Date :
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Kupala Night, a summer Slavic holiday celebrated since ancient times, traditionally takes place at the end of June and the beginning of July. It is accompanied by sacred rituals, symbolic customs, ritual songs, and dances. Belarusians carefully preserve these ancient traditions, so mass festivities take place in all corners of the country on Kupala Night. People weave wreaths, sing songs, burn bonfires, and spend time searching for the mythical fern flower.
The largest festival dedicated to Kupala Night is held in the town of Alexandria in the Shklov district of the Mogilev region. Known as "Alexandria Gathers Friends", this event is one of the most popular and eagerly anticipated summer festivals that completely lives up to its name: tens of thousands of guests from various parts of the country and neighboring countries flock to Alexandria. People come here to relax, listen to music, make new friends, learn about folk traditions, and try Belarusian delicacies.
The festival takes place in a picturesque location on the bank of the Dnieper River. Here is a bridge that connects Alexandria and Kopyl. The first "Alexandria Gathers Friends" event took place in 2010. Over time, the event has gone beyond celebrating Kupala Night and has become a full-fledged thematic festival that locals and tourists eagerly anticipate.
What does the festival in Alexandria offer its guests?
Kupala Night in Alexandria attracts families with children, senior citizens, and young people. Therefore, the festival program is designed for all ages and cultural preferences.
The festival guests can look forward to:
- Musical and theatrical performances. Belarusian and foreign performers representing different musical genres come to Alexandria. Concerts are held on open-air stages where visitors can hear live music and dance. The festival offers performances by pop stars, folk ensembles, circus artists, theatrical productions, and dance shows.
- Art and crafts. The festival features exhibitions and fairs of folk crafts, handiwork, and traditional art. Visitors can take part in workshops on crafting items from clay, wood, and straw.
- Traditional Kupala fun. The festival guests can look forward to jumping over bonfires, weaving wreaths, Kupala dances, and the search for the fern flower.
- Market stalls. Here you can buy souvenirs, confectionery products, products from Belarusian enterprises, try national Belarusian dishes, and other tasty treats.
- Children's entertainment. For children, the festival provides entertainment areas, games, carousels, and rides.
The guests can also expect:
- Circus tent;
- Fashion shows;
- Sports competitions;
- Thematic areas;
- Photo zones;
- Competitions;
- Karaoke;
- Camping area;
- Evening disco;
- Exhibitions featuring products from Belarusian trade and industrial enterprises.
The festive event concludes with a grand gala concert and fireworks.
For the convenience of guests, the festival provides storage lockers, currency exchange points, and information boards. Volunteers work on the territory of the event, who will not let visitors get lost and will help solve any problem.
Planning your journey to Alexandria.
To get to the festival, first, you need to get to Orsha by train. From the Orsha railway and bus stations, trains and buses run on the Orsha-Kopyl route. For the convenience of visitors, on the day of the festival, the organizers run additional bus services and trains. The exact date of the event and its program change every year, so please verify the current information before your trip.
