Cultural life – events and festivals

 Material and spiritual culture of the city was formed under the influence of other nationalities that live in Transcarpathia: Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Romanians, Germans, Jews and others. This is especially vividly reflected in the development of the arts, construction, architecture, music and customs. As for the painting, the Transcarpathian artists were influenced by Western schools.

Today religious (spiritual) life of the city is multidenominational and represented by both traditional and non-traditional religious directions. The city has 65 registered religious communities. Among them are 23 Orthodox communities, 11 Greek Catholic, 2 Roman Catholic, 12 Protestant. Also there are 8 neochristian currents, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others.

In Uzhgorod operates Transcarpathian Regional Puppet Theater “Bavka”. In 1920s here acted the first in the region «Ruthenian theater „ Prosvita “» under the direction of Ukrainian theater worker Mykola Sadowski.

On January 1st, 1946 was opened Transcarpathian Regional Music and Drama Theater. A well-known musical collective of Uzhgorod is Honored Academic Transcarpathian Folk Choir – founded on September 25, 1945 in the city Uzhgorod as Transcarpathian Ensemble of Song and dance.

Chamber choir «Cantus» (1986) – is laureate of international competitions, participant of many national forums and choral festivals in Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Germany, Britain, France and Switzerland. In repertoire there is sacred music, music of the Renaissance, Ukrainian folk songs, works of Ukrainian and foreign contemporary composers, spirituals and jazz compositions.

Transcarpathian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra — is founded in December 2005. Orchestra took part in festivals: “Music constellation of Transcarpathia”, second music festival of Stankovych, International Art Competition-Festival “Grand Prix of  Carpathian region”.

Nowadays in Uzhgorod operate Transcarpathian museum of local lore that is in Uzhgorod castle, Transcarpathian museum of Folk Architecture and Life, Transcarpathian Regional Art Museum named after Joseph Bokshay, Zoological Museum of Uzhgorod National University, Memorial house-museum of Fyodor Manaylo, Memorial house-museum of Andrew Kotska, Art gallery “Uzhgorod”, Art Center “Ilko  gallery”.

The names of many famous artists are associated with Uzhgorod, in particular, Joseph Bokshay, Adalbert Erdeli, Anton Kashay, Manaylo Fedir, Mykola Medvetskiy, Edith Medvetska, Volodymyr Mykyta, Basil Svyda, Ferenc Seman, Emil Grabowskiy, Ernest Kontratovych, Adalbert Boretsky, Nadiia Ponomarenko etc.

Among the city libraries – Transcarpathian Regional Universal Scientific Library, that has 500 000 storage units. Scientific Library of Uzhgorod National University of 1,500,000 units.

The life of such writers are connected with Uzhgorod: Yuriy Kerekesh, IvanChendey, Felix Kryvin and poets Peter Skunets, Dmitro Kremin, Lyudmila Kudryavska, Olexander Gavrosh, Andiy  Lyubka.

Every year over 160 festivals are held in Transcarpathia, many of which take place in Uzhgorod. “Parade of brides” that takes place every summer (June-July) is one of the most popular. The most famous festival is “Sakura Fest”. The festival usually involves not only events connected with sakura blooming. There are many flash mobs during the festival, besides planting alley of Japanese cherry. Also, during this event there are many other fairs and festivals. A hero and symbol of the city at the time of the festival is Count Sakura, who has to visit all festival events, tell legends and traditions in the town square (Theater Square) and draw a big flower of sakura with children.

Traditionally, in spring festival of wine and honey “Sunny drink” is held in Uzhgorod. Besides Transcarpathian masters, their products exhibit representatives of other regions of Ukraine and neighboring countries: Slovakia, Hungary, Romania.

Among the most famous festival of Uzhgorod are – the parade of Mykolaiv and Mykolaychykiv in Uzhgorod, Uzhgorod Beaujolais festival (autumn) and others.

 Calendar of festivals in Uzhgorod:

  • February
    • Uzhgorod flash-mob festival “Day of Love on the bridge of love”, February 14, Uzhgorod.
    • Slovak Fashinhovyy ples , Uzhgorod
    • Hungarian “Forshonh Ball”, Hungarian villages of Uzhgorod district
    • Carnival Food Festival (Maslyana), spend pass winter, Uzhgorod
  • March
    • Festival of game programs “Hraylyk”, Uzhgorod
  • April
    • International festival of sacred music “Cantus”, Uzhgorod
    • Sport Petanque festival “Sakura”, Uzhgorod
    • Humorina “Miss vsesmih”, Uzhgorod
    • Contemporary Dance Festival “Rainbow Circle”, Uzhgorod
    • Allukrainian festival-contest “Transcarpathian edelweiss”, Uzhgorod
  • May
    • Festival of wine and honey “Sunny drink”, Uzhgorod
    • Holding a Day of the Neighbourhood on Ukrainian-Hungarian border
    • Festival of strength sport «Power-fest», Uzhgorod
  • June
    • The traditional parade of brides, Uzhgorod
    • Blacksmith Art Festival, Uzhgorod
  •  July
    • Cheese Festival, Uzhgorod
    • Festival of Ruthenian songs, Uzhgorod district
    • Festival of humor “Carpathian slovoblud”, Baranyntsi village, Uzhgorod district
  • August
    • Romani Folk Art Festival, Uzhgorod
  • September
    • Day of Uzhgorod and fair “Golden Autumn”, first week of October, Uzhgorod
    • Open competition-festival of organ music, Uzhgorod
    • “Days of tourism in Transcarpathia ”, exhibition-fair  “ Tour – Eurocenter”, Uzhgorod
  • October
    • Fair “Golden Autumn”, first week of October, Uzhgorod
    • International Youth Festival of Organ Music, Uzhgorod
    • International Children and Youth Festival “Silver Bell”, Uzhgorod
    • Festival of theater for children “Interlyalka” , Regional Puppet Theater, Uzhgorod
  • November
    • International Piano Competition of А. Zatin, November-December , Uzhgorod
  • December
    • Exhibition and fair “Bookish Mikolaj”, Uzhgorod
    • The parade of Mykolaychyky, 19 December, Uzhgorod