Most of Ukraine’s top-notch festivals are the religious festivals: the Orthodox Christmas, celebrated on January 7; and Easter, locally called Paskha, when there are midnight services and day-long processions through the streets.
Religion, however, is not the only cause for celebration, and most of Ukraine’s large cities have annual festivals centring on music, dance, food and wine. Kiev, for instance, has a `Kiev Days’ towards the end of May, and Lviv hosts the National Virtuoso festival all through May. The National Virtuoso festival features musical and theatrical performances based on the theme of nationalism. Yalta’s Crimean Stars festival is, similarly, a festival of music and dance.
Other popular festivals and events in Ukraine include the Sarochin Market (Central Ukraine, in August) and the Independence Day celebrations, also in August.