Fonar (Lantern) charity book sale

Among some of the brightest holiday traditions is helping those in need – and at this book sale you will be able to do just that, all while purchasing discounted books. This will be an opportunity to get a present for your bookworm Russian friends or pick up a book to practice your Russian skills from among a wide selection donated by St. Petersburg locals and presented by publishers from Moscow and St. Petersburg. At the event, contemporary Russian writers and poets will present their work, while experts will discuss some of the topical issues for book lovers. At 2 pm, there will be an uplifting live performance by Jazz Philharmonic Messengers.

Christmas market at St. Petersburg Botanical Garden

This is a place to find inspiration for your holiday decorations and pick up some small gifts, including wreaths, candles, baubles, and more for your close ones. You can even make them yourself at one of the workshops held at the market (they are charged for separately; you’ll need to sign up here).

Exhibition: Gifts through the Ages

  • November 29, 2022 - September 26, 2023; 11 am - 6 pm daily, except Tuesdays (11 am - 5 pm), Wednesdays are days off
  • Kirov Museum
  • 250 rubles (200 rubles for students)

In an interesting take on the history of St. Petersburg, this exhibition explores the traditions of gift-giving in the city between the late 19th century and the 1950s. What would you give your coworker if you were to find yourself in the city circa 1910? What holidays would you celebrate? Take this unique inside peek into the lives of citizens of St. Petersburg through history.

Movie weekends: Captain Fantastic and experimental shorts

Captain Fantastic (2016) has an intriguing description – a film about living off the grid and trying to raise your children in a way that is radically different from anything conventional, starring Viggo Mortensen. Even though yours truly hasn’t seen the film, it is promising to challenge many of our ideas about family, love, and upbringing. It is screened at 7 pm (Angleterre Cinema Lounge, tickets here) and 9:40 pm on Sunday (Avrora Cinema, tickets here).

A little earlier on Sunday (5 pm, Angleterre Cinema Lounge, tickets here) you are invited to watch Context Shorts: Experimental Program – a collection of short films that explore dance and movement in artistic and sociological context. Visitors, even those not professionally engaged with dance, are promised to acquire a new perspective on life and self-discovery.