Two days of celebration: how Khmelnytskyi marked its 595th City Day
Khmelnytskyi spent the last weekend of September with fairs, concerts, workshops, sports races and tributes to the city's defenders.
On 26-27 September 2026 Khmelnytskyi celebrated its 595th birthday. Mayor Oleksandr Symchyshyn called the two days a real breath of fresh air amid anxious news. The celebration opened on Saturday morning with the raising of the national flag and military unit banners, thanks to the defenders, a prayer for victory and flowers laid at memorials.
Then the city turned into one big festive venue. Prybuzka street hosted the Obzhynky craft fair, Taras Shevchenko Square held the 'Art Picnic' with free workshops and the Masters' Fair, and Chekman Park hosted an education fair. Near the Dytiachyi Svit shopping centre the concert marathon 'To You, My City!' featured local ensembles and the Drum Force drummers, while Lapy Fest for pet owners took place on Prybuzka street.
Sport was not forgotten: the morning began with the 'Run to the Rhythm of the City' through central streets to a DJ set, about a hundred servicemen and law-enforcement officers competed in CrossFit at the Ploskyriv nad Buhom base, and the final of the open city 8x8 football championship closed a season that had run since May.
To mark the occasion, the community handed over apartment keys and housing certificates to military families and municipal workers, 48 more soldiers received the 'Will and Courage' award, and 19 couples registered their marriages on City Day.