Is there anything more autumnal than crimson and blazing-yellow maple trees? This weekend, the St. Petersburg Botanical Garden is hosting an annual Maple Day Festival, which celebrates this very special time of year, perfect for walking in the park and getting lost in the beauty of nature. The program includes a fascinating walking route that allows you to see over 50 maple species growing in the garden, a workshop in weaving and origami, a visit to one of the greenhouses, a spectacular exhibition of bromeliads, and even the European maple syrup festival, where you can try different maple syrups and learn about how this delicious product is made. Tickets cost 500 rub and can be purchased here.
In Japan, viewing the colors of maple leaves in autumn is a real cultural obsession. There is even a special word for it: momijigari, which means ‘leaf peeping’. This autumn you’ll also have a chance to learn more about the land of the rising sun and its truly unique culture, language, and traditions, as from September till December the city is home to the ‘Japanese Autumn’ Festival. Among this week’s highlights are: an exhibition of contemporary paper design, a flute concert, a lecture on Japanese chess, Shogi, and a workshop in ink wash painting. The full program is available here (in Russian).
Ablaze with gold and auburn, Alphonse Mucha and Gustav Klimt’s works also celebrate the autumnal glow. From September 18 till October 21, the Etagi creative space is hosting an exhibition of high-quality reproductions of Mucha and Klimt’s paintings. The purpose of this exhibition is to let visitors get acquainted with the artists’ style and techniques, as well as help them understand the plot of some of their most famous paintings. Almost every painting has a detailed description in Russian and English. Entrance fee is 200 rub.
And last but not least: this Saturday, October 6, the St. Petersburg Planetarium arranges night sky observations. Weather permitting, you can use a telescope to observe the night sky: the Moon, the planets of the Solar System, and star clusters. The observations will take place at 8pm, 9:30pm and 11pm. Tickets sell out like hot cakes, so consider buying them in advance.
Enjoy your weekend! Yours truly, ITMO.NEWS.
