Lviv Christmas delights: Pampukh, mulled wine, and holiday magic
When and where Lviv Pampukh and Mulled Wine Festival takes place (photo by author)
Lviv is gearing up for one of the main Christmas events of the year. From December 25 to 28, the city will host the Pampukh and Mulled Wine Festival – an updated version of the well-known and beloved Pampukh Celebration, which for years attracted thousands of visitors from across Ukraine.
RBC-Ukraine shares what awaits festival guests, when and where it will take place, and how to buy tickets.
This year, the festival will run for four days at the Lviv Palace of Arts (17 Kopernyka Street), welcoming guests daily from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Kyiv time)
New format, familiar Christmas atmosphere
Organizers promise more than just a gastronomic event, offering a space of Christmas traditions, flavors, and meaning. The festival will blend Ukrainian rituals with modern aesthetics, quality food, and charity.
In previous years, the Pampukh Celebration gained nationwide fame, setting a record for the largest number of pampukhs baked at a single event. It became a Christmas symbol of Lviv, recognized far beyond the Galicia region.
Christmas must happen – even during war
Festival organizer Andriy Sydor emphasizes that the main goal is to preserve the feeling of a true Christmas.
“Even during the war, we believe Christmas must happen. In Lviv, which attracts a sea of tourists during the Christmas holidays despite everything, we strive to create not just an event but a large family Christmas celebration, a meeting place for relatives and friends who haven’t seen each other in a long time. We create a space where deep Ukrainian traditions intersect with modern style and meaningful purpose. We combine taste, culture, and charity so that our Christmas is not only cozy but also meaningful,” he explains.
Pampukhs, mulled wine, and nativity plays
The heart of the festival will be the gastronomic zone, offering dozens of variations of pampukhs, a variety of mulled wines, traditional Christmas dishes, and signature treats.
Beyond food, guests can enjoy a rich cultural program:
• Carols and Christmas performances;
• Nativity plays;
• Nativity Play Contest featuring the region’s brightest groups;
• Evening concerts on the street stage;
• Masterclasses for children and adults;
A nativity scene contest will take place at the Pampukh Festival (photo by the author)
Brand zones and pampukh for donations
The festival will feature special zones from partners. The Lviv Yeast brand will set up the Lviv Pampukh space, where anyone can get a pampukh for a donation. In the Svitotch zone, guests will be able to decorate pampukhs with chocolate themselves.
Charity aspect of the festival
The Pampukh and Mulled Wine Festival will have a clear charitable focus. All collected donations will go to support the youngest patients of the Lviv OKHMATDYT Hospital, funding special chairs for the kangaroo care method in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Tickets and early bird bonus
A special ticket rate is available until December 25. Those who buy tickets in advance are guaranteed a gift—a ceramic mug or a glass that can be used to enjoy mulled wine or cocoa at the festival.
The Pampukh and Mulled Wine Festival will take place December 25–28 in Lviv. Tickets are available online via this link.
Earlier, we wrote about ancient Boyko and Hutsul Christmas magic from the Carpathians.
