Press releases
Belarus Events Calendar: AUGUST 2023
Minsk tops CIS list of cities for virtual tours
Tour program ‘Loshitsa Estate in the 19th - early 20th centuries’
Loshitsa Estate, one of the most popular sights of Minsk, invites you to go on a musical journey. During the tour of the estate, visitors will not only see the stylized interiors of the estate in which the eminent owners Eustachy Prushinsky, Ivan and Eustachy Lyubansky lived, but also learn about their fates, habits, way of life, and secrets that the walls of the estate keep. Musical program for the tour will feature the polonaise of the diplomat and composer Michal Kleofas Oginski "Farewell to the Motherland", Napoleon Orda’s piece "Serenade", a piece from the collection "Polotsk Notebook", the works of the German Johannes Brahms and Russian composer-philosopher Alexander Scriabin.
When: every Sunday at 15.00 and 17.00
Where: Loshitsa Estate museum, 10 Chizhevskikh Proezd, Minsk
Summer Music and Tourism Season in Minsk
The historic center of Minsk - the Upper Town, within the Trinity and Rakov suburbs –will be hosting the summer music and tourism season from 13 May until September 2023. This year’s event will feature Days of Culture of Minsk’s Twin Cities, including St. Petersburg, Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, and others. The World of Tea cultural event will take place in the Upper Town on 27 May in cooperation with the Chinese embassy and performers from China. The organizers promise that the projects most popular with the residents and visitors of Minsk will continue in the 2023 season. Student amateur bands as well as professional theater companies will be performing in the open area of the Monastyrski Hotel from 20.00 to 22.00 on Saturdays as part of the Theatrical Courtyard project. Open-Air Library will be hosting interactive meetings for children and adults from 13.00 to 17.00 on Saturdays. The Peshekhodka [Pedestrian Area] project invites street musicians to perform starting from May.
When: 13 May-September
Where: the historic center of Minsk
Vytoki sports and cultural festival
The sports and cultural festival “Vytoki. A Step Towards Olympus” ushers in a new season. The host city will be Zhlobin on 19-20 May. On 19 May the program features an artistic drawing interactive organized by the ArtHaos gallery and the musical "How the night has turned into a girl" by the Youth Variety Theater. The first day of the festival will end with the screening of the famous sports film in an open-air cinema. The events on 20 May includes the opening ceremony, the Olympic quest, the new intellectual and educational project "Vytoki. Quiz", a show of apparel collections by Belarusian manufacturers, designers and entrepreneurs. This year, the cultural program debuts a new song lyrics contest "Poems about life important things". The festival program in Zhlobin will wrap up with an evening gala concert featuring popular Belarusian pop artists.
When, where:
19-20 May – Zhlobin
2-3 June – Baranovichi
16-17 June – Slonim
23-24 June – Glubokoye
18-19 August – Kostyukovichi
25-26 August – Borisov
Incredible Amusement at the Belarusian State Circus
For the summer period the Belarusian State Circus will turn into an Incredible Amusement where amazing phenomena take place: the observation wheel is transformed into the breathtaking Wheel of Bravery and the usual Firing Range into the extreme Knife Throwing Range! Only here the impossible is possible: cats perform stunts in the air, motorbikes are driven by bears, and people prove to be stronger than cars... The program of the new show includes such numbers as tightrope walking, air gymnastics on a corde de péril, acrobatic walkway, gymnasts in a ring and on a trapeze, power lifting. The arena will also feature children's favorites – trained bears, cats and ponies.
When: 26 May to 19 August
Where: Belarusian State Circus, 32 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk
Exhibition dedicated to Aleksei Glebov in Minsk
The exhibition celebrating sculptor and teacher Aleksei Glebov in the National Art Museum is dedicated to the 115th anniversary of the birth of the People's Artist of the BSSR. His creative path went hand in hand with the formation of the Belarusian sculptural school. The artist’s creative heritage includes monumental plasticity, narrative compositions, chamber easel works and also his students that he mentored over years of teaching. The exhibition features the art pieces created in the 1940s - 1960s. It is complemented by the Aleksei Glebov portraits made by other artists and also a video and a radio program about the sculptor.
When: 16 June –13 August
Where: National Art Museum of Belarus, 24 Karl Marx Street, Minsk
Vulitsa Ezha: Summer Season 2023 in Minsk
Vulitsa Ezha 2023 presents four festivals. The first one kicked off in May at the cozy gastronomic venue LUCHshaya Ulitsa which opened to the public last year. The other three will take place under the shade of the trees in the Botanical Garden. The program will feature master classes, interactive activities, tastings, live music and dancing under the open sky. A large food court with street food will be the draw of the festivals.
