Press releases

ALEXANDRIA, 27 June (BelTA) - The grounds of the Kupala Night Festival (Alexandria Gathers Friends) due in the agro-town of Alexandria, Shklov District, have been expanded, Mogilev Oblast Vice Governor Andrei Kuntsevich said at a visiting session of the national organizing committee, BelTA has learned.

The area of the creative project has been increased thanks to the work on the arrangement of meadows near the Dnieper River. This gave the opportunity to provide additional space for vendors and craftsmen and to set up new grounds for sports and equestrian shows.

Walkways leading to the thematic zones have replaced wooden footpaths. The main stage has undergone major changes too. The seating capacity of the main venue of the festival has been increased to 3,000. Extra led screens will be installed near the main stage to enable more viewers to watch the action on the main stage.

Around 10,000 parking lots for cars have been arranged in Alexandria and Kopys. The local transport authorities will be putting more bus and train services to help visitors get to and from the festival.

“The festival will offer an abundance of cultural and entertainment events with the participation of domestic and foreign musicians, artists and art groups. Among the participating countries are Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. These will be artists and craftsmen, the social and cultural associations of Belarusians living abroad, which is very symbolic in the Year of Native Land,” Andrey Kuntsevich said.

The regions of the country will present their festival projects. For example, Gomel Oblast will roll out the international festival of ethnic and cultural traditions of Polesie. Grodno Oblast will showcase the traditional culture festival, Minsk Oblast will show the Slutsk Belts event and so one. Eighteen districts of Mogilev Oblast will present their signature events, for example the festival of folk arts and crafts Dribinskie Torzhki (Dribin Fair), the ethno-fest “Visiting the Radimichis” (Chausy District), the cheese festival (Slavgorod District).

The Kupala Night Festival debuted in 2010. The idea to hold this festival in Alexandria was upheld by the head of state. The festivities will unfold in a picturesque place on the bank of the Dnieper River, near the bridge that connects not only two settlements – Alexandria and Kopys, but also two oblasts – Mogilev Oblast and Vitebsk Oblast.