The Maslenitsa (the Pancake Festival) is celebrated in March in the last week before Lent. During this period special performances are held. Tourists have a chance to taste blini (Russian pancakes), to take part in traditional national winter games, to go sledding. By the end of the festivities a big doll made of hay is burnt. The doll symbolizes winter. The Maslenitsa is very good time to visit Golden Ring cities (Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Suzdal) and also Veliky Novgorod, Tver where great festivities are traditionally held.
On the City Day all central streets are crowded with people. A lot of popular singers and dancers present their festive performances. Interesting and funny shows are held. In the evening there are often fireworks. Such festivals attract many guests from the vicinities of these towns and from abroad every year. Dates of some City Days: Vladimir – the last Saturday of May. Suzdal – the 3rd Saturday of August. Kostroma – the first Saturday of June. Yaroslavl – the last Saturday of May. Ivanovo – the last Saturday of May.
Established in 2007 international Ivanovo Film Festival named after great Russian film-maker Andrei Tarkovsky who was born at Zavrazhye village of the Ivanovo Region became noticeable event in the world of cinema. For example, Theo Angelopoulos was the Chairman of the First Festival (2007) jury and Jos Stelling became the Chairman of the X Festival (2016) jury. The majority of film-makers presenting their films at this festival are not known quite well for the mass audience and usually this is not possible to see these films in wide release but any case films every year selected by the organizing Committee for competition are rather interesting and original.
Crowned falcon poses at the insignia of Suzdal but an actual symbol of this ancient town is cucumber. The point is that in the town without any industry growing of cucumbers for sale became the main business of the considerable part of locals. That’s why every year on the second Saturday of July the Cucumber Day is celebrated on the grounds of the open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture. Citizens of Suzdal and local farmers present the most eminent samples of this cultivation grown at their kitchen-gardens and farms. Numerous visitors of festival can see a lot of fantastic articles made of cucumbers, to purchase souvenirs devoted for cucumber and to taste original dishes of fresh, pickled, baked and fried cucumbers, to watch festive performances presented by folklore ensembles of the Vladimir Region, to take part in funny competitions and games.
Twice a year air balloon festivals are organized in Pereslavl-Zalessky. In July there is aeronautics festival “Golden Ring of Russia” and in September there is aeronautics festival “Golden Autumn in Golden Ring”. Both festivals give tourists unique opportunity to participate in a fascinating air trip over the ancient Russian cities of Golden Ring. The air rout goes over lakes, forests and ancient towns. But even if you don’t plan to get into the sky, you can make bright and vivid pictures with colorful air balloons.
Golden Ring International Folklore Festival takes place annually in the first part of September in Vladimir. The main purpose of the festival is to promote indigenous cultures. The festival brings together amateur artists from Russia and other countries all around the globe. Amateur ensembles present various styles and genres of popular artistic culture including instrumental, music and singing, dancing, and folk theater.
Day of Russian Glory Historic Reenactment Festival takes place annually beginning June in Pereslavl-Zalessky. The festival is devoted to Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky, an outstanding politician and military leader of medieval Russia, who was born in 1221 in Pereslavl-Zalessky. On the day of the festival there are different festivities organized in the town, the central part of which takes a historic reenactment of battles of Alexander Nevsky’s troops.
The Day of Family, Love and Fidelity is celebrated in all Russia annually on 8th of July. The main place of festivities on this day is the ancient town of Murom, because many years ago the Russian saints Peter and Fevronia lived here. Practically on the 8th of July the Russian Orthodox Church commemorates these saints. Their relics are kept in the St Trinity Monastery in Murom. Peter and Fevronia are considered to be the embodiment of everything that’s involved with the perfect model of Christian marriage. On this day you can see on the streets of Murom historical sciences reconstructions from the life of Peter and Fevronia. Handicraft fairs, folklore concerts and animation for families with children are organized. Yearly there is a procession of new married people on this day in Murom. The central part of celebrations is a big concert with participation of Russian music stars, where “families of the year” get awarded. The concert usually finishes with fireworks.
Originated in Yaroslavl in 1979, the biannual international jazz festival in Yaroslavl is the oldest continuing jazz fest in Russia. Every odd year in March, the festival presents a week-long program featuring Russian and international acts. Since 2017, the responsibilities of the festival’s Artistic Director were taken by NYC-based Alex Sipiagin, the Yaroslavl native who is a world-renowned jazz trumpet player. Igor Butman, Russia’s most popular jazz musician, serves as the festival’s Artistic Consultant.
Dobrofest is a large festival of modern quality live music. The festival is held annually beginning July at Levtsovo airfield near Yaroslavl. Every year the event is attended by up to 18,000 visitors from 40 regions of Russia as well as Ukraine, Belarus and far abroad. Up to 90 musical bands on two stages take part in the festival. An entire city arises on a huge area with its infrastructure: a food service area, shower cabins, a storage room, phone charging stations, a medical assistant’s point, bio toilets, a post office, sports and playgrounds, gift shops and thematic stands as well as many other things that are necessary for fun and comfortable rest during four days and three nights.
The Winter Fun Festival is held annually in February in Uglich. It is concentrated on different winter activities. The most interesting parts of the festival are cross-country motorcycle race and snowmobiling race. The annual program includes also participation of winter swimmers. The festival is ideal for families with children as there is animation program including fun activities such as pillow battles, running in snowshoes etc. The guests have a chance to try dogsledding, horseback riding, tobogganing.
