Moscow Events and Festivals
(Moscow, Central Federal District, Russia)
Year-round special events are held in Moscow and many of the visitors to the capital of the Russian Federation will always find endless things to do, ranging from seasonal summer festivals, to rock concerts staged at the Concert Hall on Prechistenka.
Other notable events in Moscow are staged at entertainment venues such as the Palace of Congresses (Dvorets S'ezdov), which boasts some 6,000 seats and also goes by the name of the State Kremlin Palace, the All Russian Exhibition Centre on the Prospekt Mira, and the International Rerikh Centre on the Malyi Znamenskii Pereulok.
Many of Moscow's biggest festivals and sporting events take place in its surprisingly large number of stadiums, such as the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, also known as the Grand Sports Arena or the Central Lenin Stadium, and boasts a staggering capacity of almost 85,000 seated spectators, making it the biggest sports stadium in Russia.
The Lokomotiv Stadium on the Bolshaya Cherkizovskaia Ulitsa is another of the most prominent stadiums in Moscow and can seat some 25,000 people, with both a large soccer pitch and covered ice skating rink, while the Sokolniki Exhibition Centre hosts more than 20 exhibitions each year, along with many other events, conferences and conventions.
Moscow Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- Russian Orthodox Christmas - early January, various celebrations take place each year on January 7th, the official day of the Russian Orthodox Christmas and a cause for much merriment
February
- Maslenitsa Festival - late February, lasting an entire week and featuring plenty of traditional carnival fun for all ages, including live music, dancing, hearty Russian fare and night-time fireworks displays
March
- International Women's Day - early March, first held in the late 1960s, the Moscow International Women's Day has grown into a major event. This is a time for rallying and campaigning for equality at all levels
- St. Patrick's Parade - March 17th, Irish-themed celebrations take over many parts of Moscow of St. Patrick's Day, when plentiful pints of Guinness are amongst the many highlights
- Golden Mask Theatre Festival - late March / early April, a range of theatrical performances, ranging from opera to ballet
April
- Easter Sunday - early April to late May, a religious time for Christians, when many Easter services take place at churches, such as the city's beautiful Church of the Ascension
- Red Hill Holiday - early April, the Sunday following Easter is a time to celebrate the arrival of spring and enjoy the rapidly improving weather. Many locals in Moscow choose to get married on this day
May
- Victory Day - early May, remembering some of Russia's most famous victories, such as those at Stalingrad, based around Park Pobedy, better known today as the 'Victory Park'. The night-time fireworks display is not to be missed
- May Day - early May, a public holiday in Moscow which was formerly known as the International Day of Solidarity of the Working People
- Moscow Stars - throughout May, a well-supported festival comprising live music, dancing and performances by the acclaimed Bolshoi Ballet company
- Troitsa - throughout May, celebrating the arrival of spring, when many houses around Moscow are decorated with branches and fresh flowers
June
- Mezhdunarodnyi Moskovskii Kinofestival (International Moscow Film Festival) - June and July, now one of the country's leading events and more than 30 years old, always attended by crowds of many thousands. The Moscow Film Festival features everything from Hollywood blockbusters to short films and Russian documentaries. A handful of celebrities and prominent directors often choose to attend
- Independence Day - June 12th, a public holiday also known as the 'Day of Sovereignty', celebrating the day the Russian achieved its actually independence in 1990
July
- Ivan Kupalo / St. John the Baptist's Day - July 6th, a pagan holiday where many bonfires are lit all around the city. Young couples gather to jump over these bonfires as a sign of their love and commitment to each other
August
- International Folklore Festival - late August to mid-December, lasting more than four months and based within the Hermitage Gardens. Expect to enjoy authentic folk music from many visiting European groups
- Farewell to the Summer - late August, very much a family day, where children of all ages head to the Ostankino Television Tower to enjoy a host of circus-style entertainment
- Equiros - late August, something for horse lovers visiting Moscow towards the end of the summer, Equiros is a leading equestrian trade fair selling a range of horse-related accessories
September
- Moscow International Book Fair - throughout September, a major book fair lasting five days and featuring an array of international best sellers
- Den' Goroda (City Day) - early September, a celebration of the historic founding of the city, including various festivities and street parties, along with a concert on the street of Tverskaia Ulitsa, which is always completely free of charge
- Moscow International Advertising Festival - mid-September, showcasing the up-and-coming advertising industry currently operating in Russia
October
- Days of Absinthe - throughout October, lasting three days and celebrating the drink of absinthe, which is known for its strength and effects on the eyes, held at the Mekhana Bansko restaurant
- Kremlin Cup - early October, lasting eight days and held at the Olympic Stadium, this is Russia's premier tennis event and always a crowd pleaser, particularly during the extremely competitive final games
- Moscow Autumn Festival - mid-October, a popular contemporary music event run by the Moscow Conservatory and featuring a range of different concerts at various venues
- International Festival of Poets - mid-October, first held in 2000 and now a very established and popular event, based at the Vsevolod Meyerhold Centre
November
- Day of Accord and Reconciliation - early November, remembering the historic communist revolution in the early 20th century, with a colourful parade around Red Square and many nearby events never far from the Kremlin
December
- Christmas at the Kremlin - December and January, Yuletide concerts are held at Moscow's famous Kremlin building, on Red Square, with a strong Orthodox theme
- Ice Skating at Gorky Park - December to February, crowds head to the ice skating rinks at Gorky Park, where loud music creates a fun atmosphere. If the rinks are too busy for you, it is often possible to skate along the icy pathways
- Russian Winter Festival - mid-December to early January, despite the freezing temperatures, a range of traditional Russian events draw crowds at Izmailovo Park and include sleigh rides (troika), folk music and plenty of warming vodka to go around
- Dzhazovye Golosa (Jazz Voices) - mid-December, a truly international festival of jazz first held in the mid-1990s and attracting many worldwide performers
- Jazz Voices - mid-December, a rare opportunity to hear the voices of leading Russian and international jazz artists, with many performances centred around the Jazz Art Club itself
- International Film Festival for Children - late December, with family friendly films screened at Moscow's popular Five Stars cinema