Things to do

Lviv is an extremely attractive tourist area of Ukraine. It is a city of magnificent architectural landmarks: impressive temples and ancient squares, cozy narrow streets, museums and galleries housing artistic masterpieces of different historical epochs.

Carefully preserving the historical heritage, citizens of Lviv always try to demonstrate their keeping-with-the-times. It was in Lviv where traditional celebration of the holidays has received the new format of various themed festivals.

The creative spirit of the carved in stones centuries’ mystery is as if invisibly breathing everywhere in Lviv. This city produces the majority of new art and modern culture trends in the country, as well as the ideas of various interesting entertainment. It’s no wonder that 50 different festivals are listed on the Lviv Calendar of Events for 2011.

According to the old beliefs, every uttered, written or otherwise manifested number has its magic power. Number ”5” symbolizes strong energy, enthusiasm, discovery of new phenomena, progress, risk and passion for the unusual. Number ”0” symbolizes trust, stability, confidence and the ability to implement ideas with an open heart.

The symbolic digits of 50 Lviv festivals presuppose the combination of traditional artistic events and the initiation of new ones, thus creating a magic ornament of the Festival Lviv where you’re sure to find a vast array of different events to suit all tastes.

There’s so much happening in Lviv all year round. Whether you visit Lviv in the spring, summer, autumn or winter you will feel the atmosphere of a holiday!

Enjoy your visit to the Festival Capital of Ukraine!

Here are our top highlights to help you plan your Lviv trip diary!

January

Christmas Holidays in Lviv

Dates: January 6-21, 2013.

Location: the city center.

Website: www.cultureandtourism.lviv.ua.

Tel. number: (032) 235 48 82, (032) 297 57 53, (032) 254 60 79

Lviv has always cherished it’s traditional Ukrainian culture, that’s why the celebration of Christmas is very special here. All lvivites cherish ancient customs and very much enjoy new, but at the same time very traditional Ukrainian Christmas games and other entertainment.

In the Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life, a traditional festival “The blaze of Christmas star” takes place (the 7^th of January,Museum of Folk Architecture

and Rural Life (Chernecha Hora st., 1), the 8^th of January – the center of the city (Rynok square, Prospect Svobody, St. George Square).

This festival renews an ancient tradition: Ukrainians used to make big (1,5-  2  meters) Christmas stars, which are the main symbols of Christmas. Another traditional festival in Lviv is the called “A Great Carol” (January 7-30, 2012; 16, 23, 30 of January – the main concerts). This festival traditionally takes place in the St. Eucharist Church (Museina square, 3). In this year festival, special attention is paid to old Ukrainian customs, and carols in particular.

Lviv Christmas Fair

Dates: the 12^th of December 2010 – the 15^th of January 2013.

Location: prospect Svobody, Rynok square.

Website: www.yarmarok.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (097) 909 19 96

The Annual Christmas Fair is a center of celebration, which offers many interesting events: carols, games, sweets and mulled wine, a traditional Ukrainian meal “varenyky”, souvenirs and presents, and of course a warm festive atmosphere. For citizens of Lviv and visitors of the city there will be a great variety of goods: pysanky, traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts, pottery, national Ukrainian clothing, and hand-made jewelry. A great Christmas-y atmosphere will be created with little wooden booths, which have become in Ukraine, as well as in Europe, the symbols of Christmas.

5th Doughnut Festival

Date: January 7-9, 2013.

Location: City Hall Courtyard (Rynok square 1).

Website: www.pampuh.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 235 77 88

Lviv welcomes guests from all over Ukraine to celebrate main event of Christmas celebrations!

February

Festival of Chocolate

Dates: 14-17 of February, 2013.

Location: The Palace of Arts, Copernicus st., 15.

Website: www.shokolad.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 235 77 88

Through the centuries, Lviv has been famous for its unique aura filled with the aroma of coffee and chocolate. Delicious sweets from Lviv have a long history, lvivites were able to try chocolate as long ago as Middle Ages. Since then, Oriental sweets and French desserts could be found in Lviv. After some time local chefs, bakers and confectioners have started to make various delicious sweets themselves. From the beginning of the 20th century, in almost every building in the city center there have been pastry and candy shops. Therefore, Lviv is the second European capital of chocolate after the Swiss city Bern.

This year during the festival there would be an improvisational chocolate factory, the best confectioners will demonstrate the complicated process of chocolate making for everyone to see.

For the great opening of the festival there have been invited a special guest – a famous Italian singer Robertino Loretti.

March

“Lviv Fashion Week”

Dates: the 27^th of March – the 1^rd of April, 2011

Location: Expo-Center ‘Shuvar-Expo”.

Website: www.lvivfashionweek.com

Tel. number: +38 (032) 243 39 27

It has become a tradition in Lviv to host Fashion Weeks in the spring and fall each year. For three days, you will be appraising up to thirty collections of Ukrainian and foreign designers. Fashion-shows are followed by exhibitions of contemporary art – paintings, drawings, photography, thus creating the overall special artistic atmosphere of the events.

April

Easter in Lviv

Dates: April 15, 2012.

Location: the city center, The Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora Strreet)

Tel. number: (032) 243 78 23, (032) 247 03 81

Easter is a family holiday in Ukraine and Lviv is the best place to feel this atmosphere. It is only here that the family spirit is present in each temple, on every square and in each street where traditional Easter folklore celebrations, fairs, concerts and theater performances take place. World renown Ukrainian Easter eggs, embroidery, ceramics, decorations, woodcarvings attract the guests of the Easter Markets.

