Summer Solstice Celebration — Ivan Kupala
Around 300 to 350 visitors gathered on Sunday at the Mže riverbank in Pilsen to celebrate the summer solstice together, inspired by the Ukrainian traditions of Ivan Kupala and the Czech traditions of St. John's Night. More than half of the participants were young people and families with children.
Key figures:
Program:
- Performance by the Ruta Vocal Ensemble
- Performance by the Fenix Dance Ensemble
- Folk songs and solo performances
- Shared dances and round singing
- Bilingual Czech-Ukrainian hosting and bilingual presentation materials on the history, symbolism, and shared elements of Czech St. John's Night and the Ukrainian Ivan Kupala Night
- Traditional Czech St. John's music
Traditional customs:
- Wreath weaving — several dozen flower wreaths were made
- Symbolic floating of wreaths down the Mže river
- Traditional fire jumping
- Free tasting of St. John's herbal teas
- Free tasting of traditional Ukrainian vareniki with cherries and curd cheese
The event was organized with the help of 25 volunteers from both the Czech and Ukrainian communities. It was part of the Czech-Ukrainian cultural meetings project and also built on the "Connecting Neighbors in Pilsen: Shared Care for the Place We Live" project. The evening was a reminder that Czech and Ukrainian traditions share common Slavic roots, and that culture can naturally create space for mutual understanding, integration, and good neighborly relations.
Location: Mže Riverbank, Na Poříčí, Pilsen
Date: 21 June 2026 (Saturday)
Attendance: 300–350 people
Organizer: Společně v Evropě — Czech-Ukrainian Cultural Center z. s., in cooperation with the Pilsen Riverbanks project
Entry: Free
Coverage: Plzeňský deníkThis project is funded by the City of Pilsen and the Pilsen 3 Municipal District.
Supported by the Kaufland Fund, "MILLION FOR PILSEN AND SURROUNDINGS" programme, in cooperation with Nadace Via.
