Gogolfest Returns with La Fura dels Baus

This year Gogolfest will host a performance from the cutting edge Spanish theatre company

Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Kyiv), Celebrating India, 15 August

Fans of Indian culture will be pleasantly surprised at the show that will be taking place on our square of independence this month. And marking just that, the independence of the Republic of India, it’s going to be a day full of entertainment. Organisers aren’t too keen on letting the cat out of the bag just yet as far as the programme is concerned; however, we’re sure it’s going to be as diverse as the country itself.

Crimea, Cross Cultures Open Fun Football Schools, 15 – 19 August 

While using a pretty fun method, this is actually a UEFA backed humanitarian effort aimed at teaching kids about gender equality, tolerance, social cohesion, as well as the benefits of peaceful coexistences between countries. Because it has met with such resounding approval in various other parts of Europe, Cross Cultures has decided to bring their project to Ukraine, where boys and girls of all ages, regardless of talent, skill, ethnic, religious or social background are welcome.

Sevastopil, Montgolfiery Ballooning Festival, 12 – 16 August

Organised by the Kyiv Ballooning Society, the Montgolfiery international festival of air balloons is a wonderful ballooning parade and is already the third of its kind. Over the course of the festival, only the best pilots from all over the world will be demonstrating their skills, where, of course participants and spectators will not go unnoticed.

Uzhgorod Amphitheatre (Orlina 13, Uzhgorod), Crash Test Fest, 21 August at 13.00 

Bringing groups that play various genres of punk to one stage, this is the perfect opportunity to get your friends together and have a whole lot of fun! This year has a pretty cool lineup and includes Astpai (Austria), Final Summation (US), Jack (Hungary), Bomb the World (Poland), Stinx (Ukraine), and a whole lot more, so get out to Uzhgorod and get ready to have a blast!

Lviv, Etnovyr – 3rd International Festival of Folklore, 20 – 24 August

Folk art has proven itself over thousands of years as an inexhaustible force, and brought to you again for the third year in a row, this gene pool of culture – Etnovyr – is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever! Participants this year include Halychyna (Ukraine), Siemianowice (Poland), Gaudeamus (Czech Republic), Elai-Alai and Carreco (Portugal) ensembles of song and dance, and with concerts, handicrafts and an all around festive atmosphere, this is going to be a few days full of fun and excitement for the whole family!

Tatarskaya Bay (Shelkino, Crimea), Sosedniy Mir 2010, 14 – 16 August

Made famous not only for its month-long club event, Kazantip is also the place to head for the great pop-rock festival, Sosedniy Mir. Every year, bands from all over Ukraine, Russia and other European destinations flock to the south where rock, pop, funk, indie, Brit-pop, punk and ska music can be heard for miles.

Popovka Village, Evpatoriya, Kazantip, 31 July – 22 August

The Republic of Happiness is often the way Kazantip is described, as a month-long spell of electronic music held on the shores of Crimea always attracts thousands of beach bums every single year. Continuing on from an 18-year legacy, this event, which was once just an amateur beach party, has become a real, authentic, international summer fest.

Sorochynskiy Village (Poltava Oblast), National Sorochynskiy Yarmarok 16 – 22 August

The National Sorochynskiy Yarmarok is the biggest national week-long trade fair held annually not far from the city of Poltava. Throughout the centuries, the fair has been held each August, during the time of harvest, and today, serves two purposes: to demonstrate the old style national traditions of crafts and popular art (you can buy works and souvenirs brought from all corners of Ukraine), and to provide a field for the presentation of products by modern Ukrainian industries.

Zvezdniy Bereg Resort Complex (Kachinskoe 33, Orlovka, Sevastopil), Metal Heads’ Mission, 5 – 7 August

Coming up on its 11th year, Metal Heads’ Mission is an annual metal music fest organised by the Ukrainian brutal death metal band Mental Demise. With an estimated 3000 metal heads flocking down to the sandy beaches of Crimea each year, this is a good opportunity to mingle with bands from all over Ukraine and Russia as well as a few from as far away as Finland, (Full Scale Conflict), the UK (Naplam Death and Sworn Amongst) and even the US (Cannibal Corpse).

Illichivsk (Odesa Province), Seasky Salsa Fest, 26 – 29 August

For all of you out there who think that lying on the beach is way over-rated, this is going to be one of those trips that keeps you on toes. Head down to the sea and get acquainted with friends new and old as you Salsa your way throughout the town. Only the best instructors will be in attendance, where you will not only have the opportunity to attend their seminars and dance with them at parties, but laying on the beach, playing volleyball and having drinks by the bar together are all on the menu.