Press releases
Belarus Events Calendar: AUGUST 2024
Kinovek: Festival to Mark 100th Anniversary of Belarusian Cinematography
Belarus will celebrate the anniversary of the national cinematography with the national festival Kinovek, which will be held across the country. Throughout the year the festival will present 33 best films from the Belarusfilm studio, which tell the story of the national cinematography development. The festival will feature films of different genres - historical and social films, war and adventure films, and also famous children's films The Adventures of Pinocchio, My Name is Harlequino, War Under the Roofs, Nesterka. The festival opened with a screening of the restored silent film Forest Story (1926) directed by Yuri Tarich and based on Mikhas Charot’s The Swineherd.
When: 28 February – 11 December
Where: Cinema houses of Minsk, oblast and regional centers of Belarus
Nationwide film campaign to mark 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus
In honor of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders, the best Belarusian and Soviet films about the Great Patriotic War made in different years will be shown in cinema houses across the country. The playbill of the commemorative campaign includes Belarusian feature films, 16 documentaries, the best Soviet films by Mosfilm and other film studios. It is expected that the patriotic campaign will hold more than 2,800 film screenings both in cinema houses and other cultural institutions.
When: February 24 to September 2024
Where: cinema houses of Minsk, regional and district centers of Belarus
New program in Belarusian State Circus
In the summer season of carefree holidays and vacations, Belarusian State Circus invites to enjoy a new program called Circoleto. The famous Tiger Show by the famous circus dynasty – Honored Artists of Russia Karina and Artur Bagdasarov deserves special attention. This show features Ussuri and Bengal tigers. The audience will also see acrobats, a parrot show, trained cats and dogs, horse riders, aerialists, jugglers, clowns and much more!
When: 25 May – 4 August
Where: Belarusian State Circus, 32 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk
ARS MAGNA ORGANI 2024 chamber music festival
The ARS MAGNA ORGANI 2024 festival of organ and chamber music titled “The Great Art of the Organ” will play 56 free concerts in the new season. For this purpose, four historical organs will be used - in Pinsk, Medvedichy, Ruzhany and Novogrudok, as well as one electric organ in Ivanovo. Pinsk will offer the most extensive program with 23 solo organ concerts and 6 concerts of chamber orchestras and ensembles. Music will be performed in the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary where the second most historically significant organ in Belarus will be played. Performing skills will be shown by 27 musicians from Belarus, Russia, Austria and Hungary, 3 chamber groups, and participants in master classes that will be held as part of the festival.
When: 8 June – 13 October
Where: Pinsk, Medvedichi, Ruzhany, Ivanovo, Novogrudok
‘Yehuda Pen, Jacob Kruger. Art Schools of Belarus’ in the Belarusian National Art Museum
2024 marks the 170th anniversary of the birth of Yehuda Pen, who showed the way to the world of art for the world-famous avant-garde artist of the 20th century Marc Chagall, and the 155th anniversary of the birth of Jacob Kruger. They were artists and teachers, founders of professional art education in Belarus, founders of private schools of drawing and painting in Vitebsk and Minsk. The exposition features fine art, graphics, sculptural works by both teachers and their talented students: Marc Chagall, Ossip Zadkine, Zair Azgur, Solomon Yudovin, Lazar Ran and other artists representing various trends and trends in the world fine art.
When: 5 June – 18 August
Where: National Art Museum of Belarus, 20 Lenin Street, Minsk
Summer tourist season 2024 in Minsk: Excursions in Upper Town
The 2024 summer tourist season in Minsk opened with a marathon of tours on foot around the old town. Every Saturday (13.00 and 15.30) groups (up to 15 people) depart from the Minsk Town Hall. Walking along the narrow streets, guests get acquainted with the sights, learn more about the history of majestic temples (the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Archcathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary), former complexes of Basilian and Bernardine monasteries, the Town Hall as a symbol of city self-government, Gostiny Dvor, and the place of an ancient castle of the 12th century. Exploring the heritage of the historical center, an excursion will take you along Nemiga Street and Rakovskaya Street to Yubileinaya Square and into the Minsk of the 19th century as the walk proceeds into Rakov Suburb. The tour will end with a visit to the cellars of the former Uniate Church of the Holy Spirit.