Pysanka Festival in Lviv

During the Festival, Lviv turns into an open air ‘Museum of Pysanka’, where from a variety of materials pysankas will be created and decorated (with branches, flowers, balloons, chocolate, styrofoam, wood, etc.).

The main idea of the Festival is to produce and decorate the city with the essential symbol of Easter – pysanka (an egg ornamented with traditional symbols, which are painted using wax and dyes). Everyone is able to join the public festival. All you have to do is to design your own pysanka and expose it to public view.

Festyny "Great Hayivka"

Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life annually hosts the ethnographic festival "The Great Hayivka" where Lviv citizens and visitors can learn about the traditions of the spring time of our region and directly take part in the Easter celebrations. "The Great Hayivka" is a meeting point for families, old friends and everybody who consider themselves citizens or guests of Lviv.

Festival visitors will find master classes on pysankas crafting and traditional Easter amusements for children and adults. Among them – ‘Kryvyi Tanets’ (continuous dance, which takes place on the central lawn of the museum); contest "Pysanka for the beloved", authentic dance workshop, amusements ‘Swing’. Throughout the day, on the main stage you will hear spring songs and hayivkas (special songs, which people sing only in this period); also you can take part in lots of competitions, entertainments and auction of pysanka. Guests can expect performances of folk and dance groups and singers.

Little guests will be enabled to attend glade ‘Willow seals’, where children can play and have fun all day, learning folk customs and traditions

Easter Fair

The ‘Easter Fair’, which takes place on the Svobody Avenue (central avenue), has already become traditional during the holidays in Lviv.

Residents and visitors of the city will be able to buy various items - handmade souvenirs, Easter symbols, honey and wax products, household-decorative items. Sweet tooth can also pamper themselves with various goodies. In addition, the organizers are preparing a series of interesting master classes on making pysankas, traditional dolls and other essential elements of Ukrainian culture.

Gastronomic Festival "Lviv on a plate"

Dates: 20 - 22 April 2012

Website: www.facebook.com / lvivontheplate

Tel.: (032) 235 77 88     

For the first time in Lviv will be a huge gastronomic festival, which will present Lviv as a gourmet capital of Ukraine. To join the festival of restaurateurs who, presenting the institution offered to eating their delicious food and drinks. Owners tavern, cafes and restaurant will be asked to make a special atmosphere of their establishment on the street! Among the different dishes will be presented cuisine of different nationalities because Lviv - multicultural city. A most unexpected event will be dinner outdoors in 1000 persons by a giant gastronomic table. Within the festival will determine the best restaurant and chef of the city.

Lviv International Children's Festival

Dates: 27 - 29 April 2012

Website: www.bookforum.com.ua

The festival brings together all kind of arts - literary, visual, arts and crafts, song, dance, theater - and invites you to dive into the fascinating and exciting world of childhood. For five days - more than 500 interesting and colorful activities for children and their parents.
Unchanged in the program are: children's reading festival " Bibliophilia" costume parade participants, act "Book of Stars" Book Quiz "Take, read!" Fair children's books "Forum – to children!". Expected collective creation of large-scale art mural, an international exhibition of illustrations for children's works and for the first time - a sports festival and the festival board games.   

The Street Dance Festival “In the Rhythm of a Heart”

Dates: the 30^th of April, 2012.

Location: the center of the city, the Art Palace “Ukraine” (Melnyka st., 18).

Website: www.fri.net.ua

Tel. number: (032) 271 95 17, (097) 603 91 93

Project “Street Dance“ is an attempt to create a new look of the traditional city street life. This usually beautiful spring day the best dancers of Ukraine gather in Lviv to show their art, among them talented and active young people from Lviv. Dancing is their style of life.

Come join us! We promise that it would be a lot of fun!

“Flugery L’vova” (“Weather-Vanes of Lviv”) – International Jazz Festival

Dates: April 29 – May 1, 2012.

Location: Rynok Square (City Hall Courtyard)

Website: www.dzyga.com.ua

Tel. number: (032) 244 47 78

The 9^th Ethno-jazz festival “Flugery Lvova” is the most exquisite and extraordinary event in the city. And as usual the event will be happening in the very heart of Lviv- in the City Hall Courtyard.

Year after year, it is expands and the amount of its participants – ethno and jazz bands – grows. Also there are different media and literary projects within the festival. A morning concert of the famous rock-band from Lviv “Mertvyi Piven’” has already become a tradition of the festival.

For three days, the Festival welcomes world-class musicians in Lviv, presenting international stars and fresh new talents from the Ukraine’s own burgeoning scene. Every year, this free event enables a huge number of people to enjoy an outstanding selection of jazz music and have a good time in a good company.

May

The City Holiday “The Batyar’s Day” (Rascal Day)

Dates: the 1^st - 2^nd of May, 2012.

Location: Rynok (Market) Square

Website: www.batyar.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 294 96 44

You’ll get the unique opportunity to dive into stylistics and the atmosphere of an authentic Lviv phenomenon, the Batyars’ World. It is a world with its own street language and city folklore of the beginning of the 20th century. Lviv Batyar is a freedom – loving, witty, gallant and romantic idler.

