Thursday, September 21

Theater Mockups Exhibition

  • September 21, 2023 - February 18, 2024; Mon, Thu-Sun: 11 am - 7 pm, Wed: 1 pm - 9 pm, Tuesdays are days off
  • Theater Museum
  • 300 rubles (150 rubles for students)

At this exhibition, you will have the chance to get a taste of the inner world of a theater – through mockups created by legendary St. Petersburg stage designer Mikhail Nikolaev. Stage mockups used to be an important step in the making of a play, helping visualize each scene and place the actors to the greatest effect. Nikolaev’s mockups, however, were pieces of art in themselves, each lovingly made with great attention to detail. This exhibition is your opportunity to explore a unique art form that is one of the fading gems of the theater world.

Friday, September 22

Peterhof Fountain Festival

  • September 22-23, 9 pm
  • Peterhof
  • 1,500 rubles (get your ticket here)

This year, the annual Fountain Festival will celebrate teachers and mentors – the show’s specially developed multimedia program will focus on the heritage passed through generations. Apart from the traditional video mapping, this time the show will feature real-life light installations. On Sunday, visitors will also have the chance to send postcards with special festival designs for free right from the site. If you decide to go, we recommend, first of all, checking the weather forecast and dressing in layers; second, arriving early – maybe an hour in advance – because the festival is usually rather popular with locals and tourists alike; third, making sure to bring some water and snacks with you. 

Saturday, September 23

Pavlovsk Coffee&Jazz festival 

  • September 23-24, 1 pm - 6 pm
  • Pavlovsk Park
  • 150 rubles – park entrance fee (two concerts require additional tickets, check the schedule here)

In this festival-rich week, here is another one, held annually in the quaint Pavlovsk Park. Apart from enjoying jazz and coffee in the open air, as the name suggests, you will doubtlessly like the cozy autumnal atmosphere with the yellowing leaves and that special foresty aroma. Luckily, so far, the weather on Saturday is promising to be warm and mostly sunny (though with a tinge of rain, so umbrellas are always welcome). 

Sunday, September 24

Unusual tea festival (НеобыЧАЙный сад) 

Every year, the St. Petersburg Botanical Gardens host a festival that’s all about tea – this year, the theme is the Silk Road. As you walk along the dedicated routes, you will learn more about all the different herbs and spices used to make tea in different regions of the world – and, of course, get to see the plants themselves. Also on the program are performances by various local dance troupes and musicians, as well as a samovar workshop and a tea tasting. Tip: in order to get the most out of the event, take a Russian-speaking friend with you. 

Monday, September 25

Philharmonic Season Opening

The Philharmonia is officially back for another season, which means a lot to all of St. Petersburg’s musicophiles. Come celebrate the start of the season with a concert featuring Rachmaninoff’s Isle of the Dead and Rhapsody on a Paganini Theme for Piano and Orchestra, as well as Symphony No. 10 by Shostakovich. Though the music itself is not necessarily “celebratory,” the concert is bound to leave a great impression.

Tuesday, September 26

Don’t Look At Me Like That, Curator

  • Until September 28, Tue-Sun 12 pm - 8 pm
  • Anna Nova Gallery
  • 100 rubles (discounted tickets available)

A curious exhibition is ending soon at Anna Nova Gallery: it’s meant to provoke a dialogue between artists, curators, and visitors. A dialogue both through art and actual discussions, which are included as part of the exhibition itself. If your dream is to connect your life with art in any shape or form, then this exhibition will surely give you some interesting insights. Again, we recommend bringing a Russian-speaking friend along if you are looking to learn more about curatorship. 

Wednesday, September 27 

Ballets by Mats Ek

Here’s another chance to explore the world of contemporary ballet on a budget. This time, Rodina cinema invites you to watch two performances, The Place and Bye, created by the Swedish choreographer Mats Ek especially for legendary artists about to complete their dancing careers. Each of the half-hour-long shows is promising to be deep, self-reflective, and very expressive, telling the real-life stories of world-renowned contemporary dancers.