Press releases

MINSK, 24 May (BelTA) - The final events of the 12th edition of the Festival of National Cultures in Grodno, which will take place on 1-2 June, will feature 800 participants, Vasily Chernik, the head of the main directorate for culture and analytical work at the Belarusian Culture Ministry, told the media on 24 May, BelTA has learned.

“This festival is one of the most popular in Belarus both in the number of participants and the number of guests. Bearing in mind the visa-free travel opportunity, we expect large numbers of tourists in Grodno this year,” Vasily Chernik noted.

In addition to the main program in the historic downtown of Grodno, the events will be organized on the Augustow Canal on 3 June. This will certainly add colors to this wonderful holiday, Vasily Chernik noted.

More than 2,000 people took part in the selection rounds which started shortly after the end of the previous festival in 2016. Representatives of 69 districts, regional centers and Minsk showed the jury the culture, history and traditions, arts and crafts and cuisine of their historical homeland.

Director of the National Cultures Center Olga Antonenko noted a great interest in the festival in Grodno. The days of national cultures in the Upper Town in Minsk have gained popularity too, which reflects the desire of Minsk residents and visitors to learn more about the traditions of other peoples.

Olga Bogdanovich, the principal director of the wrap-up events of the Festival of National Cultures, provided more details about the program of the festival. The Grodno down town has already turned into an art gallery showcasing the best works of the children's drawings contest.

A monument to the legendary commander, Duke David of Grodno will be unveiled on the first day of the festival. The program will also include the planting of trees in Friendship Alley, a ceremony to award the winners of the media competition, a parade from Lenin Square to Sovetskaya Square and the official opening of the festival.

The 12th edition of the festival will feature the inauguration of the cultural and exhibition center Festivalny, which will host an exposition about the forum of national cultures.

A mechanical diorama celebrating the festival will be installed in the Gilibert Park. Guests are invited to a 3D-mapping show, which will be held in the courtyard of the New Castle every 15 minutes.

The festival will include a competition among 19 national pavilions. The Belarusian pavilion, which will be installed in Lenin Square, will host a flashmob dedicated to the Year of Native Land. Representatives of all nationalities will be invited to take part in a multinational round dance around Lenin Square. The program of the 12th Festival of National Cultures will comprise a concert of Belarusian famous singers, amateur diaspora companies, exhibitions, roundtables, film screenings and many more. Guests will also have a chance to travel to the Augustow Canal and take part in interesting games and contests.

First held in Belarus in 1996, the festival of national cultures is a biennial event.