Everything you need to know about Ukrainian Day in Southport

Ukrainian Day promises a vibrant display of Ukrainian art, food and culture with the superb Ukrainian choir, as well as workshops, dumpling making, and a children’s art exhibition. 

Visitors will also be able to see the extremely moving ‘Where I Should Be’ exhibition which tells the story of Ukrainians who live in the UK, yet remain emotionally rooted in their homeland. 

It features photography by Nina Karetska, who won the Sefton Diversity and Inclusion Awards at the 2025 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards for her impressive determination to champion Ukrainian culture and bring together the Ukrainian community in the borough.

Ukrainian Day will take place on Saturday 21st February 2026, from 11am to 4pm at The Atkinson on Lord Street in Southport town centre.

It is a day dedicated to Ukrainian culture, community, and resilience, and an opportunity for people in Sefton to come together, learn, and connect.

The day will begin at 11am with a minute of silence, amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

It will be followed by a performance by a Ukrainian choir. This is a moment of reflection and remembrance, and also a symbol of unity and hope.

It marks four tragic years since Russia invaded Ukraine, on 24th February 2022, starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II. 

At 11:30am there will be a Coffee Morning, inspired by the idea “bake a cake – bring it – share it”. This will be a relaxed and welcoming space for conversation, where people can meet over a cup of tea or coffee, share stories, and simply spend time together.

From 1pm onwards, enjoy a series of hands-on workshops, giving visitors a chance to actively engage with Ukrainian culture:

• Motanka doll workshop – participants will create two traditional toys, a doll and a horse, made entirely from threads without sewing. Motanka dolls are ancient Ukrainian talismans symbolising protection, family, and continuity of tradition.
• Glass painting workshop inspired by Maria Prymachenko and other representatives of Ukrainian naïve (primitive) art. This style is characterised by bold colours, simple forms, and deep symbolic meaning, often reflecting nature, folklore, and hope.
• Embroidery on wood workshop, where participants will create small embroidered motifs. Embroidery is deeply important in Ukrainian culture, traditionally believed to protect, tell personal stories, and pass heritage from one generation to another.
• Varenyky (dumpling) making workshop, where people will learn about different traditional techniques of shaping and sealing varenyky, a dish at the heart of Ukrainian family life.

Alongside the workshops, visitors will also see:

• A children’s art exhibition, featuring drawings by children from Sefton expressing their thoughts about war and the idea of home.
• A photographic exhibition about Ukrainians living in Southport, sharing their stories and everyday lives.

Organisers are very grateful for the support of Southport Rotary, who have kindly agreed to volunteer and support them throughout the day.

Ukrainian Day organiser Nina Karetska said: 

“It is incredibly hard to believe that this is now the fourth year of the war in Ukraine.”

“At the moment, Ukraine is going through an especially difficult period, with many cities left without electricity and heating during freezing temperatures, sometimes as low as -22°C.”

“For those of us whose families are still there, this is deeply worrying and heartbreaking.”

“Here in Sefton, many Ukrainians are doing their best to rebuild their lives, but the emotional impact of the war is profound. Some people have lost family members, others have missing loved ones, and many have lost everything they once had. This is why community events like Ukrainian Day are so important.”

“At the same time, our Ukrainian community is urgently looking for a permanent space to create a Ukrainian centre in Sefton. “

“The Ukrainian centre in Crosby closed in November, and currently there is no dedicated Ukrainian centre in the borough. This is a real concern, as people need ongoing support — emotional, social, and cultural.”

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