Date :
Thursday, July 8, 2021
Aleksandria is not just an agrotown on the bank of the Dnieper River, but also a place where the main event of July, Kupalye, is celebrated on a large scale. Not only Belarusians, but also guests from Russia and Ukraine gather here every year. Over 100 thousand people have visited the festival during its existence! It has already formed its own traditions and features, which will be discussed in this article.
How did the festival evolve?
- It all started in 2010: at that time, only people from nearby cities, such as Mogilev, Shklov and Orsha, and villages came to the event.
- The next year, the festival was attended by Russian and Ukrainian performers.
- In 2012, there was an emphasis on exhibitions of artisans from different countries, as well as a meeting of the countries from the Dnieper region.
- The next festival grew to include a presentation of new projects, international ceramics master classes, and an archaeological exhibition.
- 2014 was the anniversary year for the festival, there were three major fairs: of Nizhny Novgorod, Sorochin and Aleksandria, and in the “Gastseunya Bulbasha” the guests were given a taste of traditional Belarusian cuisine.
- At the next festival, visitors were shown the musical “Paparats-kvetka” (The Fernflower), which was so popular that it was later shown in other cities of Belarus. That’s how a new tradition at the festival appeared — theatrical performances.
- In 2016, for the first time a tour of the holiday was held and everyone was plunged into a real Kupala fairy tale.
- A year later, “Aleksandria Gathers Friends” gained international status, where Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, and Polish groups took part.
- In 2018, the number of guests increased to 110,000!
- In subsequent years, the festival has provided plenty of entertainment for young people and held various awards, opening and closing ceremonies.
What to expect in 2021?
This time the holiday will last from July 10 to 11, and, according to tradition, the program will be very rich, with its own surprises.
Saturday, July 10:
- There will be a guided tour of all the festive sites,
- An exhibition of Minsk Tractor Works and a fair with the works of farmsteads from “Aleksandryiyskaya Gastsina” will be organized,
- The youth area will host creative and agricultural projects,
- Powerlifting competition will be be held,
- There will be a children’s area, where the actors from the Puppet Theater will show a performance,
- The tent circus will perform shows of different circus genres,
- The exhibitions “Small Motherland” and “The fabric sky of Aleksandria” will be held,
- It will be possible to visit the museum of local history of Aleksandria,
- There will be a thematic area, which is dedicated to the automobile inspection of the Republic of Belarus.
On the small concert stage in the morning there will be a show of a concert program with children and teenagers from various production centers; at lunchtime there will be performances by ensembles from Belarusian public associations. Afterwards, the Jazz City Band will perform, and the awarding and opening ceremonies of the festival will take place.
On the main concert stage, late in the evening, a large concert will be organized, where folk bands and modern pop artists will perform, and at 11.00 p.m. there will be a five-minute colorful fireworks display.
Afterwards you can dance at a disco party until 2.00 a.m., dedicated to the 80-90s, which will feature the best DJs of our time.And this is just a small part of what awaits you there!
The “Aleksandria Gathers Friends” festival will suit everyone who is looking for new acquaintances and entertainment. Do not plan anything for the weekend and feel free to visit Shklov district, Mogilev region, and do not forget your personal protective equipment, as it is mandatory to comply with the sanitary and epidemiological regime at the festival. Aleksandria is waiting for you!