Lanark County Ukrainian Festival returns with food, music and tradition

Lanark County’s Ukrainian Festival will return this fall, bringing together Canadians and Ukrainians through food, music and cultural traditions.

The event takes place Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Riverside Park Beach in Carleton Place.

What began in a small garage in Carleton Place has grown into one of the Ottawa Valley’s most vibrant cultural celebrations. In 2023, the festival welcomed about 1,000 guests. In 2024, attendance tripled to 3,000, and organizers expect even more this year.

The festival will feature live performances, children’s activities, an artisan market, cultural workshops, a Ukrainian art and history exhibition, and a car rally from Ottawa. Traditional food such as borscht and varenyky will also be served.

Organizers say the event is more than just a celebration. “We don’t aim to be the biggest — we strive to be the most genuine and meaningful. Our goal is to create a space where Ukrainian roots meet Canadian hearts,” the Ukrainian Fest Lanark County team said.

This year’s festival also includes a charitable focus, with a portion of net proceeds going to Kids of Ukraine, a registered charity that supports children affected by war and helps them recover from trauma.

The event is organized by members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community in partnership with the Ukrainian Community of Lanark County and the UA Canada Community Foundation.