If you have already planned a big tour for the holidays, then check if one of these colorful fairs is on your route? Well, for those who don’t yet have ideas for a long January weekend, we’ll tell you about festive and atmospheric events in Russian cities.
Nizhny Novgorod
The city on the Volga, which celebrated its anniversary on a large scale this year, was chosen as the “New Year’s capital of Russia 2022”. There will be grandiose holiday festivities, united by a common theme. The organizers came up with a legend about a factory that once produced only identical snowflakes. One day Vanya the Dreamer appeared there and suggested making various snowflakes from an alloy of creativity and technology – this is a reference to the status of the city of industry, inventors, skilled craftsmen and technical progress. Bizarre snow crystals and other objects and installations will appear on the streets, embankments and parks, which will be transformed into art festival venues. The Nizhny Novgorod Fair will host a food court, a Christmas tree market, an ice skating rink, a carousel, a music program, immersive performances, and performances by street theaters and animators. The ice rinks will be given over to the performances of Tatiana Navka and Ilya Averbukh. On December 25, the residence of Father Frost will open, on December 29, a grandiose light mapping show will be organized on the walls of the Kremlin, and on December 31, an immersive show and fireworks will be held on Fair Square.
The festival will run from December 24, 2021 to January 9, 2022. Find the full schedule of activities at the link.
Kaliningrad
A place where you can celebrate New Year and Christmas in a European way. The atmosphere is created by old German houses and Gothic churches, festive lights on the narrow streets. In this region, winter is usually mild, so walking in open areas will be comfortable. Well, if someone is still cold, hot mulled wine will definitely warm you up. The cozy fair will run until January 10 on Kant Island next to the Cathedral. Visitors will try trdelniki, caramel apples, gingerbread, grilled fish and other treats, and buy New Year’s toys and amber. And at the Decembrist Evenings festival in the Cathedral, indie bands, theater artists and poets will perform. Music will be played here on New Year’s Eve too.
Moscow
Traditionally, the capital of our country organizes the largest and brightest holiday festivities, which attract guests from different cities. This year the Journey to Christmas festival is taking place again, to which new locations have been added: Bolotnaya embankment and the area next to the GES-2 recreation center. Large bright decorations were built at 27 festival sites, food courts and shopping arcades were opened, master classes were organized, and carousels were installed next to GUM. And 18 skating rinks in the capital became free. Be careful: treats vary from street to street, so you can organize a whole gastronomic tour.
The festival runs from December 10, 2021 to January 9, 2022. The full schedule of activities is available at the link.
Moscow region
In some cities of the Moscow region, during the New Year holidays there will be local small fairs where you can buy souvenirs and treats. From January 6 to 8, you can visit the gastronomic festival “The ABC of Christmas” near the museum and exhibition complex “New Jerusalem” in Istra, where farmers and artisans from all over the region will bring their goods. Guests can enjoy buffoons, swings, competitions and dancing. Another “New Year’s” city is Kolomna, the center of which will be decorated with festive lights, and numerous museums will prepare special programs. Well, when else to visit the museum of Christmas tree decorations “Klinskoye Compound” in Klin?
St. Petersburg
Although the authorities have abandoned large-scale public events, the annual Nutcracker Christmas fair will still run until January 10, 2022. Guests will find 90 pavilions with souvenirs and dishes from around the world, an ice skating rink, carousels and photo zones. The city center will be decorated with festive illuminations in the “imperial style”: crowns, flowers and angels. On Palace Square they will organize a photo zone in the form of a large table lamp, and they will also build a palace made of ice.
Kostroma
The Snow Maiden’s homeland cannot ignore the New Year. Therefore, a cheerful fair with shopping arcades will open on the main square of the city near the big spruce tree. And at the Snow Maiden’s residence there will be an interactive Christmas ball, where you can learn ancient dances. Entrance to the event is by ticket, there is a strict dress code: ladies in dresses, gentlemen in suits.
Ekaterinburg
New Year’s celebrations in the capital of the Urals are famous for their large-scale ice towns. The theme for 2022 is “New Year’s Kingdom. Far Far Away State.” The main highlight is the 12-meter Buyan Island.
In addition, a giant spruce tree will be installed on the 1905 Square and a Christmas market will open.
Ivanovo
Photo: Sergei Lobkarev/shutterstock.com
Both children and adults can get into the New Year spirit at the “My Fun” factory of amazing toys, where you must make an appointment in advance. By the way, the largest painted ball in Russia is located there. Then, after purchasing souvenirs at the “New Year’s Town” craftsmen’s fair, you can go from the renovated Ivanovo station on a retro train to Shuya, where the “Christmas Miracle Park” festival will be held from January 6 to 9. The point of attraction here is the “Temple” installation, which was created jointly by multimedia specialists and Palekh artists.
The “New Year’s Town” fair will run until January 7. It’s better to buy tickets for the retro train in advance, as seats are limited: only four flights are planned from January 2 to January 9!
Rostov Veliky
This ancient city will delight guests with ancient traditions: round dances, cockfights, animated games for children. In various shops and museums you can order an interactive program in advance – tea with sweets. The permanent fair, where Rostov enamel and other souvenirs are bought, will be decorated with festive lights.
Tula
The main activities this year were moved to museums. There will be a fair with carousels outdoors. The routes will include a retro tram for adults and a grandfather bus for children. On January 6, from 14:00 to 19:00, the street performance “The Tangerine Princess” will take place. And at the Yasnaya Polyana museum-estate they will show how Christmas was celebrated in the Tolstoy family.
Vologda
At the “Christmas Tale in Vologda” holiday in the city center, Santa Claus will ride with the breeze on an electric sleigh drawn by mechanical horses.
Anapa
New Year holidays – the time of the More Week festival, whose motto is “A holiday every day.” Entertainment and sports competitions on the beaches, Bachata Parties and masquerades do not end until January 9th.
Suzdal
The city always celebrates New Year’s holidays on a Russian scale: horse marches, buffoons, songs and dances, sleigh rides. And on January 7, the Museum of Wooden Architecture will host the interactive program “Christmastide in Suzdal.”
These are not all places with holiday programs. Bright and colorful Christmas fairs with winter fun will be organized in Kazan, Vladimir, Irkutsk, Sergiev Posad, Sochi and other cities. We wish you a happy holiday!
Our “Where to Go” project will help you with ideas for your upcoming vacation. You choose the month and city of departure, and we offer the most interesting and affordable options – with ticket prices and information about restrictions for tourists.
