The 59th edition of Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival (CNUF) proved to be a success with ticket sales surpassing last year.

CNUF president Kayla Gillis said the weekend was fantastic.

“The weather has been great. A little bit of a sprinkle on Sunday morning, but it doesn’t damper us down,” she said.

“Attendance has been up, which has been fantastic to see. Everybody has been having a great time and we just noticed a big boost since COVID and it’s fantastic to see everybody still contribute to the festival.”

The festival has seen attendance figures rise over the last few years. Advance ticket purchases were up from last year, and Gillis said the ticket sales at the gates were non-stop.

“It’s been busy all weekend. It’s been a blast,” she said.

Gillis attributes the success to the support from the sponsors and volunteers.

“Without them, we couldn’t have a festival, right? There’s so many twists and turns to make this successful and without them it wouldn’t be possible. Without our patrons coming and supporting us and buying tickets and just supporting all the vendors, that’s what makes it successful,” she said.

“The entertainment, year after year we keep being able to bring in other entertainment. But it’s been great.”

Gillis is CNUF’s longest running president with nine years under her belt. And while she may carry the lofty title as president, it is a group effort that helps to make the festival such a success year after year.

Read the full story in this weeks Dauphin Herald.