Unity Ride
& Drive 2026
Ottawa → Carleton Place
Sunday, September 13, 2026 · Departure 11:00 AM
Ride for unity. Ride for Ukraine. Ride with purpose.
No car? Ride with us as a passenger — register below
- Cars, SUVs & trucks
- Motorcycles & clubs welcome
- Finish at UAFest 2026
Real UAFest archive · 2024
The column already has a story
Why we ride
UNITY
One column, two flags
A visible convoy bringing Ukrainian and Canadian communities together on the road from Ottawa to Carleton Place. It has rolled to the festival since 2024; this year the goal is 100+ cars and 25+ motorcycles in a single line.
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 is free — giving is for those who want to, through official UAFest fundraising.
Our impact →THE RUSHNYK
Arriving with the Rushnyk
The convoy reaches UAFest as the 160+ metre Rushnyk of Unity makes 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 day works
01 · OTTAWA
Meet in Ottawa
The exact assembly location and the recommended arrival time go to registered participants by email. Convoy departure: 11:00 AM.
02 · THE DRIVE
Ottawa → Carleton Place
Registered cars, SUVs, trucks and motorcycles travel together as one organized convoy — decorated, legal and unhurried, following the Highway Traffic Act the whole way. People wave from overpasses and sidewalks; that's the point.
03 · UAFEST
Arrive together
The column crosses the Mississippi into Carleton Place's historic main street and finishes at UAFest 2026 in Riverside Park. Park, step out, and the festival day begins.
The experience
Decorate your ride
Ukrainian and Canadian flags, blue-and-yellow colours and respectful Ukrainian symbols are encouraged. Registered participants get the decoration details by email before the day. The one rule: nothing may cover your plate, lights, windshield or mirrors.
Motorcycles & clubs
Riders and organized clubs are warmly invited to join the convoy. Name your club in the form so we can place you together in the order of march.
Festival car showcase
Selected participating vehicles may also be featured as part of the arrival experience at UAFest — tick the box in the form and add a photo of your car.
Families welcome
A community experience open to families, friends and supporters of Ukraine, at highway speed limits, with a festival at the finish.
Official prize partner
Register & you could win
Register your vehicle for free and you are eligible for the $500 gift certificate from Exclusive Automotive Detailing.
How the prize works$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 is backing Unity Ride & Drive 2026 and the festival’s automotive experience — a local partner serving Carleton Place and the Ottawa Valley.
Meet Bean Cars ↗REGISTRATION · UAR-####
Join the column — free
Four short steps, whether you bring a vehicle or ride along. Every participant gets a personal UAR number and a confirmation email; assembly details and decoration information follow by email before the day.
The 2026 column is forming — take your place in it
- You
- Vehicle
- Options
- Rules
Quick answers
- How much does it cost?
- Nothing — registration is free. You cover only your own fuel.
- When and where do we meet?
- The convoy departs at 11:00 AM from Ottawa. The exact assembly location and the recommended arrival time go out by email to registered drivers only.
- Do I need to decorate my car?
- Decoration is warmly encouraged and never required — 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.