St Petersburg Events

The State Hermitage Museum On the first Thursday of each month the Hermitage grants free entrance for all individual visitors. First Thursday of each month: 19 March 16 April 21 May 18 June 16 July The Hermitage is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious museums. The museum houses over 3 million items including the largest collection of paintings in the world. The collections occupy a large complex of six historic buildings along Palace Embankment. Once you are in the museum on the first Thursday of the month, take your free ticket at the box office and enjoy exploring world’s richest art collection. It is worth noting that preschool children, schoolchildren, and students irrespective of citizenship visit the Hermitage

Neva River April to November, drawbridges are opened for a few hours during the night to let ships pass through. This is one of the best city show. As the Neva river is covered with ice between mid-December and early April, ships are unable to navigate the river. With the spring arrival, the river turns into a busy “highway” with a wide range of different vessels from passenger tour boats to cargo ships. Over a dozen city bridges are drawbridges, which should be raised every night during the navigation season according to a stable schedule. Once you are in Saint Petersburg, follow the schedule to avoid being stuck in one part of the city. The bridge raising is one of

Naryshkin Bastion at the Peter and Paul Fortress The modern ceremony of the guard mounting, developed by the military headquarters of St Petersburg, is a tribute to an old tradition. The guard duty in Peter and Paul Fortress has existed since the first months of its foundation. It was only in October of 1926, when the commandant’s supervision of the fortress was abolished. Initially the ceremony was performed by the soldiers and officers from the regiments, dislocated in St Petersburg, then by the soldiers from the permanent city garrison and by the guard regiments since 1720s. The focal points of this performance are parade and trooping of the flags of the Russian Federation and St Petersburg. The guard is mounted

Peterhof Due to the Covid situation, the closing ceremony won’t be held this year

Mikhailovsky Castle In the XXIX autumn season, the Festival guests will enjoy musical premieres in the new palace halls. The autumn season of the Festival starts with a concert dedicated to the great tenor Sergei Lemeshev in the Bronze Hall of the Polovtsov Mansion. Opera arias, sincere Russian songs, lyrical romances will be performed by magnificent tenors, soloists of leading opera theaters, laureates of international competitions. The rich palette of Sergei Lemeshev’s repertoire will be presented by Boris Stepanov, soloist of the Mikhailovsky Theater, guest soloist of the Bolshoi Theater, St. Petersburg and Riga Philharmonic Societies; Boris Arndt, soloist of the Mariinsky Theater, guest soloist of the Mikhailovsky Theater; Tigran Ohanyan is one of the most promising young opera performers

Theater Festival “Baltic House” Today, the International Theater Festival “Baltic House” is an integral part of the cultural life of St. Petersburg. One of the most authoritative theater forums in Europe and the basic festival of the International Association of Theater Critics. Every year, the festival presents domestic and foreign performances, creative meetings, round tables, scientific conferences devoted to the problems and development of modern theatrical art are held within the framework of the festival. Venue: – All the stages of the Baltic House Theater-Festival, as well as the stages of St. Petersburg theaters. Schedule: https://baltic-house.ru

Throughout Saint Petersburg Annually, the Russian Federation celebrates the liberation from Polish-Lithuanian invaders in 1612. It is an official holiday and a day off. Different events are planned to be held throughout the city. Russian march, a traditional annual rally, will be carried out in the center of the city. Remember, that 4th of November is a public holiday. On this day most of public offices are closed and some public transport routes may be changed due to street events. Venue: Throughout the city Event cost: Free

Different venues in Saint Petersburg EARLYMUSIC presents the music of the Baroque, Renaissance, Middle Ages and Classicism in its authentic performance. Program: 1. October 6, 19.00. Opening of the Festival. “Baroque through the darkness” 2. October 12, 19.00. Ensemble “Masques” (France) 3. October 14, 19.00. “Musical treasury of the old capital” 4. October 16, 19.00. J.S.Bach 5. October 18th. “Music by J.S.Bach in the past, present and future” 6. November 4th. “Empire” Venue: – Small Hall named after M.I. Glinka of the Shostakovich Philharmonic, Nevsky prospect, 30 – STATE ACADEMIC CHAPEL. emb. Moika river, 20 -State Hermitage, Dvortsovaya Naberezhnaya (Embankment), 34 Event cost: : from 900 rub Schedule: http://www.earlymusic.ru/

Palace Square The light show will be dedicated to St. Alexander Nevsky. An amazing magical garden full of real miracles comes to life on Palace Square. Giant dyzhital flowers, magical creatures from myths and legends, trees woven from light … Passing through a magical forest, every adult will again plunge into the atmosphere of childhood and remember the most cherished dreams and fantasies.   Venue: Palace Square Admission: Free Website: http://lfspb.ru/ru/ (RU)

Different locations around St Petersburg For the eighth time, Petersburg will host a unique cultural event of a world level. The MISSION of the St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum is to form the key vectors of the development of culture as a progressive force that brings the constructive origin into life of our country and of the world community as a whole. In the local context, the St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum presents itself the principal event of the cultural life of the great country in the days when the national consciousness is experiencing its rebirth and Russia is reconsidering its global roles and meanings. Culture is a soul of a nation and that is why the St. Petersburg International Cultural

The State Hermitage Museum The State Hermitage has declared 7 December – Hermitage Day – an additional day with free entry for all categories of individual visitors. On December 7, admission to the museum is always free, unless the date falls on a Monday. The year of the Hermitage’s foundation is taken to be 1764, when Catherine the Great acquired a collection of paintings from the Berlin merchant Gotzkowsky. For the anniversary, each year the museum prepares a special programme that has become known as “The Hermitage Days” and includes various events and a number of exhibitions. In 2017, December 7 falls on a Thursday. Once you are in the museum, take your free ticket at the box office and

Gatchina Palace Plunge into the atmosphere of a winter fairy tale and take a trip through Russia without leaving St. Petersburg! Gatchina Palace will offer New Year and Christmas entertainments for its guests throughout the winter holidays. You will enjoy concerts of folk groups, excursions, traditional winter entertainments, horse riding, blacksmiths master classes, traditional Russian round dances with Ded Moroz. The fair will be open from the noon to 7 p.m. Venue: Gatchina, Krasnoarmeiskiy pr., 1, Gatchina Palace Event cost: Free Website: http://gatchinapalace.ru/en/

Throughout Saint Petersburg “New year” is a public holiday and the most celebrated day in Russia. Traditionally, New Year celebrations take place on Nevsky Prospekt and Palace Square, and include street entertainments and live music. Traffic on Nevsky Avenue will be closed from 21:00. In addition to Palace Square, Gostiny Dvor and Malaya Konyushennaya Street also will host New Year celebrations. The festivities will starts at 23.00 and last until 4.00. At 3:00, the fireworks will be launched over the Neva River. Remember, that the New Year’s celebrating lasts from December 31 to January 9. All these days are official days-off. On these days most of public offices are closed and some public transport routes may be changed due to

10 Russian cities The Volleyball World Championship, which Russia will host for the first time, is bound to become one of the main sporting events in the country in 2022. 24 teams secured their participation in the main tournament of the FIVB four years, which will be held in ten Russian cities from August 26 to September 11, 2022. Matches will be hosted by 10 Russian cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Yaroslavl, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Krasnoyarsk. 24 national teams will take part in the championship. The format of the tournament provides for two group stages and the Final Six in Moscow, following which a new world champion will be determined. Group A: Russia, Serbia, Tunisia, Puerto Rico (Moscow)