Taking part in the Batyar’s Day program visitors and citizens easily catch the special feeling of the immortal Lviv spirit and the old city humor. Concerts of Batyars’ bands, different comedy competitions, and quizzes for children, a retro movie festival, Batyars’ song and dance master-classes for everybody, as well as tasty refreshments and drinks are everywhere to enjoy for all the participants of the city holiday.

Being Batyar is universal. It does not depend upon ethnic, religious or political belongings. It is just a special kind of self-identification with the native beloved city. Batyars of the whole world, unite! Join Lviv’s jolly crowd!

“In the Circle of Friends” - International Children’s Art Festival

Dates: 5-9 of May, 2012

Location: Youth Arts Center “The Rainbow” (47, Antonovycha Street),

Lviv Philharmonic Society Concert Hall (7, Tchaikovsky Street),

Rynok (Market) Square, Open Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora).

Tel. number: (032) 237 24 22

Annual International Children’s Art Festival “In the Circle of Friends” is a special event of the Mother’s Day program. Folk music bands, Ukrainian traditional musical instruments, bandura and sopilka (pipe) players, dance and vocal ensembles are among the festival participants. All participants will present folk art of his/her country or region, using elements of national clothing and musical instruments. Bands from Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, and Ukraine are invited to this year’s festival.

“Lviv – the Capital of Handicrafts” Festival

Dates: May 7-9, August 21-24, December 11-20, 2012.

Location: Rynok (Market) Square, Arsenalna Square, Pidvalna Street, “Mystets’ka (Artistic) Fosa”

Website: www.idem.org.ua

Tel. number: (032) 295 69 68, (032) 254 61 55.

Lviv has always been famous for its craftsmen in Europe. The traditional festival of Lviv handicrafts is not only a fair but a presentation of the craft guilds, direct personal contacts with well-known artists, master classes, open-air exhibitions and entertainments everywhere in the city historical center.

Many prominent artists together with brewers, cheese makers, chefs, beekeepers, blacksmiths, potters, stonecutters, weavers, fur dressers, jewelers, stained-glass masters, gunsmiths, ceramists and engravers are taking active part in “Lviv – the Capital of Handicrafts” Festival. Absolutely fantastic decorative art goods such as batik, folk toys, embroidery, and leather goods have their special place attracting attention of all the guests.

Lviv City Day, Parade-Carnival

Dates: May, 2012

Location: Central part of the city

Website: www.cultureandtourism.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 235 48 82

“Where else can you feel as fine as here?” Annually this question gets the same answer: “Only in Lviv”, at the time of the City Day celebrations. It is a holiday of great entertainment traditions: impressive street theater performances, concerts and festivals. Holiday events include performances of jazz, world music, rock and pop, dance, comedy, film premières and award ceremonies to fit any taste.

In 2010, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy thousands of participants of the Great Street Parade-Carnival. Among them: children amateur groups, armored knights, walking on stilts actors, carriages with angels, city sightseeing car-train called “A Miracle Train” bringing disable children to the holiday, members of youth and sport organizations, folk dance ensembles, representatives of national minorities and public organizations... All the parade is singing, dancing and performing. Everybody is welcome to participate!

This colorful festive action unites the citizens of Lviv and guests every year.

«Leopolis Grand Prix»

Dates: 04 - May 7, 2012

Website: www.zazkozak.com

"Leopolis Grand Prix" - an international festival of vintage cars, in which will be an international motor race historic cars, car parade, сar parade - carnival and theatrical costume contest Elehantsiyi. The main event is a car show race historic road "Lviv triangle." The festival, in addition to racing - baby car holiday, excursion and navigating quest, seminars for journalists specialized automotive publications. Competitions are held according to the rules of the International Federation of age-old cars (FIVA) and included in the official calendar of Automobile Federation of Ukraine (Fau). In 2011 the festival was attended by 74 teams, including 34 from abroad.

International Musical Festival “Virtuosi”

Dates: 13 May - 5 June, 2012

Location: Lviv Regional Philharmonic Society Concert Hall (7, Tchaikovsky Street).

Website: www.philharmonia.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 272 10 42 (box office), (032) 272 67 25, (097) 700 83 58 (marketing department)

The “Virtuosi” (“Virtuosos”) festival is a popular three-week summer season of daily classical music concerts. The event was founded in 1882, and now each season consists of over 30 concerts of well-known musicians and orchestras. It is a period when many musical stars, winners of prestigious international contests, gather in Lviv to perform! The “Virtuosi” festival time in Lviv is paradise for opera and classical music lovers!

A Family Festival “Hey you, Cossacks!”

Dates: May 14-15, 2012.

Location: The Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora).

Tel. number: (093) 771 34 32

The aim of the festival is to revive the noble traditions of the Cossacks. During the festival, you and your family will have the unique chance experiencing the atmosphere of the 16th-18th centuries, to learn the traditions of our ancestors , the Ukrainian Cossacks, to participate in many activities, to listen to traditional Ukrainian folk musicians, and to try traditional Ukrainian food.

Many historical enities from Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland will participate in the festival.

So put on your Ukrainian embroidered shirt and come with your family!

We will be happy to see you!

The Festival of Choir singing “The Land of Songs”

Dates: the 15^th of May, 2011.

Location: The Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora).

