Unity Ride
& Drive 2026
Ottawa → Carleton Place
Rode Sunday, September 13, 2026 · Thank you, drivers
Ride for unity. Ride for Ukraine. Ride with purpose.
No car? Passengers can join the 2027 list too: sign up below
- Cars, SUVs & trucks
- Motorcycles & clubs
- Finished at UAFest 2026
Real UAFest archive · 2024
The column already has a story
Why we ride
UNITY
One column, two flags
A visible convoy brought Ukrainian and Canadian communities together on the road from Ottawa to Carleton Place. It has rolled to the festival since 2024, and in 2026 it rode again.
CHILDREN
The drive carries something
Net proceeds from designated Unity Ride & Drive fundraising and merchandise, after direct rally costs, support Kids of Ukraine and children affected by war. Taking part in 2026 was free, and giving went through official UAFest fundraising.
Our impact →THE RUSHNYK
Arriving with the Rushnyk
The 2026 convoy reached UAFest on the day the 160+ metre Rushnyk of Unity — Rushnyk of Victory made its North American premiere in Carleton Place.
Discover the Rushnyk →ARCHIVE · THE 2024 FILM
The film this page is made of
The bridge in the header, the column forming in Ottawa, the flag carried over the crowd at the finish — nearly every photograph on this page is a frame from the festival's own 2024 film. Press play and watch that morning run.
Video Denys Savchenko · drone Taisiia Mnishenko
How the 2026 day worked
01 · OTTAWA
Meet in Ottawa
Registered drivers received the assembly location and the recommended arrival time by email, and the column left Ottawa together at 10:50 AM.
02 · THE DRIVE
Ottawa → Carleton Place
Cars, SUVs, trucks and motorcycles travelled as one organized convoy: decorated, legal and unhurried, following the Highway Traffic Act the whole way. People waved from overpasses and sidewalks.
03 · UAFEST
Arrive together
The column crossed the Mississippi into Carleton Place's historic main street and finished at UAFest 2026 in Riverside Park. Drivers parked, stepped out, and the festival day began.
The experience
Decorate your ride
Ukrainian and Canadian flags, blue-and-yellow colours and respectful Ukrainian symbols made the column. One rule holds every year: nothing may cover your plate, lights, windshield or mirrors.
Motorcycles & clubs
Riders and organized clubs were invited to ride together, placed side by side in the order of march. Clubs can name themselves in the note on the 2027 list.
Festival car showcase
Selected vehicles from the column could join the arrival experience at UAFest.
Families welcome
A community experience for families, friends and supporters of Ukraine, at highway speed limits, with a festival at the finish.
Official prize partner
The 2026 drivers' prize
Every vehicle registered for the 2026 convoy was eligible for the $500 gift certificate from Exclusive Automotive Detailing.
About the prize$500
Automotive detailing gift certificate
Courtesy of Exclusive Automotive Detailing
Official Prize Partner · Unity Ride & Drive 2026
At the finish line — the festival itself
Riverside Park · a frame from the 2024 film above
Exclusive Drive & Ride Experience Sponsor
Powered locally by Bean Chevrolet Buick GMC
The family-run Carleton Place dealership backed Unity Ride & Drive 2026 and the festival’s automotive experience — a local partner serving Carleton Place and the Ottawa Valley.
Meet Bean Cars ↗Drive in the Unity Ride 2027
- The route, the meeting point and the time are set together with the festival date.
- Drivers on the list hear them first and get the registration link before anyone else.
- Leave a phone number if you would like a call from the convoy lead.
Quick answers
- How much did it cost?
- Registration for the 2026 convoy was free, and drivers covered only their own fuel. The terms for 2027 reach the waiting list first.
- When is the 2027 ride?
- The route, the meeting point and the time are set together with the festival date. Drivers on the waiting list hear them first.
- Do I need to decorate my car?
- Decoration is warmly encouraged and always optional: an undecorated car in the column still makes the column longer.
- What if the weather turns?
- The festival runs rain or shine, and so does the drive.