In the small English village of Faringdon, near Oxford, the Mavka came to life once again.
Ukrainian songs echoed through the trees, dance and music groups performed on stage, and a little further into the woods, people sang along to guitar music, learned first-aid skills, and enjoyed sweeping views across the town. Held for the third year in a row, the Ukrainian cultural festival welcomed visitors from across the United Kingdom.
In Slavic mythology, a Mavka is a woodland spirit associated with nature, springtime, freedom, and the natural world. In Ukrainian culture, the figure became particularly well known through The Forest Song, the celebrated poetic drama by Lesya Ukrainka.
It is this character that has become the symbol of the festival in Faringdon.
The Mavka sculpture appeared in the local woodland three years ago, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. One of the festival’s co-organisers, Hanna Bright, the founder of Hanna Bright Studio and a volunteer organisation, Bright Bazaar, says the idea grew out of a desire to thank the local community that supported Ukrainians during some of their most difficult moments.
“Anastasiia Nimchuk, a mother of five, wanted to do something meaningful for the Faringdon community that welcomed her and her family after the start of the full-scale invasion. The theme of the first festival was to celebrate active women who contribute so much to the Ukrainian community in England. For that first festival, Anastasiia commissioned a Mavka sculpture from a Ukrainian artist, and brought it here.” — says Hanna
Today, the festival has become an annual event that attracts not only Ukrainians but also local residents interested in learning more about Ukrainian culture.
This year’s programme was divided into two distinct parts.
The first was the main stage programme. Following a minute’s silence in memory of fallen Ukrainian defenders, visitors enjoyed performances by music and dance groups, concert acts, quizzes, a balloon show, and a charity raffle.
Guests also had the opportunity to meet representatives of Ukrainian organisations and local businesses, as well as sample traditional Ukrainian food.
One of the festival’s best-loved traditions is the free borshch served to everyone who attends. This year, visitors were treated not only to the classic red version but also to green borshch.
The organisers offered special thanks to the Tereshchenko family, who each year grow and donate fresh sorrel specifically for the festival, as well as to the volunteers who spent the day preparing food in the festival kitchen.
Among the honoured guests was Charlie Maynard, Member of Parliament for the Faringdon area. The event was also supported by Honoured Artist of Ukraine Tetiana Kysliak, aerial gymnast Yuliia Libretska, the female bandura ensemble Dvi Doli, the Kryla Choir, a children’s bandura group, and many other Ukrainian performers.
A special role in the concert programme was played by Hanna Andriushchenko-Voloshchuk, founder of The Soul Ark, who has spent many years promoting Ukrainian dance in the United Kingdom and works with children’s and adult groups in Didcot, Reading, and London.
The festival was about much more than the stage programme alone. It was made possible by dozens of people who donated prizes for fundraising activities, prepared food, performed, volunteered behind the scenes, and contributed their time and energy to the event. One of the festival’s main supporters this year was Inna Tetera, the founder of beauty salon TI Beauty, which generously provided 24 prizes for the festival quiz. Another highlight of the programme was the bubble show by Anna Mikhno from Bubble Fairy Events, who brings a touch of wonder and joy to both children and adults.
Food also played an important role in bringing people together throughout the day. Visitors enjoyed grilled meat, homemade pastries, and popular Georgian dishes prepared by the Village Bridge Town Catering team. The charity raffle featured prizes donated by Ukrainian businesses and festival partners, including the legendary Kyiv Cake, provided by Malva Food from Reading.
Together, these contributions helped create the atmosphere that many guests spoke about throughout the day — an event shaped not only by performances and activities, but by generosity, community spirit, and the willingness of people to come together and support one another.
For many visitors, however, the most memorable part of the festival was the woodland gathering around the Mavka sculpture.
There, the atmosphere felt entirely different. People sat on the grass beneath the trees, listened to live music, joined traditional circle dances, and took part in workshops. From the hilltop, visitors could look out across the town while Ukrainian flags fluttered above the clearing.
Guests were particularly captivated by the performance of violinist and singer Nadiia Andriuk, whose music filled the woodland setting with a sense of warmth and intimacy. In the forest programme, the Trio Vyshyvanka bandurists performed traditional Ukrainian melodies, their music blending naturally with the sounds of the surrounding trees and evening birdsong.
One of the most significant events in the woodland programme was a first-aid workshop led by Akhmad, a veteran of the war in Ukraine, and his brother Amin. Representing the organisation Civilian Tactics, they regularly provide free emergency first-aid training sessions in Oxford.
According to Hanna Bright, the people themselves were the festival’s greatest strength.
“This year the festival was organised better than ever, but the most important thing was our volunteers — genuine altruists who agreed to help us. Without them, none of this would have happened. Wonderful people came together. Visitors travelled from London, Peterborough, Oxford, and surrounding villages, and that means a great deal.”
A festival visitor Iryna Ruban believes events like this help Ukrainians abroad maintain a connection with their cultural roots.
“It is important to support our culture, remember where we come from, tell local people about Ukraine, and support Ukrainian businesses. Right now, many people’s lives are on hold because of the war. There is a special atmosphere here — you arrive and immediately feel the positivity. People support one another.”
The organisers also expressed their gratitude to Justin Robinson, a long-standing friend of Ukraine. He has helped Ukrainian families arriving in the UK since the start of the full-scale invasion, supported humanitarian initiatives, and assisted with the delivery of ambulances to Ukraine. It was Justin who led the festival’s minute of silence in honour of fallen Ukrainian defenders.
As the day drew to a close, conversations, laughter, and music continued to drift through the woodland.
And perhaps that is why people return to the Mavka year after year.
Text: Adriana Martyniuk
Photo credit: Michael Haiduck