Website: www.skansen.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 243 78 23, (032) 247 03 81

“The Land of Songs” festival is a reflection of the superior choir traditions in Lviv. About 25 choirs from Lviv will sing on stage at the amphitheater of The Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life as well as on other stages. All the songs are sung by more than 500 performers and this music creates a very special emotional atmosphere. It’s why the motto of this festival is “In Unity Is Our Strengh"

“Wiz-Art” International festival

Dates: 18-20 of May, 2012.

Location: Location: Lviv Palace of Arts (17, Copernicus Street)

Website: www.wiz-art.com.ua

Tel. number: (063) 628 67 73

That is a festival of short films produced during the previous year: fictional films and animations, video art, experimental movies and video artists’ presentations.

The festival program consists of competition and out-of-competition blocks. The winners of the competition are determined by the panel of judges in the following categories: “Fiction Film”, “Animation”, and “Experimental Movie”. After each film showing, the spectators vote for the category: winner of the audience award.

“Ancient Lviv” Medieval Culture Festival

Dates: May 2012

Location: Open Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora), City Hall Courtyard

Website: www.silverwolf.lviv.ua

Tel.number: (032) 233 36 28

Imagine a totally electrifying, full day out in a medieval city. “Ancient Lviv” festival invites you to meet the old-time heroes, beautiful women and brave knights, court jesters and a city executioner directly in the medieval Lviv streets. Come and you’ll have the opportunity to try archery, buy old shape smith and pottery goods, listen to medieval music. Go deep into the history of one of the oldest cities of Ukraine!

The main event of the festival is the knights’ tournament, a colorful show which gained its second revival. Tournament participants are the representatives of numerous historical reconstruction clubs from the different countries of the world. Various bands playing music of the Middle Ages will perform during the festival.

June

Alfa Jazz Fest

Dates:1-3 June

Location: Rynok sq./Kultury Park

Website: http://alfajazzfest.com

Tel. number: (032) 235 77 88; (099) 499 89 39

Alfa Jazz Festival is a jazz festival of international scale, which is held in Lviv, 1-3 June, 2012. The festival will bring together not only the best jazz musicians of the world. It will bring the city a wonderful summer weekend in the best traditions of European music events. A wave of jazz will cover the capital of Western Ukraine, will flood the highest weathervanes of the old city and dissolve all its guests in jazz cocktail of great music and unforgettable impressions. This summer, new traditions are being born – impressed by music and a number of activities, Lviv will make jazz its business card. Now Europe will start its summer festival marathon in the open air Lviv Alfa Jazz Fest.

“Young Talents in Ward of King Danylo” Festival of young painters

Dates: May – the 1^st of June, 2012.

Location: Lviv Palace of Arts (17, Copernicus Street), central part of the city, Open Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora Street)

Website: www.artclass.lviv.ua

Tel. number: +38 (032) 238 63 37, +38 (067) 843 97 67.

Each year the festival invites more than 500 hundred talented Ukrainian children to take part in the open-air painting session in Lviv. On the next – the 2^nd of June – “Golden Easel” international contest starts and lasts until the 10^th of November. The best works will be exhibited in the National Museum and Lviv City Hall. The year winner will be awarded with a prize, an easel made of real gold.

“Fairy-Tale in the Groove” - theater festival for children

Dates: 4-5 of June, 2012.

Location: Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora Street).

Website: www.skansen.lviv.ua

Tel. number: +38 (032) 243 78 23, 247 03 81

In front of the old village cottages and on the picturesque lawns the heroes of the fairy tales revive. Old Leo, Kind Fairy and Hayovyk (Kind Wood Goblin) invite little kids to participate in the show. The “Entertainment Glade” and “Tale-Narrators’ Glade” are offering children funny games and meetings with the famous fairy tale narrators and fabulists.

Join the game and feel yourself a child while visiting the museum!

“Summer on the Rynok Square” Art Festival

Dates: 4 June - 28 August, 2012

Location: Rynok Square

Website: www.litonarynku.lviv.ua, www.cultureandtourism.lviv.ua

Tel. number: +38 (032) 235 48 82

Summer in Lviv is full of life, music and entertainment during all three months. In the daytime master classes of artists, blacksmiths, florists, and choreographers as well as sports presentations are invite all guests to Rynok Square. Numerous cozy cafes and refined restaurants are attracting with smells of delicious food and coffee. Live music is heard everywhere in the old city. In the evening amateur and professional street tango and salsa groups and theaters, ethnic and popular music orchestras, clowns and outdoor cinema are creating the atmosphere of the everlasting holiday and entertainment.

Summer is a fantastic time to visit Lviv!

Lviv Beer Festival

Dates: June 15-17, 2012

Location: Central part of the city

Website: www.beerfest.lviv.ua, www.cultureandtourism.lviv.ua

Tel. number: +38 (032) 235 48 82

What does every tourist want to try in Lviv? Coffee, chocolate, and of course beer! It has become a tradition: to go to Lviv for a bottle of “true” beer. This is not surprising because the city has been famous for its high quality brewery since long ago. This tradition is kept alive with the help of The Lviv Beer Festival.

The motto of this year’s festival is the theme of car races. Because simultaneously with this festival, another event will be held in Lviv: the International Festival of Classic Cars “Leopolis Grand Prix” on the historical track “Lviv’s triangle”, which was built to celebrate the 80^th anniversary of the First International Race “Leopolis Grand Prix”. During the festival different rallies and retro car races (according to the rules of the International Classic Cars Federation FIVA) will take place.

