Throughout the week, a Maslenitsa festival will take place on Malaya Konyushennaya street each day from 11 am to 6 pm, featuring various activities like circle dancing, rope pulling, sack racing and such, as well as a traditional fair and some folk-themed workshops. Naturally, there’ll be lots of blini pancakes, hot drinks and other great foods! The event is a great way to relax after studies and get into the mood for the major festivities that will take place during the weekend.
On Saturday, February 17, the main celebrations will kick off. At Alexander Park, the Multicultural Maslenitsa will parade the cultural traditions that have to do with this holiday; performers from Russia’s different regions and neighboring countries will present their own take on the festival.
The celebrations at Babushkina Park will feature a most engaging program: concerts, raffles, dances, and even a falcon show; the guests will get an opportunity to participate in traditional folk games and activities, as well as different workshops and contests.
The Peter and Paul Fortress may well be the city’s most popular spot for public festivities, and Maslenitsa is no exception. The festival on Zayachy Island is most picturesque, as the whole complex of the Naryshkin Bastion turns into a real fairground; by all means, this is the best place to take memorable photographs and truly experience all kinds of fun that this holiday has to offer.
Yet another grand celebration will take place on Yelagin Island; several sites throughout St. Petersburg’s main municipal park will offer all kinds of fun activities, so everyone will be able to find something to their liking. The festival will take place on the last day of Maslenitsa on February 18, and close with a light show and the burning of a 7 meters-high traditional Maslenitsa effigy.
Apart from the venues in St. Petersburg, Maslenitsa celebrations will also take place in most palace parks in the city’s suburbs; going to such towns as Pavlovsk or Gatchina can be a wise choice, as you will get to combine attending the festival with appreciating some great winter scenery.