When: 8 June – 14 September
Where: Minsk Town Hall, 2a Svobody Square, Minsk
Vulitsa Ezha: summer season 2024 in Minsk
The summer festival Vulitsa Ezha will present three city picnics this season. The food court will be the traditional center of attraction where more than 40 establishments will present their menus. Guests will be able to sample more than 200 original dishes (Czech, Spanish, Georgian, Chinese, Chinese, Mexican and other cuisines). Bright locations of the festival include the cooking school Gefest where top chefs conduct master classes with media guests, an outdoor street cinema, Local Food Market with craft food from local producers, the Pea Market with handmade products from artisans, a family zone with entertainment.
When: 22-23 June, 27-28 July, 31 August - 1 September, 12:00-22:00.
Where: The Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 2v Surganova Street, Minsk
Exhibition in National Center for Contemporary Arts
The exhibition featuring the paintings by modern Belarusian authors from the holdings of the National Center for Contemporary Arts is themed around the topic "Visualizations. Surface and Sign". The exhibition also includes pieces by Russian artists Anna Kondratieva, Anna Kanfer and Alexei Parfyonov, created in 2022 at the international plein air dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the birth of the People's Poets of Belarus Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas. A separate project presents bookplates by the German graphic artist Erhard Beitz. Interestingly, in general the National Center for Contemporary Arts of Belarus holds more than 1,700 bookplates donated by artists and collectors from 34 countries of the world!
When: 26 July - 5 September, Wednesday - Sunday (from 12.00 to 20.00)
Where: National Center for Contemporary Arts, 3 Nekrasova Street, Minsk
Flower show in Nesvizh
The first Saturday of August promises to be a memorable event for visitors to the former residence of the Radziwills, one of the richest dynasties in Europe. The flowers will be on the show in the central courtyard of the castle. Participants will enjoy floral workshops, fashion shows by Belarusian designers, a performance of a ballet school and an arts and crafts fair. In addition, everyone will be able to take memorable photos at floral compositions of fresh flowers.
When: 3 August, 11.00 – 17.00
Where: Nesvizh Castle, 2 Zamkova Street, Nesvizh
FESTIWOW at Dinamo Stadium in Minsk
FESTIWOW the new city festival, will be held at the National Olympic Stadium Dinamo, the history of which dates back 80 years! The full line-up is kept secret until the opening. It is known that the concert will feature rock, hip-hop, pop-rock and disco pieces. Among the participants are Three Days of Rain, Dead Blonde, My Michelle, Guf, Thirteen Carats and Hollyflame.
When: 3 August
Where: Dinamo Stadium, 8 Kirov Street, Minsk
Gastro-eco festival Polesie Loach
The regional gastro-eco festival Polesie Loach will be held for the third time on the shore of Lake Gorodishchenskoye, promising to surprise guests with dishes of Belarusian cuisine and colorful traditions of Poleshuks. The program includes the Ladles Go To Battle event, tasting of dishes of the Polesie region, culinary workshops, a presentation of the old recipes of local housewives, an environmental exhibition and much more. Guests of the festival will be able to visit the art and craft fair and workshops, enjoy traditional music performed by amateur groups of Pinsk and Pinsk District. The evening program will feature a concert by the Belarusian band Drozdy.
When: 3 August
Where: Tishina Ecological and Tourist Complex, Gorodishche village, Pinsk District, Brest Oblast
Golshany Castle festival
The organizers of the festival invite you to a medieval fairytale at the walls of the mystical Golshany Castle, celebrated by the classic Vladimir Korotkevich in the novel "Black Castle Olshansky". Myths and legends of the castle, knightly tournaments and folk crafts, medieval music and theatrical art will create a unique atmosphere. The program includes the 7th plein air "Painting History Times", knightly entertainment, excursions to the North Tower museum, a historical quiz, interactive events, a show of life-size puppets and soap bubbles, a batleika (amateur puppet show) and much more.
