The Nizhniy Novgorod region

Festival “Golden Khokhloma” in Semenov

Every year at the third weekends of June the international festival of folk art handicrafts “The Golden Khokhloma” takes place in Semenov. In March 2004 the town of Semenov was given a status “The Capital of Art Handicrafts”.since that time annually the noisy and picturesque festival has taken place in the capital of the golden Khokhloma. The festival shows the creative work of the Russian and foreign masters. The central square of the town turns into a big concert stage.

The famous pop singers and folk groups, masqueraded performances (“The Tale of Semeon the Maker of Wooden Spoons”), master classes of artistic painting and wood carving, exhibition and sale of handicrafts- all these make the festival unforgettable. The symbol of the first festival was a spoon 265sm long, the symbol of the second one was a huge wine bowl 2m in its diameter, whereas the third festival surprised the quests with a super matreshka. The festival lasts for 3 days.

Festival “Brotherhood of Folk Craftsmen” in the town of Gorodets

 On the last Sunday of July one of the most fascinating holidays, the festival “Brotherhood of Folk Craftsmen” is held in the oldest town of the Nizhny Novgorod region. The festival is devoted to all kinds of folk handicrafts of the region and the country. A great number of craftsmen from all over the country arrive at Gorodets. Its festival is no doubt a bright unforgettable feast, a concert programme with the best performers of the town and region taking part in the concert, a jolly fair of exhibitions and photo salons, a jolly fair and a lot of master classes. Gorodets is called “the town of master craftsmen”, which is not a surprising fact. The traditions of woodcarving, wood painting, golden embroidery and weaving, pottery and making Zhbannickovskaya whistles, the production of honey cakes and even weaving of pine roots still remain in Gorodets. You’ll enjoy the concert programme consisting of the visiting card of the town the show of the clothes with golden embroidery, songs about Gorodets and the enchanting melodies of Gorodets composers and saxophone players. The first Sunday of September is Gorodets’ municipal holiday which is also very interesting.

The 4th of November is the Day of People’s Unity in Nizhny Novgorod and Balakhna

The People’s uprising of 1612 which liberated Moscow from the Polish invaders originated in the Nizhny Novgorod region. This was the place where its first detachments were formed. The leader of the uprising was Balakhna born Kuzma Minin. The exact replica of the monument to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky erected near Ivanovskaya tower of the Kremlin close to Ioann Predteche church has become the second visiting card of Nizhny Novgorod. On the Day of People’s Unity you can join the ceremonial events historical performances, go on theme excursions around Nizhny Nowgorod, to Balakhna and the village of Purekh. D.Pozharsky’s ancestral lands. Those tourists who would like to walk the way of the uprising are advised to go on a tour “The Altar of Motherland” around the towns and villages where volunteer corps were passing by.

In the course of a year Nizhny Novgorod holds a lot of interesting festivals and ceremonial events. Among them:

“The New Year day and Christmas” - January, Nizhny Novgorod, the village of Diveevo.

“Driving in Finnish sledges” - January, the town of Pavlovo.

The festival “Russian Valenock” - February, the town of Pavlovo

“Geese and Roosters’ Fights” - March, the town of Pavlovo

“Great Maslenitsa” (Shrovetide) - March, Nizhny Novgorod, the town of Balakhna, Arzamas, Gorodets

“Easter” - April, Nizhny Novgorod

“The Festival of Tourists” - May, the tourists’ glade near the village of Tarasikha, Semenovsky region

Forum “Great Rivers” - May, Nizhny Novgorod

Folk Festival - May, Diveevo

The ceremonial events devoted to A.Pushkin’s birthday - the first Sunday of June, the village of Bolshoye Boldino

A.Sakharov’s Festival - the end of June - the beginning of July, Nizhny Novgorod

Festival of Pottery - June, Bogorodsk

“Shephard’s Day" - June, Pavlovo

The Day of the village of Vladimirskoye and the festival “The town of Kitezh- Russian’s soul” - July, Lake Svetloyar, the Voskresensk region

The Municipal holiday - July, Pavlovo, September, Nizhny Novgorod, Gorodets, Balakhna

The ceremonial events devoted to finding of St. Seraphim Sarovsky’s relics - August, the village of Diveevo

The Festival of Museums - September, Gorodets

Forum “United Russia” - September, Nizhny Novgorod

“Boldino Autumn” - September, Bolshoe Boldino

"The contest of singing canaries” - December, Pavlovo