Press releases

10 Jul 2020

Alexandria Gathers Friends 2020 to be held under UNESCO’s patronage

The annual Kupala Night Festival (Alexandria Gathers Friends) on the bank of the Dnieper River in the agro-town of Alexandria, Shklov District will take place on 11-12 July. This year, the festival will be running under the patronage of UNESCO.

Founded ten years ago, the festival in Alexandria has turned into the country’s signature event. It draws visitors not only from Belarus, but also from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and other countries. Last year’s festival brought together over 65,000 people.

This year, all districts of Belarus and the city of Minsk will put up pavilions that will host festivals, art contests, plein air and other events, reflecting the unique image of every part of Belarus.

On the first day of the festival, visitors of the event will be offered a tour of the pavilions. The festival will feature an exhibition of Minsk Tractor Works, a fair of baked goods, a kvass fest, the youth exposition “Corridor of Epochs”, and Alexandria’s Market. Alexandria will also welcome the finalists of the nationwide agricultural family contest Lord of the Village.

The Book Fest will introduce visitors to the national literary heritage. The festival will also feature a presentation of the program of Belarusian Written Language Day that will be celebrated in Belynichi on 6 September.

A tent circus will offer a variety of circus performances.

The Vesyalukha company of the Mogilev Regional Philharmonic will demonstrate their vocal skills while Belarusian manufacturers will show their new linen collections. The line-up of the children's disco will feature arts groups, participants of the TV show "Voice. Children” from Mogilev Oblast, clowns and animators.

The national festival will officially open at 17h00 with an entertainment program featuring artists of the Mogilev Regional Philharmonic. A ceremony to honor the winners and participants of the Lord of the Village project will be held in the evening and will be followed by a concert by the folk instruments orchestra named after Belarus People's Artist Leonid Ivanov and The Feedback band. The Kulagin Mogilev DOSAAF Aeroclub will perform demonstration flights of planes and parachutists.

The gala concert will begin on the main stage at 21h30 and will wrap up with a colorful fireworks display. The festivities will continue with the youth disco featuring Ivan Vabishchevich, artists of the Mogilev Regional Philharmonic and the country's leading DJs.

The best agricultural workers of Mogilev Oblast will be honored in an official ceremony on the second day of the festival that will also feature the folk instruments orchestra named after Belarus People's Artist Leonid Ivanov and the Pesnyary band. The program of the second day also includes a circus festival and a concert by Belarusian song and dance company Medunitsa.