Press releases

MOGILEV, 3 June (BelTA) - More than 600 artisans from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania will take part in the Ivan Kupala Festival (Alexandriya Gathers Friends) which will be held in the town of Alexandriya, Shklov District on 9-10 July, BelTA learned from Oleg Khmelkov, Director of the Mogilev Regional Methodological Center of Folk Art and Cultural Education.

The concept of the festival is built around the theme “The Town of Friendship with Minsk, Moscow and Kiev Streets”. An art delegation from Lithuania will participate too. The Town of Artisans will be a fair event: guests will be welcomed by clowns, animators and musicians, and treated to dishes of national cuisines.

Minsk Street will feature craftsmen from Mogilev Oblast in several sections: weaving and embroidery, lace; pottery and ceramics; hats, toys, interior ornaments made of straw; basket weaving and woodcarving, and others.

Moscow and Kiev Streets will host the artisans from the neighboring countries who will present the dishes of national cuisine, traditional arts of embroidery, pottery and ceramics, woodworking, jewelry, painting, and others. “All guests will have a unique opportunity to purchase something to their own taste. After all, a handmade thing is unique as an artisan who makes it gives it a part of his soul. Leaving The Town of Artisans without making a purchase is simply impossible,” Oleg Khmelkov noted.

The festivities will be traditionally held in a picturesque place on the bank of the Dnieper River, near the bridge that connects not only two towns - Alexandria and Kopys, but also two regions - Mogilev Oblast and Vitebsk Oblast. Last year, Alexandria drew over 60,000 guests. This year this beautiful Belarusian festival is expected to attract about 100,000 visitors.