When: 24-25 June, 22-23 July, 2-3 September
Where: Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 2в Surganova Street, Minsk
Masters of Art Olympus: Chaim Sutin and Marc Chagall Exhibition in Minsk
Belarus-born Chaim Sutin and Marc Chagall - artists of the 20th century, representatives of the famous Paris School - became the heroes of Oleg Popelsky's works created in a unique technology using natural stones. Paintings presented in various combinations of stones are called hommages, which in French means a tribute to the artist's work. The Road to Eternity series tells about Chaim Sutin’s life, childhood in his native Smilovichi, Jewish traditions, rites and family way of life. The second series, Warm Home of the Soul, celebrates Marc Chagall’s works, where the main element is a synagogue, and the composition is complemented by the characters of the artist’s works – residents of his native city of Vitebsk.
When: till 1 October
Where: Minsk City History Museum, 17 Rakovskaya Street, Minsk
Belarusian cuisine festival in Zdravnevo
Potato pancakes, dumplings, krupnik soup, khvorost cookie will be featured at Belarusian cuisine festival Dzvinski Smak in the famous estate of Ilya Repin in Zdravnevo. The gastronomic festival has brought together about 20 clubs of Belarusian national cuisine from various districts of Vitebsk Oblast. For example, the specialties of the Smak folk group from Chashniki are home-made cheeses and zrazy meat rolls with fillings. The Razynka club from Shumilino will treat guests to the krupnik groats soup with alcohol, honey and spices. The signature dish of the Stayskiya Prysmaki club from Lepel District is dumplings with hearty filling, included in the treasury trove of the intangible heritage of Vitebsk Oblast.
When: June - August (Saturdays, 11.00–15.00)
Where: Ilya Repin Estate Museum Zdravnevo, Vitebsk District
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Musical weekends: Summer concerts in Alexander Garden in Minsk
In the heart of the Belarusian capital, near the Kupala Theater in Alexander Square, Minsk residents and guests of the city can enjoy concerts of famous folklore, vocal and dance companies of the country every weekend. In August, the audiences will be treated to concerts by the orchestra and vocal group of the Border Guard Service of Belarus (5 August), the Youth Variety Theater (12 August), the Belarusian State Academic Dance Company Khoroshki (19 August). A dedication concert from the Finberg National Academic Concert Orchestra in memory of the maestro and founder of the orchestra will be held on 26 August. The autumn chapter will open with the Musical Evening with the Bolshoi Theater (2 September) and the Music of Cinema program by the Zhinovich National Academic Folk Orchestra of Belarus of the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society (9 September).
When: 3 June - 9 September (Saturdays, 16.00–17.30)
Where: Alexander Garden, Minsk
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Festival of academic organ and chamber music
The Great Art of the Organ will unite connoisseurs of organ and chamber music: in just three months three chamber groups and 13 concert organists will give 33 concerts. It is symbolic that the festival opened in Pinsk that has the country’s second largest historical organ (Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin). The musical marathon will continue in the village of Medvedichi, Lyakhovichi District. The audiences will enjoy seven concerts and savor the sound of the hundred-year-old organ. The concerts will run on weekends until 10 September.
Where, when:
2 July - 10 September – Medvedichi village, Lyakhovichi District
end of July – early September – master classes in Pinsk
24 August and 13 September – concerts at the Vitebsk Regional Philharmonic
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Cinemascope #shhh in Minsk: Silent open-air cinema
The Cinemascope #shhh project opens the third season. It continues to introduce its audiences to the best films of world cinema. Evening outdoor film screenings in the courtyard of the Zair Azgur Memorial Studio Museum are organized with sound beamed to wireless headphones so as not to disturb the neighbors. Films are screened in the original language with Russian subtitles. The poster of the month features masterpieces by directors such as Jacques Tati, Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly, Eric Rohmer, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Brian De Palma, Billy Wilder, Jean-Luc Godard, Ridley Scott, Stanley Kubrick...
When: 25 July – 29 August
Where: courtyard of the Zair Azgur Memorial Studio Museum, 8 Azgur Street, Minsk
2nd CIS Games in Belarus
A grandiose sports festival - the 2nd CIS Games - will unfold in 11 cities across Belarus. The mascot of the upcoming Games is Rysia the Lynx and the slogan “Strong in Spirit, Strong in Game!” More than 4,000 athletes will compete for awards in 20 sports. The Games in Belarus will have only 9 sports out of 18 featured in the program of the first edition of the Games in Russia's Kazan. The following sports will make their debuts at the Games in Belarus: volleyball, handball, karate, athletics, beach volleyball and football, swimming, modern pentathlon, archery, weightlifting, field hockey. The Games will bring together teams from the CIS countries and also delegations from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, China, Cuba, Lebanon, Syria...
