian Independence Day celebration held anywhere in the United Kingdom, a milestone that underscores the festival’s rising profile and the strong community support it enjoys.
Organising Partnership and Civic Collaboration
The festival is a joint effort between Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, a grassroots organisation dedicated to assisting Ukrainian newcomers, and Swindon Borough Council, which provides logistical support, permits, and promotional outreach. This partnership ensures that the event benefits from both community‑driven passion and institutional resources, facilitating smooth coordination of security, waste management, accessibility, and public safety measures. The collaboration also signals the council’s recognition of the cultural and social value that the Ukrainian community brings to Swindon.
Twinning Aspirations: Swindon and Rivne
This year’s UkraineFest is particularly significant because it unfolds amid ongoing discussions to establish a formal twinning relationship between Swindon and Rivne, a city in western Ukraine. Both municipal councils have expressed support for the initiative, which seeks to foster cultural exchanges, joint educational projects, and collaborative community initiatives. The twinning framework would institutionalise the friendship that has blossomed since the arrival of Ukrainian refugees, turning goodwill into structured, long‑term cooperation.
Cultural Programming: Music, Dance, and Performance
Visitors to UkraineFest will enjoy a vibrant lineup of live performances featuring Ukrainian artists from across the United Kingdom. The program will showcase a range of genres, from traditional folk songs and hopak dance to contemporary pop and rock, highlighting the diversity of Ukrainian musical expression. A dedicated music zone will invite festival‑goers to try traditional instruments such as the bandura, trembita, and sopilka, and to join informal jam sessions, fostering interactive cultural learning.
Culinary Delights and Artistic Exhibitions
Food stalls will offer authentic Ukrainian cuisine, allowing attendees to savour classics such as borscht, varenyky (dumplings), holubtsi (stuffed cabbage), and sweet treats like medivnyk (honey cake) and pampushky (garlic bread). Complementing the gastronomic experience, an art exhibition will display works by Ukrainian creators, ranging from traditional embroidery and pysanky (decorated eggs) to contemporary paintings and sculpture. A cultural market will feature handicrafts, textiles, and souvenirs, providing opportunities for visitors to take home a piece of Ukrainian heritage.
Family‑Focused Activities and Children’s Zone
Recognising the importance of inclusivity, the festival includes a robust family‑friendly segment. Children can participate in creative workshops that teach traditional crafts, such as vyshyvanka (embroidered shirt) making and paper‑cut art. Entertainment highlights include a giant bubble show that delights younger audiences and trampoline areas where kids can expend energy safely. These activities aim to engage the next generation in Ukrainian culture while ensuring a fun, welcoming environment for families.
Photographic Exhibition: “Home with an Open Heart”
A poignant centrepiece of this year’s festival is the documentary photography project titled Home with an Open Heart. The exhibition presents intimate portraits and narratives of Ukrainian families who have resettled in Swindon, alongside the local residents who welcomed them upon arrival. Through striking images and personal testimonies, the project illustrates the themes of hospitality, resilience, and the formation of new community bonds, reinforcing the festival’s overarching message of solidarity.
Parade of Freedom and Unity
Adding a symbolic procession to the festivities, organisers are planning a Parade of Freedom and Unity. Participants will be invited to carry national flags—both Ukrainian and Swindon’s—as they march through the festival grounds, celebrating diversity, friendship, and shared values. The parade serves as a visual affirmation of the growing ties between the two communities and offers a moment of collective pride for attendees of all backgrounds.
Voices from the Organising Committee
Anastasiia Banatska, Chair of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine and a native of Rivne, reflected on the festival’s evolution: “UkraineFest has always been a celebration of Ukrainian culture, identity and resilience, but this year it also represents something even more meaningful. The friendship between Swindon and Rivne has grown from acts of kindness shown by local people when Ukrainians first arrived here. To see that relationship developing into a formal partnership between our two communities is incredibly emotional and something many Ukrainians in Swindon are proud to celebrate.” She noted that what began as a modest gathering to share culture has blossomed into what may be the UK’s largest Ukrainian Independence Day celebration, a testament to the strength of the Ukrainian community and the support of Swindon residents.
Kris Talikowski, Vice‑Chair of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, echoed these sentiments, stating: “The proposed partnership with Rivne demonstrates how those relationships have matured into a genuine friendship between two communities. UkraineFest is a celebration of that journey, bringing together people from all backgrounds to celebrate culture, unity and the values that connect us.” He highlighted that over 500 Ukrainians now call Swindon home, supported by a network of volunteers, host families, local organisations, and community groups, underscoring the town’s compassion and generosity over the past four years.
Community Impact and Invitation to Residents
With more than 500 Ukrainians settled in Swindon, the festival offers a prime opportunity for broader civic engagement. Organisers are actively encouraging residents from across the borough to attend, not only to enjoy the entertainment and cuisine but also to learn about Ukrainian traditions, history, and contemporary life. By fostering direct interaction and shared experiences, UkraineFest aims to deepen mutual understanding, strengthen social cohesion, and showcase the enduring spirit of solidarity that has characterised Swindon’s response to the Ukrainian crisis since 2022. The event stands as a living example of how cultural celebration can cement friendships, inspire future collaborations, and enrich the cultural fabric of a town.