This weekend, strap up your kozhukh, pull up your sharovary and get ready to dine on borscht and chicken Kiev during the Philadelphia Ukrainian Festival, held in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian American Citizens' Association in Northern Liberties.

Along with traditional dress - a kozhukh is a traditional Ukrainian coat while sharovary is a pair of pants - the upcoming festival will feature traditional Ukrainian foods, dancers, singers and more.

The event is held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the association, which was founded on Aug. 22, 1909, and moved into its Northern Liberties-based headquarters at 847 N. Franklin St. shortly after the group was established.

"We are a culture that focuses around religion," said association member Marc Zaharchuk as he told stories of ancestors coming to America.

He said that the history of the Ukrainian migration to America could be traced through four waves of immigration.

The first occurred during World War I. The second happened between the WWI and WWII, which is when his family came to the States to escape the progress of communism into the region.

The third was after WWII, and the most recent, fourth wave, still occurs today as Ukrainians head overseas following the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.

He said that, as Ukrainians made their way to cities like Philadelphia, there was little in the way of a support system for immigrants. Many were confused and frustrated by common American practices, like utilizing a bank to save money.

"In the old country, there were no banks," said member Maria Wikarczuk. "They needed something set up here. This place used to be packed almost every night, just so people could be with other people from their own culture."

Zaharchuk said Northern Liberties became a hub for many Ukrainian immigrants at the turn of the century because many were working jobs along Philadelphia's once-bustling Delaware River ports.

After coming to America in 1907, Bishop Soter Ortynsky, the first Ukrainian Catholic bishop in America, realized the needs of many Ukrainian immigrants and worked to create an orphanage and church in Philadelphia.

He also help set up the citizens' association as a place where Ukrainian immigrants could learn English and achieve citizenship in order to find work.

Ortynsky also helped setup the association's building on Franklin Street as a place where immigrants could save the money they earned by working on the docks.

"In this building is where there were banks," said Zaharchuk. "You could come in and give your money to a guy and he'd make sure it was in your book. We had a simple charter, to teach English and help you get your citizenship."

Started with just 35 members in 1909, the citizens' association quickly grew and over the years, serving as a helping hand for immigrants from the Ukraine.

The association eventually took over an adjoining mercantile building as the complex expanded.

Zuharchuk said that, throughout its history, the association was a lifeline for immigrants.

During the Great Depression, "police would stop people sleeping on the streets and ask 'who are you?'" said association member Anne Czajka. "They'd say, 'Ukraine,' and the cops would just send them on down to Franklin Street."

Association member Sonia Komar said the group was a great help to her mother, who came to America in the 1950s and was so confused by English that she couldn't read street signs. Komar said her mother would often get lost in Philadelphia.

"When I was growing up, my mom put a barrel in front of the house so she could remember where we lived because she couldn't read," said Komar. "One day, someone took the barrel, so we had to (go to the association building) and ask questions. That's how we survived."

Today, the heritage association building is more of a meeting place where friends and family of members of the citizens' association meet and hold functions like wedding parties and banquets. It's more of a multipurpose facility, located in the heart of Northern Liberties, Zaharchuk said.

"What we have here, now, is like an urban oasis," he said. "I mean, where else can you have a building like this and a soccer field and volley ball court right outside?"

Zaharchuk said that the upcoming festival will be an exciting weekend full of events and fun for all.

But, even with the many performers, ethnic foods, children's activities, barbecues and more that will be going on at the association's building, he's most excited to reconnect with old friends that might have moved outside of the city.

And, he said that with more than a 100,000 residents of Pennsylvania with Ukrainian heritage, he's expecting the event to have a large turnout.

"I'm most excited about the reunions," said Zaharchuk. "I'm really looking forward to bumping into old friends."**

Getting to the fest

The Ukrainian American Citizens' Association will host the Philadelphia Ukrainian Festival this weekend in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the organization.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Ukrainian American Citizens' Association at 847 N. Franklin St. in Northern Liberties.

There will be many ethnic dancers and singers as well as a Ukrainian kitchen cooking all sorts of traditional dishes.

Tickets to the event cost $3 for adults and $1 for children under 12.

Also, there will be a Zabava (a dance with hors d'oeuvres) to be held at the association building on Saturday evening, Sept. 26. The Fourth Wave Band will perform, and the dance kicks off at 9 p.m.

Tickets to the dance are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

For more information or to order tickets, visit www.ukieclub.com.