Ukraine relief: Musicians, artisans, dancers holding weekend fundraisers in Campbell, Morgan Hill

Two South Bay venues are hosting Ukrainian cultural events this weekend to raise funds for Ukrainian relief and increase awareness.

SATURDAY IN CAMPBELL: Bay Area musicians and dancers of all ages will come together this evening, May 21, for a performance in support of the war-ravaged country.

The event will feature a multilingual repertoire, with songs in Ukrainian, Russian, Georgian, English and Yiddish. Among the featured musicians will be Sergei Chumakov, Vadim Rabinovich, Nati Chitadze, Regina Karpovich, Zhanna Shpits, Zhenya Rock and Zaza Korinteli. Along with adult participants, young singers and dancers from Deep Dance Studio will also perform.

It’s the second such fundraising concert organized by Friends in Deeds, a Facebook group. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the music will start at 6 p.m. at the Starbright Theater, 1770 W. Campbell Ave., in Campbell. The venue’s owners are donating the space and production services for the concert.

All proceeds will go to Nova Ukraine, a nonprofit, Palo Alto-based humanitarian organization, and a representative of the group will speak at the event.

Suggested ticket donation is $30. Tickets may be purchased via PayPal by emailing Friends in Deeds organizer Vladimir Begun at [email protected].

SUNDAY IN MORGAN HILL: The Lightpost Winery, in partnership with the Art of Ukraine, will hold the Ukraine Vyshyvanka Fest on the Morgan Hill winery grounds. The event, which will run from noon to 5 p.m., will feature dance and music performances, live painting, crafts workshops, wine tasting and small bites.

“Our mission is to preserve traditions, dance, art and folklore to protect Ukrainian national identity from eradication,” Art of Ukraine founder Polina Krasnova writes on the nonprofit group’s website. “We host fundraising events and folk craft workshops to showcase the depth of Ukrainian cultural heritage. We want our guests to know that they are not just helping an abstract country in need. They are protecting an incredibly rich and profound, ancient culture — an important piece of our shared history on this planet.”

At the arts workshops, children and adults can craft their own vinok, a Ukrainian headdress, from live flowers and greenery; make a motanka doll from linen and twine; and learn the art of Ukrainian embroidery.

Admission is free; attendees are encouraged to register for a ticket on Eventbrite. Lightpost Winery is located at 900 Lightpost Way, Morgan Hill.