The 2^nd Lviv Beer Festival will support the drivers by offering not just regular beer, but non-alcohol beer as well. The self-made cars race will be also happening among other traditional events during the festival.

Organ Music Festival “Diapason”

Dates: June - July 2012

Location: Lviv Organ and Chamber Music Hall (8, St. Bandera Street)

Website: www.organy.lviv.ua

Tel. number: +38 (032) 272 39 53

The “Diapason” festival reminds of Lviv as the organ music center. Lviv has got the richest organ music tradition in Ukraine. In old times, the city competed with such known capitals as Krakow, Warsaw, Prague, Vienna, and Vilnius.

The “Diapason” festival is an important step in the six hundred years of history of organ music development in Lviv. Famous organists and young performers from all over the world are coming to Lviv annually to fascinate audiences with their filigree technique and passionate emotions. Performers from Japan, Switzerland, Germany, France and other countries are invited to this year’s festival.

July

Night of museums in Lviv

Dates: July 6-7, 2012

Location: museums and galeries of Lviv

Website: www.lviv.travel

Tel. number.: (032) 297 57 80

Night tours have already became another tourist attractions of the city. Thus the cultural life of Lviv continues until the late of the night. Traditionally  twice a year in July and November runs the promo event "Night Lviv." Around 30  night tours, theatrical performances, art performances in museums, theaters, galleries are held for visitors and residents. During the December tours the most popular night events were at the Italian courtyard - theatrical fire show of Pelagia and Mikelini love story, at the "Arsenal"  museum  - reconstruction of medieval battles and master class on medieval dances, at the Palace of Bandinelli - poetic installation of works by B. Antonych and theatrical night tour in the city underground and a night tour to Lviv Lychakiv cemetery. 3,5 thousand people participated the night tours.

“Fort Missia” Festival of Arts

Dates: 1-3 of July, 2012.

Location: forts of defense from the World War I, which are situated in the village of Popovychi, Lviv region, on the border between Ukraine and Poland.

Website: www.dzyga.com, www.fortmissia.com

Tel. number: (032) 244 47 78

The main idea of the festival is creativity and diversity. Because of its numerous stages, activities, and events it is one of the biggest festivals in Ukraine. The festival will present not just traditional art, but also the newest trends of music, literature, and modern art. Three day of crazy rock, multicolored jazz, and deep philosophy. In addition, verbal readings of poems by famous and young Ukrainian poets, and theater dramas. “Fort Missia” is much more than just a festival!

“LvivKlezFest”

Dates: 20-22 of July, 2012

Location: Square behind the City Arsenal

(Former Jewish Quarter), Staroyevreyska Street

Website: www.hesed.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 238 98 61

Klezmer Feast in Lviv (“LvivKlezFest”) is an international festival of Jewish music, song and dance. It is an attempt to revive the lost musical culture of Jews living in Galicia. Within three days of the festival, citizens of Lviv and guests have the opportunity to experience klezmer music, dances, singing and as well as consort with participants – famous groups, dance bands and family choirs from many cities and countries. During the main concert bands will sing not just in Yiddish, but also in different languages according to the participants: in Ukrainian, Hungarian, Moldavian, Russian, Polish, and German.

Everyone present will have the chance to visit a typical “Jewish square”, to dance to Jewish folk music, to try their traditional food and to make hand-made souvenirs in special workshops.

“Drama UA” Festival of Modern Drama

Dates: July 5-8 2012

Location: Bohdana Khmelnytskogo street, 124.

Website: www.drabyna.org/drama

Tel. number: (097) 905 39 31

“Drama UA” is the only festival of modern Ukrainian and foreign dramaturgy in Ukraine. The aim of the festival is to popularize drama as an interesting and up-to-date genre for many people, because the main character of many dramas is an ordinary person with his/her personal outlook, values and ideas.

The main event of the festival is the discussions of the dramas. Theatrical performances of famous playwrights, lectures, and the best drama contest - these are only some events during the festival.  “Drama UA” unites famous Ukrainian and European playwrights as well as introduces new names of talented youth.

August

International Folklore Festival “Etnovyr” (“Ethnowhirl”)

Dates: 20-24 of July, 2012

Location: Open Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora Street), Rynok (Market) Square, square in front of the Opera House

Website: www.etnovyr.org.ua

Tel. number: (032) 235 48 82

The International “Etnovyr” Folklore festival, initiated by UNESCO’s International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art (CIOFF) gathers together groups from Slavonic countries such as the Czech Republic and Poland as well as from Macedonia, France (Martinique), Israel (Palestine Autonomy), India, Mexico, Cyprus, etc in Lviv. Their impressive dancing miniatures combine traditional folklore, old ritual and modern brisk dances. Musical traditions are also represented by the unique musical instruments. The number and variety of cultures and colors in Lviv streets is unforgettably impressive.

A bright recollection of the colorful costumes and artistic performances won’t leave you until the next festival!

Independence Day

Dates: 21-24 of August, 2012

Location: Center of the city, city squares, concert halls

Web: www.cultureandtourism.lviv.ua

Tel.: (032) 235 48 82

Independence Day is a special event in Lviv. On the eve of the holiday, the city’s pace changes. Everyone awaits the street performances, artistic events and the festive concert.