When: 4–14 August
Where: 11 cities of Belarus
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Polessky Vyun food festival
The Polessky Vyun regional food festival will be held on the shores of Lake Gorodishchenskoye for the second time. The program events will cross gastronomy with eco-tourism and will include the Battle on Scoops culinary competition, a water show, a show of dog handlers of the Pinsk border unit, Water and Foam Extravaganza performance, a show of Belarusian rescuers, and performances by amateur music groups of Pinsk District. Visitors will also be able to taste field cuisine. The highlight of the evening program will be a concert by Anatoly Yarmolenko and the Syabry band, as well as a laser show and fireworks.
When: 5 August, 10:00
Where: Gorodishche village, Pinsk District, Tishina eco-tourist complex
Mstislavl Fest 2023 medieval culture festival
The knights’ festival in ancient Mstislavl (the town will mark its 888th anniversary this year) will draw medieval culture enthusiasts and give visitors a chance to relive medieval life. The program includes the theatrical performance “Once upon a time on a wild field”, a battle of knights, a medieval fairy tale “The legend of the prince’s daughters”, knightly buhurts, mass battles, an archery tournament, a spectacular reenactment of a castle storming, a fire show and performances by music groups, including Adamant, Stox, KaS, Red Fox Band. In addition to that, visitors will be able to see an equestrian tournament and performances by riders, visit a craft fair, and take part in master classes.
When: 5 August, 11:30
Where: Castle Hill, Mstislavl, Mogilev Oblast
Ivye Tomato Festival
Ivye dubbed as ‘tomato capital of Belarus’ and one of the youngest towns in Grodno Oblast is gearing up for the tomato festival. The seventh edition of the festival will be co-located with Town Day to be marked on 12 August. Along with the traditional tomato battle Ivie de Tomateiro, the program will include tomato darts, Red Queen beauty pageant, and a gallery about the history of the festival. The festival will open with a theatrical procession Tomato Boom that will be followed by contests and fun competitions like Lord Tomato (the largest grown tomato), Tomato Family, Cherry 2023 (the best children's carnival costume). Apart from that, visitors will be able to purchase the juiciest tomatoes, taste a variety of dishes with tomatoes and try the Ivye signature sandwich.
When: 12 August, 13:00
Where: Ivye, Grodno Oblast
Sporovsky Hayfields Festival
Sporovskoye Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in Brest Oblast and in entire Belarus, is located on the border of Bereza District and Drogichin District, on the territory of the Sporovsky National Biological Reserve that was the first in Belarus to get the international status of the Ramsar site. It is here where an annual scything championship is held. One of the goals of the organizers is to raise awareness of environmental problems of Belarusian swamps and peatlands. The Sporovsky National Biological Reserve is a natural habitat for aquatic warbler, a rare bird that is threatened with extinction due to the overgrowth of swamps. In addition to the championship, visitors will be able to play a football tournament in the swamp, take part in master classes in kayaking, hang-gliding, and enjoy an entertainment program.
When: 12 August
Where: Sporovsky National Biological Reserve, Peresudovichi village, Bereza District, Brest Oblast
800th anniversary of Nesvizh
Nesvizh, one of Belarus’ oldest towns, is celebrating its 800th anniversary. It is best known for its architectural gem - Nesvizh Castle - the former residence of the Radziwill family. The castle is featured in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Other attractions include the Baroque-style Farny Church designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Bernardoni, the Slutsk Gate, the Town Hall and the rectangular Castle Tower. The town has thoroughly prepared for the anniversary celebrations: houses, buildings and monuments got a facelift, the road surface was renovated, the embankment and squares were landscaped, and murals were created on the facades of buildings. The opening of a new polyclinic will be an anniversary gift for local residents. The program of the celebrations will include a parade of themed vehicles "Nesvizh: 800 years on the road", the Nesvizh Fortress historical reenactment festival, the 2nd edition of the Flowers of the Palace festival. Among the highlights will be the festivals of colors, cheese and ice cream.
