Moscow Has a Lot to Offer on its 870th Anniversary
Wakeboarding and flowriding
On 25th August, as part of the celebrations of the upcoming City Day, a wakeboarding park opened just 30 meters from Kilometer Zero, in front of the Historical Museum in the heart of Moscow. The sports venue will be open until October 9th and includes an artificial wave for flowboarders, and a wake facility made up of two 25m and 50m pools.
The venues have heated changing rooms, wetsuit rental, boards, vests and helmets, as well as lighting for nighttime riding. Everyone interested (aged from 12 to 60) is invited to register for free sessions at https://cityday.moscow/, but due to the popularity of the attraction, registration is now closed.
On 8th and 9th September, the venues will host an international wakeboarding competition. Qualifying rounds will take place on 8th September, followed by the semi-finals and the final round on 9th September.
On 10th September, spectators will have a chance to enjoy a freeriding performance by some of the best riders in the world, who will be showing off their skills for the entire day – from 10 am to 10 pm.
For more information, please visit the City Day website.
Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival
Red Square is hosting an international military music festival from August 27th to September 3rd.
Spasskaya Tower is an annual spectacular staged on the background of the Kremlin walls, with a ‘battlefield’ of bands from different countries fighting for the love of the audience. A combination of military, classical, folk and popular music, military band parades and dance shows, laser and pyrotechnical effects makes the Festival one of the brightest events of the year in Moscow.
The festival has attracted 30 groups from 14 countries, as well as 10 Russian bands; 120 bagpipes from the European Union, 50 performers of Scottish dances; and 1400 participants forming the massed band.
See the programme and buy the tickets on the official festival website.
City Day
In 2017, Moscow celebrates its 870th anniversary. The main celebrations will take place on September 9th and 10th and will include over 400 events, such as concerts, excursions, photo exhibitions, and theatre performances. Below are just a few of them.
Red Square
September 9, noon – 1 pm
The traditional opening ceremony for City Day will start at noon on Red Square and will be broadcast online to all the other festival venues. The city festival kicks off at 1 pm.
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
September 9, 1 – 10 pm; September 10, 3 – 8 pm
On September 9th, the square on Volkhonka in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour will host classical symphonic and chamber music concerts, as well as a concert by popular musicians who will play modern covers of classical pieces.
On September 10th, kids’ bands together with popular singers will perform at the venue.
Tsvetnoy Bulvar
September 9th, 1 – 10 pm; September 10th, 3 – 8 pm
Moscow charities and non-profit organizations will come together on Tsvetnoy Bulvar in order to emphasise the importance of charity. They will organize a charity fair with workshops, and a charity run will take place for everyone interested.
Triumfalnaya Ploshad
September 9th, 1 – 10 pm; September 10th, 3 – 8 pm
This venue will host a literary celebration of Moscow as the home of Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Vladimir Vysotsky. On September 9th, a joint concert by Feelin’s and Boris Savoldelli, an Italian singer, will take place on the square.
Alleya Kosmonavtov
September 9th, 1 – 10 pm; September 10th, 2 – 8 pm
On September 9 and 10, lovers of space and science fiction will meet on Alleya Kosmonavtov. The show will celebrate such key events in the Russian space programme as the launch of the first satellite, Yury Gagarin’s flight, and the first man to walk in space. A laser music show will complete the programme at night. Entrance is free.
All the key Moscow parks are also hosting festivities on City Day. For more information, visit the Moscow official website.