The festival was inspired by be ITMO – the philosophy that guides the university in fostering a welcoming environment and supporting the comprehensive development of all members of ITMO.Family. To promote these ideas, the festival’s team set up six thematic zones.

But that’s not all! There were five more specialized zones: Interactive Area, Experimental Spot, ITMO.Extreme, Kids, and Stage.

“We’d like ITMO Family Day to become a sweet tradition for all ITMO students and staff, as well as their families and friends. The festival is a place where they can meet each other, hang out outside of work, and socialize. I believe that such events help colleagues grow closer together, which is good for them and ITMO’s community as a whole, too,” notes Elena Filippova, the festival’s chief organizer and the head of ITMO’s Creative and Corporate Projects Planning Center.

“We’d like ITMO Family Day to become a sweet tradition for all ITMO students and staff, as well as their families and friends. The festival is a place where they can meet each other, hang out outside of work, and socialize. I believe that such events help colleagues grow closer together, which is good for them and ITMO’s community as a whole, too,” notes Elena Filippova, the festival’s chief organizer and the head of ITMO’s Creative and Corporate Projects Planning Center.

Even though ITMO Family Day was held for the first time, she notes that the event managed to bring together around 2,500 participants (not counting the volunteers and organizers).

Keep learning with be ITMO

The organizers of each zone prepared even more fun activities for the guests. 

Attendees also gathered around the "sound tree," where each branch tells a different story – from a cat purring to someone rejoicing in their paycheck...

… watched researchers from ITMO’s Infochemistry Scientific Center conduct scientific experiments …

… and made mementos out of recycled bottle caps. 

They could also test their agility by riding a mechanical bull – and strength by joining an armwrestling competition.

Those into more relaxing sports could take a yoga class in the open air. 

The festival’s partners, Nexign and Selectel, awarded the best players in intellectual competitions and taught participants how to decorate their tote bags. 

ITMO.Extreme – for adrenaline junkies

Professional stunt performers taught the more sporty visitors to balance on a board and perform basic tricks on skateboards and scooters.

Then, they showed everyone how it’s really done.

The most adventurous guests tried to conquer the Bolshaya Nevka on SUP boards. 

A place for those are up to the challenge

“Experimental Spot was initially meant to be a venue where our guests could discuss various topics within our main theme, but we decided that it’d be better to make it more flexible and diverse. First, we had a good laugh with our comedians and then painted in various styles and on different materials. In the evening, participants danced to jazz. It’s great that here, each member of ITMO.Family can find something to their liking, which proves once again that ITMO’s not only about IT,” says Lyudmila Tsoy, the organizer of Experimental Spot and a manager at ITMO’s Creative and Corporate Projects Planning Center. 

“Experimental Spot was initially meant to be a venue where our guests could discuss various topics within our main theme, but we decided that it’d be better to make it more flexible and diverse. First, we had a good laugh with our comedians and then painted in various styles and on different materials. In the evening, participants danced to jazz. It’s great that here, each member of ITMO.Family can find something to their liking, which proves once again that ITMO’s not only about IT,” says Lyudmila Tsoy, the organizer of Experimental Spot and a manager at ITMO’s Creative and Corporate Projects Planning Center. 

Experimental Spot offered a wide range of formats to try. The comedy troupe Minskie, as well as Mikhail Kurushkin, the head of ITMO’s Faculty of Biotechnologies, Evgenii Raskin, and ITMO students, staged a stand-up show where they joked about university life.

Meanwhile, Alexey Itin, the head of the Department of Website Management, and Artyom Arushanyan, the chair of ITMO.STUDENTS, improvised about what it’s like to take a trip to the university’s Yagodnoe outdoors camp. 

Participants also had the chance to embrace their inner artist by trying their hand at Korean calligraphy, watercoloring, and acrylic painting on stones.

Fairy tales and science for kids

The festival’s smallest guests had fun, too.

Rock, jazz and pop music – all on one stage

Nevertheless, the most fun was happening on the stage; even rain didn’t ruin the show but rather got the crowd even more excited. 

The event’s special guest, rap artist FEDUK, wished all members of ITMO.Family to keep being themselves.

The event’s special guest, rap artist FEDUK, wished all members of ITMO.Family to keep being themselves.