Wearing embroidered national shirts on the Independence Day became a tradition among citizens of Lviv. Already in the morning, the city starts flourishing with the colors of national costumes, which symbolize the prosperity and welfare of Ukrainians.

Bread Day

Dates: 21^st of August, 2012

Location: Open Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora Street)

Website: www.dobryjhlib.com.ua

Tel. number: (032) 245 84 06, (032) 245 84 24

Citizens of Lviv and guests love to visit the Open Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life at the time of the Bread Day. The celebration starts with blessings of round loaves of bread in the old church and festive walk around the museum park. Participants have the opportunity to taste and to buy bread baked according to old recipes, to learn old traditions of respect to bread or to join competitions and entertainments.

Everybody is cordially invited to participate!

Brass Band Festival

Dates: August 2012

Location: Rynok (Market) Square, Museum Square (in front of Pototsky’s Palace)

Website: www.cultureandtourism.lviv.ua

Tel.:  +38 (032) 247 14 70 , 235 48 82

Everyone can enjoy listening to the brass music of different epochs and participate in the brass bands parade. Among the participants there are brass orchestras from Lviv and foreign countries. Final concert of the festival annually finishes by the "The Anthem of the United Europe" and the traditional song "Only in Lviv" performed by the joint orchestra.

Week of Contemporary Art

Dates: 31^st of August – the 9^th of September 2012

Location: Art Gallery “Dzyga”, “The Jam Factory” (124, B.Khmelnytskyi Street), central part of the city

Website: www.dzyga.com.ua

Tel. number: (032) 244 47 78

The “Week of Contemporary Art” lights up the problems of modern art, demonstrating its ways of development and new artistic language of communication with the society. Different kinds of artistic performances and installations, new media art and experimental electronic music, film shows and discussions, lectures and master classes are on the list of the rich program for specialists and art lovers.

International Independent Film Festival “KinoLev-2012”

Dates: August 22 - 26 2011

Location: 18, Valova Street, Bernanden Garden (Museum of Ideas’ yard), Les’ Kurbas theater, Opera House

Website: www.idem.org.ua

Tel. number: (032) 295 69 68

The main criterion of the film selection for the festival is the young filmmakers’ independent view upon the world problems. Competition programs, presentations and professional meetings, premiers and retrospective shows, exhibitions and cinema school “FilmKio” are in the “KinoLev - 2011” festival program. Traditional festival themes are “Young Cinema”, “World’s idea of Ukraine and Ukrainians”, “The Festival of Festivals”, “Silent Movie Classics”, and “The Best Ukrainian Movie Translation”.

September

Festyny Diany (Diana’s Feast)

Dates: 8-9 of September, 2012

Location: Open Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora Street)

Website: www.festyndiany.org

Tel. number: (032) 245-17-73, (067) 3145601

Diana’s Feast aims at the popularization of hunting among the people and clarifying the fact that hunters are not just people with guns, but they are also great nature-lovers and they take care of the flora and fauna; they represent the culture of hunting, and keep their traditions. During the festival hunters meet each other and exchange their experience among numerous guests of Lviv from Ukraine and abroad.

The participants will enjoy the presentation of hunting traditions, hunting trophies and guns display, tasting favorite hunters’ dishes and drinks, and a rare demonstration of the most romantic kind of hunting - falconry. All this will create an unforgettable atmosphere of an ancient hunting festival.

Lviv International Book Fair

Dates: 11-19 of September, 2012

Location: Lviv city and Lviv region

Website: www.bookforum.com.ua

Tel. number: (032) 276 41 52

Lviv International Book Fair (“Lviv Publisher’s Forum”) is the biggest in

Ukraine and it is included into the Frankfurt Calendar of the World Largest

International Book Fairs. A special guest of this year’s fair is Switzerland.

The Publishers’ Forum program includes: International Literary Festival, “The Best Book of the Forum” competition, forum of librarians, business forum, and book fair. All events will be traditionally held in different theaters, museums, galleries, libraries, and coffee shops. Forum is a great way to measure how successful Ukrainian publishers were during the year.

The Night of Poetry

Dates: 11-19 of September, 2012.

Location: “Dzyga” art gallery

Website: www.dzyga.com 

Tel. number: (032) 244 47 78

The Night of Poetry traditionally gathers many well-known and young authors in one place in order to read poetry, demonstrate new projects, and satisfy all those who appreciate and cherish the art of word.

MediaDepo

Dates: August 2012

Location: Public Space of Lviv, Central and Eastern Europe City History Centre (6, Bohomoltsya Street)

Website: www.mediadepo.org.ua, www.lvivcenter.org

Tel.: (067) 4161962, (032) 275 17 34

MediaDepo is a project that covers contemporary art and digital technologies. Every year it demonstrates the best works of international media festivals – video art and artistic animation, short movies, hybrid interactive media, and experimental electronic music.

 ”Vereteno” (“Spindel”) Authentic Art festival

Dates: September, 2012.

Location: Open Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora Street).

Website: www.skansen.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 243 78 23, (032) 247 03 81

“Vereteno” festival is a gathering of authentic groups from all regions of the Western Ukraine. They represent traditional folk art: very old songs, folk trio musicians’ performances, ritual ceremonies which recall the ancestors’ lifestyle. Classes of weaving, stove decorating and reeled doll making are very popular among children. Everyone who loves dancing is invited to the ancient authentic dance lessons. But the main idea of the festival is the demonstration of the art of Embroidery.

