On May 27 1703 Peter the Great laid the foundation stone of the Peter and Paul fortress. This day is considered to be the city foundation day which is celebrated annually by the citizens of St Petersburg on a grand scale. Many festivities are organized on this day in the city center including a parade, historical displays, games, public concerts. On May 27 Nevsky Prospect is usually closed to traffic and citizens take to the street en masse towards Palace square where major festivities take place. In the evening, crowds of people head towards embankments from where they can enjoy the fireworks that usually start by 11:00 p.m.
The Navy Day is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of July. This holiday honors the sailors in units of the Russian Navy and its specialized arms. The Main Naval Parade of warships and aircraft takes place in St Petersburg on the water area of the Neva River. After the parade some of the battle ships will be open for public visit. There are usually interactive and concert programs for a wide audience in the city on this day. And in the evening the central water area of the Neva River is illuminated by fireworks.
The Stars of the White Nights festival is the largest international music festival in Russia. The festival usually runs from the middle of May to the end of July at all the venues of the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. The festival takes an inspiration for its name from the short summer season when the sun never sets, and the beauty of St-Petersburg White Nights contributes to the festival’s special atmosphere. Each year the festival programme includes the finest opera and ballet productions, great symphonic works, masterpieces of chamber music and new premieres. Renowned conductors and star-artists perform at the Stars of the White Nights. This festival is a must for ballet, opera and classical music amateurs.
The International Ballet Festival “Mariinsky” is one of the most significant events in the ballet season of St Petersburg. It takes place in March at all the venues of the Mariinsky Theatre. The festival brings together the world‘s best ballet dancers and the playbill lists a programme of works performed by various ballet companies. Each year the festival opens with a ballet premiere and it concludes with a gala concert featuring stars of international ballet.
The Scarlet Sails Festival is a famous event during the White Nights. The festival takes place each June (one evening between 18th and 25th of June) and celebrates Russian students graduating from schools. This tradition began in 1968 and was based on the popular 1922 children’s book Scarlet Sails by Alexander Grin. Nowadays a wide entertainment program is organized for graduates on this evening which includes appearances by popular music-stars, ballet and other classical acts, performing on several stages during the event. The show also includes a series of events on the waters of the Neva River, such as rowing and motorboat races and a battle with pirates culminating in the appearance of a tall ship with spectacular scarlet sails followed by fireworks. Only graduates and their guests can enter by invitation the main festive venues, but citizens and guests of St Petersburg gather on the embankments and bridges, from where they can see fireworks and the passage of the Scarlet Sails.
The Autumn Festival of Lights takes place in St Petersburg annually beginning November. The festival surprises its guests by different multimedia 3D mapping shows and laser installations. Laser rays of dozen projectors transform the facades of St Petersburg’s famous sites and involve the viewers in the play of light, music and optical illusions. The show allows the guests to touch the soul of the city and rediscover Saint Petersburg in new light.
Russian Music Seasons Festival is a unique chamber classical music concert in the magnificent historical palaces of St. Petersburg. The concert program usually includes classical works of famous Russian composers of the late 19th – early 20th century performed by the soloists of the Mariinsky Theater with the participation of symphony orchestras, as well as the young talents of Russia. Before the concert you will be offered a glass of champagne and showed around the main rooms and halls of the palace. The evening will immerse you into the unforgettable atmosphere of the time of the Russian aristocracy.
There are two main shows at the Grand Cascade of Peterhof Palace which are organized annually. The first one is the Spring Fontain Show which is dedicated to opening the summer season in Peterhof and is usually held in the second part of May. There is also the Autumn Fontain Show which is dedicated to closing the summer season in Peterhof and is usually held in the second part of September. The Autumn Fontain Show is a modern high-tech evening show featuring 3D mapping, holographic projections, pyrotechnics, laser and light effects accompanied by music. The Spring Fontain Show takes place by daylight and features a colorful concert program with participation of musicians, actors, dancers.
The Yelagin Park International Street Theater Festival takes place in summer. It is a unique opportunity to experience the magical world of theater. In the days of the festival, Elagin Island turns into one large stage. Here you can see performances of both already known and absolutely new masters of street theater from Russia and all over the world. During the festival performances of all kinds of street art are shown: clownery, new circus, large-scale shows and unusual performances, musical and interactive performances.
The festival takes usually place by the end of April – beginning May. Visitors of the festival get a chance to climb to the decks of these huge ships and learn a lot of new information about icebreakers. Besides, the guests can enjoy a spectacular parade of icebreakers in the waters of the Neva River. A lot of various competitions, film shows, and concerts provide an opportunity for all guests to have a great time during the festivity.
The Imperial Gardens of Russia is the international festival of garden and park art. This large-scale event is held annually in summer by the Russian Museum. The festival takes place on the grounds of the Russian Museum, in the Mikhailovsky Garden or in the Summer Garden. The central event of the festival is the landscaping exhibition and competition. The participants of the festival create landscaping compositions on a given topic. Besides the exhibition competition, the festival includes entertainment and educational activities: concerts, master classes, lectures, excursions, fashion shows, and special programs for adults and children of different ages.
The festival usually takes place from May to September. Various sculptural sand compositions are created by sculptors from different countries right on the beach of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Vast crowds gather to admire sculptors working. For children there are usually special workshops where they can learn about the basic principles of work with sand sculptures and, together with the masters, create figures from sand.The festival usually takes place from May to September. Various sculptural sand compositions are created by sculptors from different countries right on the beach of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Vast crowds gather to admire sculptors working. For children there are usually special workshops where they can learn about the basic principles of work with sand sculptures and, together with the masters, create figures from sand.
The St. Petersburg Tulip Festival takes place annually late May on Yelagin Island. It counts to the world’s top ten florist festivals. More than a hundred varieties of tulips, original compositions, and florist bouquets are specially created for the festival and occupy the territory of 3000 square meters. The program of the festival includes exhibitions, art installations, concerts, and workshops.
Water Lanterns Festival is one of the most romantic events in Saint Petersburg. It takes place middle September in the Yusupov Garden that becomes on the days of the festival a realm of handmade luminous lotuses, lilies and different kinds if lanterns. While watching the water journey of lanterns the audience is enchanted by melodies of the symphony orchestra and opera arias.
