In Odessa, on August 30-31, the first literary festival PORT will take place, marking an important cultural event in southern Ukraine.

This festival is organized by the team of the NGO «Vyshyvankovy Festival», which has been hosting significant cultural events in the city for over 16 years, including the Independence Day celebrations.

PORT aims to revitalize the cultural scene of the South, as stated by the festival's team on social media.

“Our goal is to establish a point on the coast that serves as a source of meaning for the Ukrainian South. Our coastline deserves to be a literary hero in contemporary culture,” says festival program director Andriy Khayetsky.

At the festival, you can expect:

• relaxation and meetings in a bookish atmosphere;
• acquaintance with those who shape contemporary Ukrainian culture;
• discussions that could alter perceptions of Odessa's and the South's future;
• music inspired by poetry;
• craft products from local artisans;
• long-awaited meetings, cocktails, and leisurely conversations.

The organizers invite not only those who have long followed contemporary Ukrainian literature but also newcomers to the scene.

“Our desire is to create an event in Odessa where people can connect and unwind. Our dream is for the guests of the first festival to write wonderful texts about Odessa and our lives,” the organizers stated.