St. Petersburg Events and Festivals

(St. Petersburg, North-Western Federal District, Russia)

Although St. Petersburg may no longer be the imperial capital of the Russian Federation, it certainly fairs well when it comes to events and things to do, boasting an excellent festivals scene. Many of the biggest events in St. Petersburg tend to take place during the summer, such as the International Film Festival and Beer Festival in June, and the Russian Farmer's Fair and Sailing Week each August.

Many major concerts and jazz festivals are held at the Philharmonic Hall on the Zagorodnii Prospekt, while for sporting events in St. Petersburg, the Kirov Stadium (Stadion Imeni SM Kirova) is the place to be. Located on the Morskoi Prospekt and in the Petrograd Side district, the Kirov Stadium is simply vast and can seat around 80,000 spectators.

St. Petersburg Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• International Christmas Film Festival - early January, a host of family friendly Russian films are screened at the city's Rodina Cinema on the Karavannaya Ulitsa, during the Orthodox Christmas

February

• Ballet Festival Mariinsky - mid-February, leading ballets companies perform at the theatres around the Teatral'naya Ploshad for an entire week

March

• Easter Celebrations (Paskha) - late March / early April, the most important religious festival in Russia, held in full Orthodox style at the city's Kazan Cathedral

April

• Sergei Kuryokhin International Festival (SKIF) - mid-April, an avant-garde event held over three days, with many figures from the world of international modern music
• Russian Ballet Summer Season - late April to late September, various theatrical performances at venues such as the Alexandrinsky Theatre, the Ballet Theatre and the Musorgsky Opera House

May

• Musical Olympus International Festival - May and June, attracting some of the youngest and most talented conductors and musicians in the world, who come to St. Petersburg to share their love of music and perform with orchestras, such as the Philharmonic and the State Hermitage
• The Stars of White Nights Festival - May to July, one of the definite highlights at the Mariinsky Theatre, with classical music concerts, ballets and operatic musicals
• Battle of the Bands - annual rock celebration, with loud music and partying for all involved
• City Day - late May, the official birthday of St. Petersburg on May 27th, celebrated in style, with partying around the Palace Square and evening fireworks, along with many other events taking place at venues including the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Grand Philharmonic Hall
• International Festival 'Musical Spring in St. Petersburg' - throughout May, with contemporary music from the 20th century, performed at venues such as the city's Philharmonic Halls and also the Capella Concert Hall

June

• International Film Festival 'Message to Man' - throughout June, a chance to enjoy an array of short films, with everything from cartoons to documentaries
• Open the Windows Rock Festival - a major Russian rock event lasting just one day and the result of an earlier 'Battle of the Bands' event in May
• Beer Festival - mid-June, one of the largest events taking place in St. Petersburg, with crowds descending upon the Peter and Paul Fortress

July

• Festival of Festivals Film Festival - early July, an established movie event which has gained a tremendous following and has grown to become the largest film festival in the whole of Russia, attracting a host of celebrities and acclaimed movie directors and producers. Held at cinemas such as the Barrikada and the Leningrad

August

• Sailing Week - late August - many hundreds of competitors sail around 150 km / 93 miles in this regatta, from Vyborg to St. Petersburg
• Russian Farmer's Fair - late August / early September, Eastern Europe's leading farming and agricultural event, which was first held in the city of St. Petersburg in 1992 and is based within the Lenexpo complex, in the Vasilevskii Island area

September

• Early Music Festival - late September to early October, showcasing some of the more traditional music styles from throughout Russia and Western Europe, including many historic instruments and definite flavours of the past

October

• St. Petersburg Open Tennis - October, a truly outstanding sporting event attracting many of the world's best male tennis players who compete for not only the title, but big prize money

November

• St. Petersburg International Dance Film Festival 'Kinodance' - mid-November, attracting entrants from all around Eastern Europe and always a crowd pleaser
• Cup of Russia / ISU Grand Prix Cup of Russia - late November, an international figure skating competition organised by the notable Figure Skating Federation of Russia, and held at the Ice Palace on the Bolshaya Pirogovskaya Ulitza

December

• DJ Parade - mid-December, DJs from all over Russia flock to the Iubileinyi Sports Arena on the Dobroliubova Prospekta, to perform to large crowds of partygoers
• Arts Square Winter Festival - late December to early January, with various performances at the Shostokovich Theatre and other similar venues around the city's renovated Arts Square
• Russian Winter Festival - late December to early January, tourists staying in St. Petersburg at the end of December can expect to find troika rides (sleighs), folklore shows and many fun games