Enjoy the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg
The White Nights Festival features a wealth of performances.If you have never been to the White Nights Festival held in St. Petersburg, Russia, you have been missing a cultural treat. It is held during the months of May, June and July, when the city enjoys natural twilight all night long. The mixture of ballet, music and other arts is well worth the trip from London Heathrow to St. Petersburg.
This is a major festival that easily attracts crowds in excess of a million people. In addition to some of the finest Russian performers, you are also likely to see some international entertainers. It is recommended that you buy your tickets several months in advance for the events that take place at the Mariinsky Concert Hall and the Mariinsky Theatre.
One of the first events that takes place during the festival is the Stars of the White Nights series. This takes the form of daily performances, featuring ballet, opera, and classical music. Generally, opera and ballet performances take place during the afternoons. Classical music concerts and opera performances take place at night.
Since the start of the festival coincides with the end of the Russian school year, St. Petersburg residents are treated to a show celebrating the start of summer. Do not miss the fireworks display that also takes place.
Carnivals are popular during the festival and will also commemorate the events that took place during the time of the czars. The actors are dressed in authentic period costumes, and travel about the city in carriages from that era. You will see accurate re-enactments of some of the historical events that took place.
Do not miss the live performances in Palace Square. These frequently feature international headline acts.
