Thursday, May 1
Plant Swap
- 12 pm - 7 pm
- New Holland Island (Community Center)
- 250 rubles (entrance fee)
Even if outdoor gardening isn’t an option you can take at the moment, why not pick up some new green friends at the plant swap? It works like this: you bring your own plant or cutting, it gets evaluated by an expert – and is marked with a sticker; you can then choose an equally evaluated plant from the shelf. Don’t forget to quarantine it away from your other plants once you bring it home. If plant swapping isn’t for you, you can still enjoy lectures on biodiversity and other topics, as well as a fun herbarium workshop (all events in Russian, register in advance here).
Friday, May 2
Dreamfest festival
- May 2-4, 7 pm
- Yusupov Gardens
- From 1,500 rubles (tickets here)
The annual water lantern festival Dreamfest is back in town! Unique photo locations, music and flyboarding performances on the water, creative workshops, a laser show, and, of course, the launch of water lanterns at 9 pm – and there is even more to experience in the packed program!
Saturday, May 3
Ice-breaker festival
- May 1-4, 11 am - 7 pm
- Various locations throughout the city
- Free
Another annual festival, also water-related: the ice-breakers docked along the Neva will be heralding the official start of the tourist season. Every day of the festival, the ships will be open to the public, which means you’ll get to see what it was like inside as the ice-breakers explored the Arctic. And at 2 pm on May 3, come and witness the legendary tugboat waltz, the festival’s calling card, on the Neva.
Sunday, May 4
Rock hits: soundtracks and Queen
- 3 pm, 7 pm
- St. Petersburg Philharmonia (Small Hall)
- 700-1,500 rubles (tickets here); 700-2,300 rubles (tickets here)
A rare occasion: the same concert is offered twice in one day, so you can choose the time that suits you best – that is, the time when you’d most enjoy revisiting The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Lion King, and other popular movie-verses! Also on the program are acoustic reimaginings of Queen’s greatest hits.
Monday, May 5
Contemplation exhibition
- Until June 16, 11 am - 10 pm daily
- ArtMuza
- Free
Explore the world’s magical moments – breathtaking landscapes, stunning sunsets, and more – as captured by the brush of St. Petersburg artist Natalia Khrapkova.
Tuesday, May 6
Mimicry exhibition
- Until June 8, Tue-Sun: 12 pm - 7 pm
- DiDi Gallery
- Free
Step inside a vibrant-colored cartoon at this exhibition by sculptor Vlad Mukhanov. Shapes – or characters? – big and small, in all shades of the rainbow, interact with visitors and the space they are in, telling their own story. According to the author, this is a reflection of the way humans try to find their place in the complex social structure. What will you see?
Wednesday, May 7
Il turco in Italia
- 8 pm
- Rodina Cinema
- 800 rubles (tickets here)
A mirror to Rossini’s more popular L'italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers), Il turco in Italia (The Turk in Italy) didn’t get the same acclaim at first – but over the centuries has found its path to fame. The version to be screened at Rodina is a modern-day reimagining that incorporates beloved characters from Italian cinema of the 60s while preserving the original story.
