SUMMER
A lilac in flower is the real symbol that warm weather has set in and there is an air of excitement once they come into bloom. Throughout the warm months, the city is deserted at weekends when people go off to their dacha, usually situated around the pine forests in the area northwest of the city. St Petersburg’s main festive season is during the acclaimed White Nights in June, when the sun hardly sets and it never quite gets dark. Concerts, ballets and other performances take place all over the city, which fills with thousands of visitors. The most favoured place to be at night time is on the embankments of the Neva, which are crowded with revellers watching the bridges being raised at 2am. If you are here at the time then I can really recommend an evening boat along the river and through the side canals. Many of the boat will have a musical troupe on board and will be serving snacks and vodka. You may only remember the first part of the evening.
JUNE
International Protection of Children Day (DenZatschity detey), is the 1st Jun.
Performances and events for children are held throughout the city. Russia Day (Den Rossii) on the 12th Jun is the day Russia became “independent” of the Soviet Union and is marked with fireworks at 10pm. Trinity Sunday (Troytsa) which is 50 days after Easter. Believers and atheists alike go to tidy the graves of their loved ones and raise a glass of vodka for their souls. The White Nights Swing, Jazz Festival starts in mid-June. A large jam session supported by local and visiting musicians for anyone with an interest in jazz. Stars of the White Nights, Classical Music Festival (Zvezdy Belykh nochey) begins in late Jun. This is the original White Nights festival, with first class opera, classical music and ballet concerts performed at all the major venues. White Nights, Rock Music Festival (Belye nochi) is also in late Jun. There are numerous outdoor rock concerts which are held at the Peter and Paul Fortress
Festival of Festivals (Festival-festivaley) is also the last week in Jun. This is an international non-competitive film festival showing the best international films released over the past year. The festival attracts film stars from all over the world. Tsarskoe Selo Carnival (Tsarskoselskiy karnaval) is another held in the last weekend in June. You will find funny costumes, music and mayhem filling the centre of TsarskoeSelo.
JULY
Sporting Competitions in St Petersburg have become an increasingly popular event in recent years, offering everything from tennis to yachting. Navy Day (Den Voennomorskovo Flota) is the first Sun after 22nd July. The Neva resembles a shipyard, with submarines and torpedo boats adorned with flags and bunting.
AUGUST
With schools on holiday and temperatures at their highest, most families escape to their dacha in the pine forests around the city. If you want to see the sights in town this can be quite a good time to pick.
A lilac in flower is the real symbol that warm weather has set in and there is an air of excitement once they come into bloom. Throughout the warm months, the city is deserted at weekends when people go off to their dacha, usually situated around the pine forests in the area northwest of the city. St Petersburg’s main festive season is during the acclaimed White Nights in June, when the sun hardly sets and it never quite gets dark. Concerts, ballets and other performances take place all over the city, which fills with thousands of visitors. The most favoured place to be at night time is on the embankments of the Neva, which are crowded with revellers watching the bridges being raised at 2am. If you are here at the time then I can really recommend an evening boat along the river and through the side canals. Many of the boat will have a musical troupe on board and will be serving snacks and vodka. You may only remember the first part of the evening.
JUNE
International Protection of Children Day (DenZatschity detey), is the 1st Jun.
Performances and events for children are held throughout the city. Russia Day (Den Rossii) on the 12th Jun is the day Russia became “independent” of the Soviet Union and is marked with fireworks at 10pm. Trinity Sunday (Troytsa) which is 50 days after Easter. Believers and atheists alike go to tidy the graves of their loved ones and raise a glass of vodka for their souls. The White Nights Swing, Jazz Festival starts in mid-June. A large jam session supported by local and visiting musicians for anyone with an interest in jazz. Stars of the White Nights, Classical Music Festival (Zvezdy Belykh nochey) begins in late Jun. This is the original White Nights festival, with first class opera, classical music and ballet concerts performed at all the major venues. White Nights, Rock Music Festival (Belye nochi) is also in late Jun. There are numerous outdoor rock concerts which are held at the Peter and Paul Fortress
Festival of Festivals (Festival-festivaley) is also the last week in Jun. This is an international non-competitive film festival showing the best international films released over the past year. The festival attracts film stars from all over the world. Tsarskoe Selo Carnival (Tsarskoselskiy karnaval) is another held in the last weekend in June. You will find funny costumes, music and mayhem filling the centre of TsarskoeSelo.
JULY
Sporting Competitions in St Petersburg have become an increasingly popular event in recent years, offering everything from tennis to yachting. Navy Day (Den Voennomorskovo Flota) is the first Sun after 22nd July. The Neva resembles a shipyard, with submarines and torpedo boats adorned with flags and bunting.
AUGUST
With schools on holiday and temperatures at their highest, most families escape to their dacha in the pine forests around the city. If you want to see the sights in town this can be quite a good time to pick.