5.7 million people took part in the festive events of the Journey to Christmas festival in Moscow and we at Luxpresso expereinced it in December 2023
In the run up to New Year, Moscow held the "Journey to Christmas" festival with skating rinks, performances, masterclasses and many other seasonal activities. Over the New Year and Christmas holidays, the temperature in Russia’s capital fell to as low as minus 29 degrees Celsius. The average air temperature in the first week of January was minus 20.5 degrees Celsius; a 45-year record. Despite the severe cold, 5.7 million people visited the ‘Journey to Christmas’ festival venues.
The tenth anniversary "Journey to Christmas" festival ran in Moscow from 15 December to 8 January. The visitors from both Russia and abroad could immerse themselves in the history of Moscow and learn more about the city’s New Year traditions.
The festival’s cultural programme included about 7000 masterclasses, more than 2.4 thousand musical and theatrical performances, including New Year shows with Ded Moroz (the Russian Santa Clause) and Snegurochka (the Snow Maiden), quizzes and many more experiences.
60 thousand servings of various hot foods were prepared for guests. The delicacies included festive pastries, more than 17 thousand snacks, and 125.4 thousand litres of various beverages. The key theme of the anniversary festival was the "Moscow Tea Party". There was also a New Year's quest in which participants could learn more about the history of Moscow tea drinking traditions by answering questions on tea etiquette and the rules of hospitality. 25,000 people joined the quest and most received memorable gifts when it ended.
225.8 thousand people enjoyed the 23 free skating rinks on festival sites. The festival also featured more than 100 ice shows (The Nutcracker, Snow White, Cinderella, and The Frog Princess) directed by ice skating champions Tatiana Navka and Pyotr Chernyshev and featuring Olympic gold medalist Adelina Sotnikova. This season’s premiere was "The Golden Key". 19,350 people made up the ice show audiences and for the first time, visitors to the rinks could take figure skating lessons.
67 thousand people took part in "The Strongest", an outdoor training programme. They competed for the title of ‘strongest and most agile’ district resident. The challenge was to perform push-ups, squats, rope jumps, ab-curls, and kettlebell swings, and to do as many as possible in just 60 seconds. The competition had four age groups; children 8 to 12, teenagers 13 to 17, 18 to 35 year-olds and over thirty fives. Local winners were determined every day. Other sporting contests included long jump, tug of war and darts.
Keeping to a long-standing tradition, the festival featured a curling academy where 143 games were played, 310 masterclasses and training sessions attended, with more than 1.7 thousand people taking part.
There are plenty of things to do in Moscow all year round! You can attend concerts, theater performances, master classes, exhibitions, and free excursions at any time. The most captivating events in Russia’s capital are unified under Moscow Seasons, which organizes a series of huge street festivals boasting dozens of venues throughout the city, with a rich and unique program every year! Everything at these events is foreigner-friendly: restaurant menus are available in English and Chinese, the locations are easy to get to, there are tons of spectacular events that don’t require an understanding of Russian, and as far as payment is concerned, almost everything is free to attend!
Here are some upcoming festivals by Moscow Seasons
MOSCOW MASLENITSA FESTIVAL (8 - 17 MARCH)
The Moscow Maslenitsa or the pancake week festival is a bright gastronomic celebration to see off winter and welcome the warmth of spring. The program includes folk shows, cooking masterclasses and, of course, lots of pancakes!
EASTER GIFT FESTIVAL (1 - 5 MAY)
A charity festival attended by volunteers and people who care. A great opportunity to help those in need while celebrating the joyful holiday.
MOSCOW SPRING A CAPPELLA FESTIVAL (6 - 12 MAY)
Russian singers are joined by friendly international rivals to delight festival guests with thousands of live a cappella performances. Balconies, squares, parks, and some of the many alleys of central Moscow will become stages from which the contestants will sing.
MOSCOW FISH WEEK (24 MAY - 2 JUNE)
A wide range of fish and seafood from the country’s best suppliers. Astrakhan, Yakutsk, Murmansk, the Far East, as well as many other regions of Russia will be represented across the festival’s many sites.
FESTIVAL "TIMES AND EPOCHS" (12 - 16 JUNE)
The largest historical festival is an unforgettable journey through time and an opportunity to get a real sense of different eras and cultures.
MOSCOW FASHION WEEK FESTIVAL (21-30 JUNE)
This large-scale showcase event for the Russian fashion industry will present all its diversity, from sketching clothes by Russian designers to mass production, from retail to fashion media.
TASTES OF RUSSIA FESTIVAL (5 - 14 JULY)
A national gastronomic festival featuring produce and dishes from the most diverse corners of Russia.
MOSCOW JAM FESTIVAL (26 JULY - 4 AUGUST)
A big fruit journey! The festival will feature more than 100 varieties of jams including raspberry, cherry, dandelion, buckwheat and a great deal more!
CITY DAY FESTIVAL (6 - 8 SEPTEMBER)
In september 2024, Muscovites will celebrate the capital’s 877th birthday! The program will feature masterclasses, sports competitions, street performances, concerts and of course fireworks.
GOLDEN AUTUMN FESTIVAL (27 SEPTEMBER - 6 OCTOBER)
A big gastronomic journey across Russia. Guests will enjoy large selection of quality foods: meat, fish, cheese, vegetables, fruit, and a variety of dishes from the capital's finest restaurateurs, as well as spectacular food shows, concerts, performances and fun competitions.
JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL (20 DECEMBER 2024 - 12 JANUARY 2025)
Europe’s largest winter festival with fun events for visitors of any age! Enjoy spectacular ice performances, outdoor concerts and shows, great foods and huge choice of gifts and souvenirs.
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