The «Svyata Sonca» festival in Dudutki

Every year, hundreds of people come to the festival to listen to music, immerse themselves in Slavic mythology, and celebrate Midsummer in a traditional style. "Svyata Sonca" opens its doors at the end of June – a time when, according to our ancestors, the magical forces of nature reach their highest power.

What awaits festival guests?

A massive open-air folk music concert that attracts musicians from Belarus and nearby foreign countries. Guests will get to hear various types of folk music – from melodic ethnic tunes and medieval ballads to groovy folk-rock and hard-hitting folk-metal riffs. In addition to folk bands, the festival welcomes representatives of symphonic metal, experimental rock, and other genres of heavy music.

A fire and pyrotechnic festival, where the best teams from Belarus demonstrate their fire-show skills. Fire, one of the elements to which our ancestors paid tribute during the celebration of Midsummer. Complex tricks, bright costumes, incredible effects captivate and amaze festival-goers anew each year.

The city of craftsmen – a place where artisans demonstrate their skills to festival-goers. Guests have the opportunity to visit the mint, pottery and weapon workshops, see blacksmiths, jewelers, leather workers, and straw-weaving masters at work. Visitors can participate in master classes and try their hand at traditional Belarusian crafts.

A Midsummer fair offering souvenir products, medieval-style jewelry, natural cosmetics, traditional clothing, and handmade items made of clay, stone, wood, vine, and straw.

Midsummer rituals. Those interested can participate in recreating traditional Midsummer customs – fortune telling, wreath weaving, round dances, ritual dances.

Late in the evening, after the end of the concert program, participants and visitors of the festival with lit torches head to the banks of the Ptich River, where they light the Midsummer bonfire, symbolizing purification and rebirth, jump over the fire, tell fortunes, and float wreaths on the water. 

Here is what else the organizers offer to visitors:

• Interactive zones, where guests can try archery, sword fighting, and board games;
• An ethnic area, where spectators can see theatrical performances, magicians, dance ensembles, and musical groups;
• A food court, where you can try both standard street food and dishes of national Belarusian cuisine;
• Museum exhibitions;
• Photo zones;
• A zoo;
• A children's playground;
• A rope park;
• An ancient windmill, built in 1905 and brought to Dudutki from the Gomel region;
• A bakery and cheese factory, where bread is baked and cheese is made according to old recipes;
• An exhibition of vintage cars;
• A farm and bird yard;
• A distillery.

This year, "Svyata Sonca" is welcoming guests for the sixth time. The festival will take place on June 24 and 25. On the open stage, you can hear bands such as "Trubetskoy", "Jan Zhenchak", "Rokash", "Plemя", "Aquamorta", "Alcyona", "Roskvit", "Frozen Garden", as well as the leader of the legendary ethnic trio "Troitsa" Ivan Kirchuk.

As part of the fire show, the audience will be amazed by the fire circus "Kresiva", "Atoma", ethnic studio "Ketri", fire theater "Etere", "Rey Show", and other groups.

Festival guests can stay overnight in guest houses on the territory of Dudutki or in a tent camp, equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay. 

To get to the festival by car, follow the R23 highway towards Slutsk, then turn at the sign for Dudutki. There is parking at the entrance to the museum complex. On the days of the festival, for the convenience of visitors, special buses will be arranged from Minsk and Rudensk.