Pereveslo Festival
A Story of Growth, Belonging, and Connection
It began quietly.
In the early days, Pereveslo gatherings were small and deeply human—Ukrainian songs in a park, families sitting close together, children playing nearby, voices rising in unison. For many newcomers, these moments offered something essential:
a sense of stability, warmth, and being understood in a time of profound uncertainty.
What started as a space for emotional support and connection soon revealed something more powerful.
By 2024, these gatherings had grown into a full cultural event.
Pereveslo Festival emerged as a visible and vibrant expression of Ukrainian culture in Calgary—welcoming approximately 2,000 attendees and bringing music, food, art, and families into a shared public space.
It marked an important shift: from internal community support to public cultural presence.
Pereveslo Fest 2024
In 2025, the vision expanded further.
Pereveslo Friends introduced a new dimension. For the first time, the festival was intentionally bilingual and designed not only for the Ukrainian community, but with the wider multicultural city in mind. Cultural exchange became central. The festival opened its doors more widely—inviting Calgarians of all backgrounds to participate, connect, and experience Ukrainian culture not as spectators, but as guests and partners.
This evolution was not accidental.
It reflected a deeper transition within the community itself.
As Ukrainian newcomers moved beyond the urgent phase of settlement, their needs began to shift—from safety and adaptation toward belonging, participation, and contribution. Pereveslo evolved alongside them.
Pereveslo Fest 2025
In 2026, this journey reaches its most intentional expression:
Pereveslo Fest: Roots & Bridges.
Here, the festival becomes more than a cultural event.
It becomes a platform.
A platform where heritage is honored, and relationships are built.
Where Ukrainian culture serves not only as identity, but as an invitation.
Where communities meet—not in parallel, but in connection.
• Roots ground the festival in culture, memory, and identity.
• Bridges extend that foundation outward—creating meaningful connections across Calgary’s diverse communities.
Pereveslo Fest 2026 reflects a mature stage of community development—one where cultural identity and civic contribution come together.
For partners, funders, and the City, supporting Pereveslo is an opportunity to invest in a proven, community-driven model that:
• strengthens social cohesion
• supports newcomer well-being and integration
• creates inclusive public cultural space
• and fosters authentic intercultural dialogue
Pereveslo’s story is not only about growth in scale.
It is about growth in purpose.
From gathering, to festival, to platform.
From support, to belonging, to contribution.
And in that trajectory lies its value for the future of Calgary.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!