When: 3 August
Where: Golshany Castle, Golshany agro-town, Oshmyany District, Grodno Oblast
Military history festival in Smorgon
The main event of the military history festival dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War will be the re-enactment of the attack of the squadron of the 13th Vladimir Lancer Regiment of the Russian Imperial Army on the positions of the German troops near the village of Olenets which were advancing on the town in September 1915. The festival will re-enact the positional warfare in the trenches between Russian and German troops. The final episode will be the re-enactment of the attack of the Women's Shock Battalion of Death, which took place near the town of Krevo in the summer of 1917. The interactive site will house a field camp, a Red Cross hospital, a weapons exhibition, and an officers' meeting. The festival will also feature bayonet fighting, cavalry courses and a photo opp with the legendary Maxim machine gun.
When: 3 August
Where: Smorgon, Grodno Oblast
Medieval festival in Mstislavl
The knightly festival in ancient Mstislavl recreates the atmosphere of a medieval Belarusian city. On the Castle Hill, the 2024 program will open with the Legend of Mstislavl performed by the members of the equestrian sport & history club Golden Spur. It will be followed by exhibition performances of riders, tactical buhurts, mass battles, an archery tournament and, of course, the storming of the castle! The festival will wrap up with a fire show and a concert featuring the bands Without Panic, Dudarev, the Ketri ethnotheater, Trollwald, RedFox Band. Guests to the festival will be able to take part in medieval dancing workshops, learn more about knightly entertainment of the 15th century and buy something at an arts and crafts fair.
When: 3 August
Where: Mstislavl, Mogilev Oblast
Kinemo Silent Film and Contemporary Music Festival in Minsk
This summer season the open air festival of silent films presents the world masterpieces of the 1920s. The program includes Spite Marriage co-directed by Buster Keaton and Edward Sedgwick (8 August), The Hands of Orlac by Robert Wiene (15 August), Berlin: Symphony of a Metropolis directed by Walter Ruttmann (22 August), The Golem, How He Came into the World by Paul Wegener (August 29). Traditionally, live music will accompany the screenings.
When: 8-29 August, 21.00
Where: Zair Azgur Museum courtyard, 8 Azgur Street, Minsk
Sporovsky Haymaking Eco-festival
The Sporovsky Biological Reserve will be hosting the Sporovskie Senokosy (Sporovsky Haymaking) scything championship for the 17th time. The rules of the competition remain unchanged: a team of two people will have to mow grass on a 100m-long and 3m-wide strip of land, and then the participants (both men and women) will compete in individual events. The participants will use manual scythes, thus they will also demonstrate their scythe sharpening skills! The program of the festival includes a swamp football competition among 12 youth teams. Visitors will be able to take part in drawing and kayaking master classes, play board games, and see how a bird ringing station works.
When: 10 August
Where: Sporovsky Biological Reserve, Vysokoye village, Bereza District, Brest Oblast
Sea Festival on the Augustow Canal
The trip to the Augustow Canal to visit Neptune and his companions will be one of the highlights of the Sea Festival. By the way, the canal celebrated its 200th anniversary on 9 June 2024. The tradition to hold the Sea Festival at the Dombrovka lock originated in the 1920s and the unusual festival continued until 1939. Later on, the Augustow Canal revived this spectacular festival, and now every year people sail to the lock on anything that can stay afloat. Racing on homemade vessels is the funniest part of the event. The jury of the competition evaluates the originality of the vessels and their presentation.
When: 10 August
Where: Augustow Canal, Dombrovka lock, Grodno District
Dribin Fair
The Drybinskie Tarzhki (Dribin Fair) Festival of folk art, crafts and trades will be held for the 13th time this year. The first day of the festival, 16 August, will be centered around activities for children and youth. A children's song contest, vendors and photo zones, playgrounds and sports venues, master classes, a festival of colors, a concert of the vocal and instrumental ensemble Black Square and a disco will be held near Lake Kapelka and the central square. The second day, 17 August, will celebrate creativity and art. Local companies will showcase their products; artisans will present their artwork and give master classes in crafts and trades. Attendees will be able to take part in folk games, see a fire show, and watch a concert by Belarusian pop artists.
When: 16-17 August
Where: Dribin, Mogilev Oblast
Batskava Bulka Festival
This festival of traditional cuisine will be held in the town of Svisloch. The festival got its name – Batskava Bulka – from the bun (bulka) that Aleksandr Lukashenko was treated to during his working visit to Svisloch in June 2021. That bun brought up the memories of his childhood bakery products. Visitors to the festival will be offered an exciting program, including an exposition of bread, a baking competition for professional cooks, an exhibition of works by amateur bakers, a competition of homemade loafs among women.