When: 12 August
Where: Nesvizh, Minsk Oblast
Motol Treats Festival
The 12th edition of the traditional food festival Motol Treats (Motalskiya Prysmaki) invites national cuisine lovers to enjoy dishes based on old recipes, homemade products and local delicacies. This year the festival will also celebrate culinary traditions of various ethnic groups living in Belarus. The program of the festival will include a theatrical procession, a concert, a round table “National cuisine is the key to the friendship of peoples”. A delegation from the Russian village of Turgenevka, the sister town of Motol, is expected to arrive at the festival. This village in Irkutsk Oblast was founded by settlers from Western Polesye in 1909. Visitors to the festival will be able to have a ball, take part in master classes in local dances, enjoy folk music and humor, a festival of children's and youth art, a folk show and festive fireworks.
When: 12-13 August
Where: Motol, Ivanovo District, Brest Oblast
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Procession from Zhirovichi to Minsk
The procession from Holy Dormition Stavropegic Monastery in Zhirovichi to Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk is dedicated to the 850th anniversary since the demise of the saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk. Over the course of nine days Christian Orthodox pilgrims will travel for 250km. The route crosses 4 eparchies and goes past 18 temples. Anyone can join in at any point. It is symbolical that the prayer procession will end on 26 August – the day of remembrance of the Minsk Icon of the Mother of God, which according to church legends was created by Evangelist Luke and found in the waters of the Svisloch River in 1500. Despite the persecution of the church and ravages of warfare, the Orthodox relic survived and it has been kept in Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk since 1945.
When: 18–26 August
Where: Holy Dormition Stavropegic Monastery in Zhirovichi, Slonim District, Grodno Oblast – Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk
Bakery festival Father’s Loaf 2023
The colorful festival in the town of Svisloch will open with the concert "Recipe of family bread" hosted by Vasil and Gandzya, humorous characters known in the region. Belarusian humorists will pick up the cheerful note with the concert "Laughter and fur". The main episodes of the bakery festival will be an award ceremony, an exhibition of competitive masterpieces by the country’s professional bakers Fatherland, and an exhibition of works by amateur bakers Mother’s Loaf. The concert of Belarusian pop artists "Peace! Labor! Bread!" will be dedicated to the same theme. And, of course, the heroine of the festival will be Father’s Loaf - the Svisloch bun that reminded Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko of the taste of childhood during his working visit to Svisloch in June 2021.
When: 19 August
Where: Svisloch, Grodno Oblast
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International festival of Slavonic mythology Way of the Dragon 2023
The first festival of Slavonic mythology Way of the Dragon took place in September 2019. The festival has already become a staple event in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. This year’s festival will open with a procession and a quest from mythological characters. Later on the guests will enjoy a musical program, a summary of results of the quest, a fire show and a night excursion along the ecological trail "In the land of myths". Medieval, theatrical and shamanistic venues will be organized on the festival territory as well as a city of all trades, an art exhibition, an artisans' club. Artistic groups will perform. On the second day there will be movie screenings in the Environmental Education House, excursions along the ecological trail "In the land of myths" as well as in original museums of nature, honey and mythology.
When: 19-20 August
Where: Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, 3 Tsentralnaya Street, Domzheritsy, Lepel District, Vitebsk Oblast
Ecological Week in Belarus
The Ecological Week of Belarus will open during the 2nd international specialized expo Ecology Expo - 2023 in Minsk, where the main topics will be emission reduction, waste recycling, ecotourism, promotion of eco-packaging as well as the introduction of other advanced technologies that will allow reducing the use of natural resources. The program will continue in the city of Stolin, Brest Oblast where the 17th Republican Environmental Forum will be held. The forum is dedicated to the Year of Peace and Creation which was declared in 2023. It is a platform for uniting the society for the sake of solving environmental problems, maximizing the involvement of the country’s population in the environmental movement, improving environmental culture, promoting the principles of sustainable development, and forming an environmentally friendly way of life.
When: 22-26 August
Where: Minsk, Stolin
Soligorsk City Day: 65th anniversary, theatrical show, parade of newlyweds
Soligorsk, the capital of Belarusian miners, was founded at one of the world’s largest deposits of potash salt. It is the second most populous city in Minsk Oblast. The city is celebrating its 65th anniversary. The celebration will start on 24 August. Activities for children and adults, concert and dance programs, strongman shows are supposed to take place in the Iskusstv Square. A ceremony to honor the top performers and a jazz music festival will be held on 25 August outside OAO Belaruskali. On the main day – 26 August - there will be a theatrical procession and a parade of this year’s newlyweds, and then festivities will be held in the Park of Four Elements. Trade rows will be opened. Guests will be offered interesting entertainment. The City Day evening will end with a big show involving pop stars and fireworks.
When: 26 August
Where: Soligorsk, Minsk Oblast
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