Attend a concert
Thanks to the Independence Day celebrations, there are plenty of concerts to choose from. The most awaited is, of course, a grand performance of Okean Elzy at the Olympiiskyi Stadium. Besides, a folk band DakhaBrakha will join Sviatoslav Vakarchuk and his band in festive celebrations. The concert will take place on August 24, at 8 P.M. The ticket price starts at UAH 550.
The ‘Classic Picnic’ concert that traditionally takes place in the Shevchenko Park will be dedicated to Ukraine as well. The evening will be filled with dramatic and intense music by the most famous Ukrainian composers performed by the National Ensemble of soloists Kyivska Kamerata. Everyone is welcome to join the celebrations on August 24, at 7 P.M. The entrance is free.
Although the summer is ending, Jazz Arsenal is far from being over. On August 26, Marc Bernstein Quartet from New York will explore the sounds of American sax joined by Ukrainian piano. Marc Bernstein has performed in New York for more than 10 years and recently he moved to the European scene. The concert will start at 8 P.M. The ticket price starts at UAH 350.
Have a picnic in a park
Despite the pouring rains, the usual Kyiv summer warmth still stays quite strong. If walking under the direct sunlight and staying in both sound unappealing, picnic in the shade might be a good idea. There’s hardly a better place to have a picnic than a spacious Hryshko Botanical garden with the abundance of beautiful trees and flowers. Its vast territory full of soft green slopes is a perfect place to lie down on and contemplate nature — preferably with a glass of wine.
If you seek a quiet area away from the center, Kytayiv can be a good spot for a family picnic. This area is located in the tract among the Dnieper hills and is essentially a large forest on a peninsula surrounded by lakes. The trotted winding paths lead to the secluded spots perfect for picnics — the clean air, the quietness of the place and curious ducks that aren’t afraid of humans make Kytayiv an unusual site for Kyiv.
Maksym Rylsky Holosiivskyi Park is located not far from the same named metro station and is essentially a park built on the remnants of the forest. That’s why even with the equipment like multiple benches and a Ferris wheel, it still preserves the beauty of nature: bushy trees, curious squirrels, and ducks that live on a cascade of four large ponds.
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Go to funfairs
This weekend marks the Great Podil Fair called ‘Kyiv Kontrakts’ dedicated to the Independence Day. Kontraktova Square will host a huge market of Ukrainian goods from clothes, souvenirs and toys to makeup and accessories. Besides, a large food court will be set up for the guests to enjoy meals prepared by the chefs of the capital. Kids will be entertained on workshops and concerts. The fair will last from August 24 to August 25. The entrance is free.
Another event to attend this weekend is the third Charity Weekend on Art-zavod Platforma with the famous TV host Masha Efrosinina. This year, the Tvoia Opora charity fund raises money for a cutting-edge X-ray for the pediatric resuscitation of the Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology. The event will be largely family-oriented with kid’s entertainment zones, photo zones for moms and kids, workshops, food courts with a kid-friendly menu and much more. Besides, a famous Kyiv singer MONATIK will give a concert as well. The Charity Weekend will take place on August 25, from 12 P.M. The entrance will cost UAH 250 for adults and UAH 70 for kids aged 7-16.
Relax by the water
Kyiv has plenty of places that provide nice relaxation by the pool or natural water sources. For instance, Sky Family Park located in SkyMall shopping center opens its doors to those who seek both relaxation and active leisure. The large open-air pool is one of the many attractions available here: children are entertained by animators in a kids’ zone while adults can enjoy riding a catamaran or relaxing with a hookah. The beach complex is equipped with street food stalls and a stage where DJs and popular Ukrainian music artists cater with live music for the day. Entrance fee is UAH 50 plus UAH 200 for staying on the pool territory on weekends.
Bora Bora beach club is located near the Hydropark metro station, making it easy to reach by public transport. It also has a free parking with surveillance, so taking a car isn’t a problem. Two pools, as well as the large beach territory with clear sand, are available for all visitors. The club has a restaurant of European and Pan-Asian cuisine, bungalow rent, and a playground for kids. On weekend nights Bora Bora hosts parties on its large dancefloor co-joined with a bar. Renting a beach chair is UAH 200 per day on workdays and UAH 250 on weekends. Renting a bungalow for 4 people is UAH 800 on workdays and UAH 1000 on weekends.
Finally, one of the most frequently visited spots of beach leisure in Kyiv is Trukhaniv Island. At first, the area might not seem like a good spot for quiet relaxation, but the trick is to walk further from the general beach area and Pedestrian Bridge in the direction of wilder nature. The clean sand, birds twittering and quiet clashing of waves create a gentle vibe. Sharing a glass of wine or homemade lemonade with the picturesque view on Kyiv is certainly a thing to do on Trukhaniv Island.
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Explore fine dining spots
Kyiv fine dining scene has numerous surprising spots for every taste. Lately, Indian cuisine has been on the rise — numerous spots that offer traditional dishes and chef’s spins have appeared in the capital. One of them is Balu, owned by 25-year old Yashvi Tripathi, who is already well-known for his Himalayas restaurant. The main focus is made on culinary miracles from the north and central India. Guests of Balu café are welcome to order delicious dishes such as paneer with nut and tomato sauce; paneer salad with mango sauce; chicken with curry sauce and rice; milk balls and other. The main courses are served with Basmati rice, delivered together with spices from Indian region Madhya Pradesh.
Another notable new Indian cuisine spot is Saravsari, located in a quiet corner of Lvivska Ploshcha reachable by many trolleybuses and metro. The restaurant's menu is simple yet has everything to introduce locals to classics of Indian cuisine: for instance, paneer cheese with nut sauce and mint, chicken rice with an array of spices or a traditional entrée samosa with vegetables or chicken. A must-try among drinks, Mango Lassi, is a refreshing cocktail made from mango, milk, yogurt and a dash of cardamom. The restaurant is pet-friendly.
Seafood is a summer trend that isn’t neglected in many restaurants as well. Chornomorka restaurants on Podil and Lukianivka offer local fresh catch: eels from Shatsky lakes, pikes and trout – from Zakarpattia, turbot and guitarfish – from Odesa Oblast. Delicious oysters are available both from Ukraine and abroad: from France, the Netherlands and Ireland.
Go out of Kyiv
Finally, if Kyiv and its busy rhythm seem too exhausting this weekend, getting out of the city might be the best way to celebrate the Independence Day. The largest summer event that takes place near the capital is the annual Hot Balloons Festival in Bila Tserkva. This year, Oleksandriya Park that hosts the festival celebrates its 230th anniversary, so the festive program will be quite intense. Guests can take a ride on hot air balloons or simply watch dozens of them float in the sky.
Fans of active leisure may appreciate riding a bike in the city suburbs, which is way more pleasant without the roaring cars. Pushcha Vodytsa park that can be reached by tram #12 boasts wonderful lakes with comfortable beaches, mysterious deep forests with many narrow paths, which are good for bike riding. Experienced bike riders offer to avoid riding in Puscha Vodytsa after the rain because movement along the roads can become difficult because of wet sand. There are three bike rental spots located on the site.
Finally, you can also check out our list of top country clubs located near Kyiv. Each of them provides entertainment for adults and kids, as well as relaxing spa treatment. The weather for the weekend promises to be sunny with pleasant heat and low humidity. Enjoy the weekend and happy Independence Day!
Photo source: unsplash.com. All images belong to their rightful authors.