When: 17 August
Where: Svisloch, Grodno Oblast
Krevo Ceramics Festival
Ceramics masters from various parts of Belarus will gather at the ancient walls of the Krevo Castle to showcase their ceramics skills. Visitors to the festival will see an exhibition of works by the best artisans from Smorgon, Molodechno, Logoisk, Volozhin, Vileika and Minsk. They will also compete in crafts, share secrets of their trade and give master classes. Visitors will be able to see a knight's tournament, take a tour of the castle premises, buy artisans’ products, and try local cuisine. Young visitors will be offered an interactive program Krevo Fun.
When: 17 August
Where: Agricultural town of Krevo, near the walls of the Krevo Castle, Smorgon District, Grodno Oblast
Slavic mythology festival in Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve
The Shlyakh Tsmoka [Dragon’s Trail] festival has already become a cultural hallmark of Vitebsk Oblast. It celebrates Slavic culture and educates people about Slavic mythology through quests, workshops, and theatrical performances. Visitors to the festival will be able to see a themed neuro-exhibition of paintings from the FARBA gallery, take part in medieval, dance and shamanic events, see a dance show from the Ketri ethnoplastic studio and a fire show from the KRESIVA fire circus, join a nightly immersive excursion along the trail “In the Land of Myths” and meet the dragon Tsmok. The music lineup will include the Classic Energy symphony orchestra, the Tree of Life group, the Stoks cover band, and the Your People Around music project.
When: 17-18 August
Where: Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, 3 Tsentralnaya Street, Domzheritsy village, Lepel District, Vitebsk Oblast
Zhirovichi - Minsk religious procession
This year, the All-Belarus religious procession Zhirovichi - Minsk will be dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Council of All Belarusian Saints. Along the entire route, pilgrims will be accompanied by relics, including a particle of the relics of the holy apostle Andrew the First-Called, a revered copy of the miraculous Zhirovichi Icon of the Mother of God and a copy of the miraculous Minsk Icon of the Mother of God. The procession will begin from the Holy Dormition Stavropegic Monastery in Zhirovichi and end at the Minsk Holy Spirit Cathedral on 26 August - the day when the Minsk Icon of the Mother of God is celebrated. Over nine days, Orthodox believers will cover 250 km. The route runs through four dioceses and 21 churches. Anyone can take part at any point along the route.
When: 18–26 August
Where: Zhirovichi Holy Dormition Monastery, Zhirovichi, Slonim District, Grodno Oblast – Holy Spirit Cathedral, Minsk
Call of Polesie folk festival
The 8th edition of the festival will be held in Lyaskovichi, the center of the Pripyatsky National Park. It will celebrate the unique beauty and rich historical and cultural heritage of the Polesie region. The program includes performances by professional and amateur groups from across the country, interactive platforms, master classes from artisans, various quizzes and amusement rides. The highlight of the festival will be the presentation of the original culture of the Poleshuks - their folk festivals, crafts, folklore and rituals.
When: 20 August
Where: Agricultural village of Lyaskovichi, Petrikov District, Gomel Oblast
Novogrudok marks 980th birthday
Novogrudok, one of the oldest towns in Belarus, once the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, witnessed key events in the political life of the largest state of medieval Europe: state seimas, meetings of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, meetings with rulers and ambassadors. The ruins of the Novogrudok Castle on Zamkovaya Gora, which have survived to this day, are a vivid reminder of this...
The celebrations on 23 August will kick off with the Novogrudok Readings: History and Modernity of the Novogrudok Krai, the reenactment festival Sword of the King and the evening of classical music Historical Ball featuring the symphony orchestra of the National State TV and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus and People's Artists of Belarus Anastasia Moskvina and Vladimir Gromov.
On Saturday, 24 August, the city will turn into a capital of music. The opening ceremony of the celebrations on Lenina Square will be followed by a set of concerts featuring the Honored Band of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, creative teams of the twin cities Musical Union, Belarusian performers, and an electronic music festival. The city will also host interactive entertainment zones - Knight's Camp, City of Childhood with rides, City of Craftsmen, a display of vintage cars, the exhibition Thumbing Through the Pages of the Past, and also the Sport Lights up Hearts event.