Festival “The World of Dolls-2012”

Dates: September 20-30 2012.

Location: The Place of Arts (Copernicus st., 17)

Website: www.l-svit.com.ua

Tel. number: (067) 949 07 14, (067) 340 02 46, (097) 137 05 86

This is a third festival of hand-made dolls and Teddy bears, which aims at the introducing of new techniques of dolls making and at the cooperation of professionals in this sphere.

During the festival an unbelievable amount of dolls will be presented: from ethnic hand-made Ukrainian dolls to dolls made from all kinds of material, including ceramics, hay, wood, and glass. Visitors will be able to enjoy not just the exhibition itself, but also they will have a chance to learn the technique of doll making, to visit master classes, to watch documentary about this unusual art. And of course they could buy the doll they liked the most!

City Holiday  “Have a Cup of Coffee  in Lviv”

Dates: 28-30 of September, 2012

Location: City Hall Courtyard (Rynok square 1)

Website: www.coffeefest.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 294 96 44

For the 5^th time Lviv invites everyone for the cup of coffee! Let’s celebrate our little anniversary! You should come as well! Special Lviv coffee has already become a symbol of the most romantic Ukrainian city. Tourists from all over the world visit Lviv to enjoy our unforgettable coffee and to get to know Lvivites – people who are known as great coffee lovers and who know many secret recipes of this drink. This holiday of coffee has become for Lviv and its visitors a wonderful symbol of this gorgeous city in fall. 

“Lviv Frying Pan” Competition

Date: September 2012

Venue: Ukraine Palace (12 Melnyka St.)

Website: www.kava.lviv.ua

Tel.: (067) 370 35 21

“Lviv frying Pan” annual culinary competition will gather the finest chefs from the best restaurants in Lviv, who will compete with each other  for the right to be called  “The Best Chef in Lviv”.

The participants will be given different tasks, which include preparing a meal out of meat and fish, etc. The most exciting moment is the finals, when the chefs will be asked to prepare a meal in front of all the judges! All the audience can watch and enjoy this as well!

October

“Golden Lion” International Theater Festival

Dates: September 27^th - October 6^nd 2012

Location: “Resurrection” theater, central part of the city

Website: www.voskresinnia.eu, www.golden-lion.com.ua

Tel. number: (032) 261 63 10, (032) 297 53 96

“Golden Lion” Theater Festival is very popular not only in Lviv, but in the whole Eastern Europe. Every year Lviv turns into a huge theater stage for the popular performances, premiers and experimental works of the young directors.

Street parades of the moving on the stilts actors and impressive fire show traditionally open the festival. This year visitors will have a chance to enjoy streets theaters from Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Ireland, France, Canada, Netherlands, Belarus, and Lithuania.

Festival of the Ancient Music in Lviv

Dates: October 13 - 22 2012

Location: Lviv Organ and Chamber Music Hall (8, S.Bandera Street), St. Lazarus Church – School of Singing “Dudaryk” (17, Copernicus Street), Lviv Philharmonic Society Building (7, Tchaikovsky Street).

Website: www.earlymusicfest.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 221 05 35, (066) 808 93 38

This festival is the only professional music event in Ukraine of its kind. It offers the audience vocal, instrumental, church, secular and opera music of different European countries. Its participants will not just present their programs, but they will also give master classes. This year’s Festival of the Ancient Music will again present the musical pearls of the past.

Even though the festival will continue to reproduce the ancient musical tradition of our region, this year it will also be dedicated to the only manuscript, which is kept in Lviv. It is Lviv Tablature - a unique symbol of musical Renaissance, one of the fullest and the most interesting collections of this type in the world.

During the concerts, the music from Lviv Tablature will sound as well as the music from other Tablatures of the same epoch. The guests of the festival will be famous musicians and professionals in the sphere of baroque music.

International Avant-Garde Music Festival “Contrasts-2012”

Dates: September 24 - October 7, 2011

Location: Lviv Philharmonic Society Building (7, Tchaikovsky Street)

Website: www.philharmonia.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 272 10 42 (box office), (032) 272 67 25, (097) 700 83 58

(marketing department)

International Avant-Garde Music Festival “Contrasts” was founded in 1995. Every year the number of the well-known participants grows, thus attracting more and more public and journalists’ attention. The idea of the festival is to represent the variety of musical forms, styles, genres and interpretations emphasizing special, often contrast character of new music.

Cheese & Wine Holiday

Dates: October 19-21, 2012.

Location: The Park of Culture

Website: www.cheeseandwine.com.ua

Tel. number: (032) 235 77 88

Why wine and cheese in Lviv? Documental evidence exists of wine-growing in the Lviv Region from the 17th century AD. The climate of Lviv was much warmer at that time so the southern hills of High Castle, the Lychakiv district, Keizerwald hills and Vynnyky suburbs were covered with vineyards producing more than one hundred barrels of wine annually. Monks and monasteries of the Roman Catholic

Cheese & Wine Holiday are fantastic opportunities to learn Ukrainian traditions, to taste good wine and cheese in the open air, to visit fairs and folklore concerts, to enjoy animations and different competitions. Lviv is waiting for real gourmands!

