There are already two alleys in the Cherkasy park Sosnivka, where the sculptures from the previous Living Stone festivals are gathered. A walk in the park can be combined with watching pieces of art.
This will be the third Living Stone festival of stone sculptures, traditionally held in Sosnivka park (this year it is Aug. 1-28). If the previous festivals were devoted to Cossacks and romantic poetry, this time a more unusual topic was selected, “There were many interesting and unusual suggestions. The sculptors wanted to portray something philosophic, but we were insisting on a subject that would be more approachable for everybody. Finally we settled on “Street Fountains” subject. It was not an accidental choice. Cherkasy has recently restored many fountains. It is interesting how the sculptors will show living fountains in stone,” says Serhii Odarych, the city’s mayor. Besides seven sculptors from different regions of Ukraine, the representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada will hew out a fountain. While the sculptors will be working on the fountains, Ukrainian and Russian singers will sing for the Cherkasy citizens and visitors in the renewed open-air theatre.
Besides, Cherkasy bards Yurko Prokopchuk, Oleksandr Kuzmenko, Serhii Bobrov, Oleksandr Nedobor, Budnitai band and the club of the author’s song Bereh are also to participate in the Singing Soiree. For Independence Day the Cherkasy mayor promises yawl races between the districts of the city. In his interview to The Day he spoke about the races in Siena, Italy. Odarych decided to borrow the idea of the city holiday but instead of horse racing on the racehorse they are going to organize yawl racing in Cherkasy.
“Later we will make up some symbol or a sign, which as a banner, will be passed from one winning district to another. I am convinced that this kind of contests can unite the community. And the united community is always strong,” told the mayor.
It is another event, during which the local restaurateurs will demonstrate their best culinary masterpieces. But boiled corn and watermelons will not be given away for free as it was during the first fest. There was a huge line for these treats that people nearly trampled down each other.
“We draw conclusions from the previous festival. We will sell everything for a symbolic fee,” summed up Odarych.