When: 23-25 August
Where: Novogrudok, Grodno Oblast
WOSTRAU NESVIZH FEST in Nesvizh
The summer music festival Wostrau Nesvizh Fest invites everyone to enjoy the songs of favorite singers in the open air at the Nesvizh Palace and Park Ensemble - one of the most glorious sights of Belarus. The festive program will feature entertainment, a food court and also famous singers and bands. The lineup of performers will include 5UTRA, WASSSUP, Band'Eros, The Limba, NLO, prosto Lera, Nestandartny Variant, GAYAZOV$ BROTHER$.
When: 23-24 August
Where: Nesvizh Palace and Park Ensemble, 2 Zamkovaya Street, Nesvizh
Annensky Fair in Zelva
The history of the festival in Zelva dates back to the 16th century. The place used to host one of Europe’s largest horse fairs every year. Traditionally, it kicked off on 25 July on St. Anne's Day and lasted for a month. The first mention of the festival goes back to 1501. In the times of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth it was said that Zelva slept for 11 months a year, and spent one month living the life to the full. Today Annensky Fair (Gannenski Kirmash) is a major recognizable brand of Grodno Oblast. The traditions of the festival are revived here. Visitors will get a chance to see horses of different breeds, ride a horse-drawn cart, and learn horseback riding. The street food festival will offer dozens of different dishes - from snails to lard. The Zelvenskoye Reservoir will host competitions for fishing enthusiasts, a contest for the most original fish dish, and anything that floats races.
When: 23-24 August
Where: Zelva, Grodno Oblast
Augustow Canal in Culture of Three Nations
The Augustow Canal in the Culture of the Three Nations will complete the marathon of summer festivals on the famous waterway. The festival will open with a costumed procession towards the main stage “In Friendship, Unity and Concord”. Here visitors will be invited to take part in a dancing workshop, enjoy the sound of musical instruments - bayan, accordion and button box. The lounge platform National Colors will feature dances, popular song hits and a lot of fun. The interactive project “Let's Build the Augustow Canal Together” will offer visitors a chance to build, install and paint sluices, kayaks and boats. Catamaran races along the canal are going to be a great spectacle to watch.
When: 24 August
Where: Augustow Canal, Dombrovka sluice, Grodno District
Straw Fest in Ratichi
Since ancient times Belarusians have used straw for household purposes – to make roofs, beds, hats, clothes and shoes, household utensils, toys and jewelry, and used it as fodder for livestock. Today Salamyany Fest (Straw Fest) revives the people’s interest to ancient traditions and materials. The program of festivities will offer straw art objects and straw souvenir workshops, a football match “on straw”. Visitors will also be able to bake pancakes for fragrant herbal tea and enjoy a concert featuring Grodno District performers.
When: 25 August
Where: Ratichi, Grodno District
Bread Festival
Voronovo District is known for its grain growers, bakers and flour millers. The first stone mill in the district was built in Benyakoni in the early 20th century. At the same time the Lastovsky scientific experimental station was opened to breed new varieties of rye (Benyakonskaya rye), which existed until the early 1970s. The Small Grain Gift festival celebrating local craftsmen and the bread baking tradition will be held under the slogan “Bread on the Table - Peace on Earth”. Visitors will hear fascinating stories about bread and bread traditions, taste new bakery products from the best bakers of Voronovo District, bake a large loaf of bread. The event will also feature a gingerbread painting workshop for children and youth.
When: 25 August
Where: Benyakoni, Voronovo District, Grodno Oblast
Vintage Day 2024: Retro Car Display in Minsk
The fifth annual auto retro festival VintageDay will unite connoisseurs of vintage and retro models of domestic and foreign automobile industry from Europe, USA, and Japan. Cars, bespoke motorcycles, bicycles, mini-models – a total of more than 200 models of retro vehicles will go on display near the Football Manege in Minsk. The models were produced in the period from the 1930s to the 1990s, thus reflecting almost all the stages of the automobile industry of the past century. The show will also include entertainment, food courts, photo zones, a children's playground, contests and gifts.
When: 31 August-1 September
Where: Football Manege, 20/2 Pobeditelei Avenue, Minsk
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