Blacksmith Art Festival “Zaliznyy Lev” (“The Iron Lion”)

Dates: October 14-16, 2012

Location: Arsenalna Square

Website: www.zaliznyjlev.org.ua

Tel. number: (067) 735 76 84, (096) 621 98 42

The Blacksmith Art Festival “Zaliznyy Lev” (“The Iron Lion”) attracts blacksmiths from all over Ukraine. But there are also many guests from other countries, such as the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy. A real process of smithing is represented in the original way it was done a hundred years ago. Each year the festival has a new theme.

“Banderivets” Military-historical Festival

Dates: the 16^th of October.

Location: the city center.

Website: www.memoria.com.ua

Tel. number: (032) 225 81 77, (098) 457 88 19

The aim of the festival is to popularize and to spread the true information about the activity of Ukrainian Rebellious Army through the theatrical performance of some events of that time.

“Lviv Lumines – 2012” Fluorescent Art Festival

Dates: October - November 2012

Location: The Palace of Arts (Copernicus st., 17)

Website: www.lumines.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (063) 762 07 00, (097) 137 05 86

“Lviv Lumines” is the brightest festival of fluorescent works in Lviv. This unique festival will gather many specialists in this sphere as well as artists and DJ’s to attract attention of people of different age and social status. During the festival visitors will be able to enjoy not just the exhibition, but also to try different Indian teas, listen to the music, and visit master classes.

November

“Legionary” Military-historical Festival

Dates: the 1^st of November 2012

Location: the city center

Website: www.memoria.com.ua

Tel. number: (032) 225 81 77, (098) 457 88 19

The aim of the festival is to popularize and to spread the true information about the activity of The Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen (a Ukrainian unit within the Austro-Hungarian Army during the First World War) through the theatrical performance of some events of that time.

Patriotic Festival “Lenta za Lentoy” (“Ribbon after Ribbon”)

Dates: 7 November, 2012.

Location: The Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (1, Chernecha Hora Street)

Tel. number: (032) 294 96 45.

This event will unite all those who dearly love Ukraine in order to raise the national spirit of Ukraine. Various famous Ukrainian patriotic bands will participate in the festival. There will also be karaoke of patriotic Ukrainian songs for everyone. The aim of the festival is to raise the patriotic consciousness of the youth and to maintain the glorious traditions of the past. It is a great opportunity to get together with friends, to have a lot of fun and to remember whose children we are.

Night of museums in Lviv

Dates: November 6-7, 2012 

Location: museums and galeries of Lviv

Website: www.lviv.travel

Tel. number.: (032) 297 57 80

Night tours have already became another tourist attractions of the city. Thus the cultural life of Lviv continues until the late of the night. Traditionally twice a year in July and November runs the promo event "Night Lviv." Around 30 night tours, theatrical performances, art performances in museums, theaters, galleries are held for visitors and residents. During the December tours the most popular night events were at the Italian courtyard - theatrical fire show of Pelagia and Mikelini love story, at the "Arsenal"  museum  - reconstruction of medieval battles and master class on medieval dances, at the Palace of Bandinelli - poetic installation of works by B. Antonych and theatrical night tour in the city underground and a night tour to Lviv Lychakiv cemetery. 3,5 thousand people participated the night tours.

Tourist Conference “Win with Lion!”

Dates: 15-17 of November 2012

Location: Pototski’s Palace, 15, Copernicus Street

Web: www.congress.lviv.ua

Tel.: (032) 297 57 53

The “Win with Lion” Tourist Conference will be held for the 3^rd time in Lviv. Ukrainian and foreign travel business experts from Poland, Austria, Germany, and Great Britain took part in the first two conferences. Among the participants of the event there were specialists of the travel, restaurant and hotel industries, educational institutions and museums. Potential tourist products have been  discussed at the presentations and round-table meetings. Lviv’s entry into European Cities Marketing Association and opportunities it creates were one of the main themes of the conference.

Festival “Drabyna” (“The Ladder”)

Dates: November 29 - December 2 2012

Location: Lviv theaters

Website: www.drabyna.lviv.ua

Tel. number: (032) 244 58 55, (097) 905 39 31

“Drabyna” is an International festival of the experimental, alternative, independent theaters from Ukraine and Europe. “Drabyna” is based on the ways of new theatrical forms creation. A lot of attention is paid to contemporary dramas. The contest of dramas, photography projects, master classes, round tables, discussions and many other events will be held during the festival.

December

International festival “Jazz Bez”

Date: 07 -16 of December 2012

Venue: Concerts halls of Lviv

Website:  www.dzyga.com

Tel.: (032) 244 47 78, (095) 260 03 27

"Jazz Bez" is listed in the world's top jazz ratings. Every year it neglects physical borders and unites lovers of jazz all over the world.

This year, the festival will bring the most  amazing bands together, those that have already played in Lviv, as well as some new additions, and artists who are still exploring new horizons in jazz and similar musical styles. 

St. Nickolas Day.

Date: 19 of December 2012

Venue: Central Avenue in front of the Opera House, Museum of Folk Life and Rural Architecture  (1 Chernecha Hora St.) 

Website: www.сultureandtourism.lviv.ua

Tel.: (032) 235 48 82

St. Nickolas Day lights up the Christmas season in Lviv, because it is when the official opening ceremony of the main Christmas tree takes place. Every year, on December 19^th, tons of different performances, charity balls, and concerts for kids and youth are held. But not only....St. Nickolas brings a lot of fun and surprises for adults also...of course, only if they have been nice all year...