Lebanese and Ukrainian communities live it up at festivals

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There was fun, national costumes, dancing and food, food, food as two of the region’s main cultural groups celebrated their heritage Saturday.

Over at the St. Elias Cathedral, thousands from the Lebanese community, and non-Lebanese friends, gathered in force for the 27th year for everything from tours of the stately cathedral to traditional Lebanese performances to Lebanese pop singers.

Kids and adults whooped it up on the midway and took regular breaks to indulge in the wide variety of Middle Eastern dishes and drink.

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  Photos: Ukrainian, Lebanese festivals (Saturday, July 22, 2017)
  
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Photos: Ukrainian, Lebanese festivals (Saturday, July 22, 2017)

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  Kristina Dniprenko wears a traditional vinok on her head, festooned with flowers and ribbons. Traditionally, "maidens in Ukraine wore these - young, unmarried girls," she says. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  Kristina Dniprenko sits with her grandma, Mary Oleschuk, 90, who got emotional listening to the traditional music. "She remembers her father singing these to her to sleep when she was a little girl," explained Dniprenko at the Ukrainian festival. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  The Odessa Ukrainian Dancers came from Oshawa to entertain with a blend of old and new music. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  The Odessa Ukrainian Dancers came from Oshawa to entertain with a blend of old and new music. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  The women from the Melos Ukrainian Folk Ensemble, from Winnipeg, snuck in some happy shopping between sets on stage. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  Yarvara Markarian, 8, plays a game of peek-a-boo with her mom inside one of the traditional clothing booths. The Capital Ukrainian Village welcomed an estimated 20,000 visitors on the weekend. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  Geoff Mann from the Ottawa Mission was part of an army of volunteers cooking up traditional perogies, cabbage rolls, schnitzel and sausage at the Ukrainian festival. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  The Capital Ukrainian Village welcomed an estimated 20,000 visitors on the weekend. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  Anastasia Klimova, 3, clings to her grandmother's hip while cooling off with some ice cream at the Ukrainian festival. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  "Look ma, no hands." Abigail Bell has a blast on the midway, which kept kids entertained until the cultural programming kicked in later in the day at the 27th annual Ottawa Lebanese Festival at St. Elias Cathedral. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  A group of kids didn't look too happy when told they were too tall for one of the kids' rides at the Lebanese festival. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  The Redblacks' mascot, Big Joe, takes Marlene Matheson for a surprise spin on the outdoor dance floor during the Lebanese festival. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  While at the Lebanese festival, Christa Abourjeili, 3, seemed enamoured with "Chef Gabe" from Gabriel Pizza at the food village. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  A group of volunteers packed into the outdoor kitchen to make tasty "saj" bread from scratch at the Lebanese festival. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  Despite the heat in the outdoor kitchen, Yvette Gharib, happily cooks up tasty "saj" bread lathered in garlic and thyme, and served with cucumbers. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  Alex MacKay cleans up at the watermelon-eating contest. In Lebanon, watermelon is often cooled in the rivers before eating, explained the announcer. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  
  
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  Contestant Shawna Lee heartily digs into her plate of the sweet stuff during the watermelon-eating contest at the Lebanese festival. Julie Oliver/Postmedia
  

Meanwhile, over at the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Shrine grounds on Green Valley Crescent, the region’s Ukrainian population were saluting their heritage with traditional folk dancing, singing and plenty of food.

Saturday night features a mix of modern and traditional entertainment into the early hours.

Both festivals continue with a full schedule of activities Sunday.


“Look ma, no hands.” Abigail Bell has a blast on the midway, which kept kids entertained until the cultural programming kicked in later in the day at the 27th annual Ottawa Lebanese Festival at St. Elias Cathedral on Saturday, July 22, 2017.

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