The Nation's No. 1 Exhibition invites you for Maslenitsa celebrations. Guests of VDNH can enjoy the Spring Fair on the square in front of Pavilion No. 57 until 14 March. Maslenitsa celebrations will culminate during the upcoming weekend. There is a lot in store for the guests of the Exhibition: themed workshops, lecture-concert, festival performances, bliny treats, folk games in historical costumes, tea from a samovar and burning of a Maslenitsa effigy.
Fair and Maslenitsa treats
The Maslenitsa Fair on the square in front of Pavilion No. 57 will continue until the end of day on 14 March. Every day from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., guests will be able to sample different sorts of blins—a treat that is the main symbol of this spring holiday. Traditional Russian blins are sure to be filling and delicious: the chefs from Blin Buffet, Wow Blin!, Dereven'ka and Caldis will be taking care of making them, and people from VOTBLIN will be offering exotic seafood blins with scallops and shrimp.
The fair will also feature treats from all over the world bound to garner our guests' attention. Czech butcher's pancakes and classic trdelniks can be tasted at Cesko Mesto, Bavarian sausages and pretzels can be found at Wurst Haus, Greek gyros are served at Lucky Souvlaki, Korean steamed buns with different fillings are steaming at Pyansa and colourful American hot dogs sizzle at Color Hot-Dog. The fair's menu also includes Spanish churros, Belgian waffles, Swiss raclette and Dutch poffertjes pancakes.
Artisanal teas and beverages will also be available at the fair, along with Vologda pastille and hard candy. Residents of the VDNH Park of Crafts will offer hand-crafted souvenirs. Visitors will also be able to buy honey collected in Altai or near Tambov.
The Honey House (building No. 266) will host a honey sampling event with over 40 kinds of honey, pollen and bee bread on offer. Visitors can also purchase the products featured at the sampling.
Concert and various performances
At 2 p.m. on 13 March, a free Maslenitsa Songs and Rituals concert-lecture will be held at the Slovo Centre for Slavic Writing. Alexander Matochkin, a linguist and philologist, will join forces with participants to listen, analyse and attempt to perform traditional Maslenitsa songs from different regions of Russia. The event will also touch on a variety of issues related to creative oral expression and singing in the lives of Russian peoples. Attendance is free by prior registration.
At 2 p.m. on 14 March, a performance Petrushka at the Fair will be hosted at the Russia—My History Historical Park. The star of the performance is Petrushka the Puppet—an enduring icon of Russian puppet theatre. Petrushka is performed in a specific manner with a highly specific voice—this voice is called a Pishchichik or Govorok. The tradition involves a complicated performance outside of a commonly recognised character also observed in Italy (Pulcinella), England (Punch), France (Punchinelle) and Germany (Caspers). Live interactions with the audience are supported by another key character of a Petrushka performance—the Musician. This character dates back to the times of Petrushka's own origins. The musician performs his music on a hurdy-gurdy—an instrument that has been used by puppet masters since before the street organ. The performance is open to all, and there is no need for an entrance ticket to the Historical Park.
Robostation will give out a 3D printed Sun-shaped keychain to all the young robot lovers on 13 March and 14 March. The robots Derevyaka will predict guests' futures, Boris will crack jokes and Thespian will sing songs to do a round dance to—there will be plenty of other activities to participate in as well.
Workshops and guided tours
Thematic weekend will be hosted at the City Farm on 13 and 14 March. The employees at the Farm based the Maslenitsa programme on the revival of Russian traditions. Guests will be served blins. They will play traditional folk games with historical costumes, drink tea from a samovar, make their own dolls, take part in a guided educational tour and participate in traditional Maslenitsa games. The programme will culminate in the burning of the Maslenitsa effigy. Starting at 12 p.m on 14 March, a special programme from the Children's Centre of EMERCOM of Russia will be hosted on the grounds of the City Farm, comprising Old Russian games, challenges of agility and wit, themed Maslenitsa workshop and much more. Admission is by ticket only.
The Museum of Dolls invites everyone to a themed guided tour: From Easter to Mascarade. Starting at 2 p.m. on 13 and 14 March, the tour is dedicated to the celebrations and ceremonies held in Russian royal courts. Participants will learn where the retinue feasts with bowls that are passed in circles among the guests came from; how Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich handed out 37 thousand Easter eggs to his subjects; why men at the balls of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna dressed in women's clothes, and women in men's clothes; how modern Russian New Year traditions arose from the 'in-home' holidays of the imperial families and much more. Participation in the event is free. Admission to the museum requires a ticket. To sign up, call +7(985)420-81-55 or contact the museum's Instagram account.
The Beekeeping Ecocentre will celebrate Maslenitsa in eco-style with themed games and dances on 13 March, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will learn how to observe traditions without damaging the environment. A themed photo booth is open for all selfie lovers. A Maslenitsa doll and Solar Happiness charm workshops will also be held at the Centre. Admission to the event is free by prior registration—contact the organisers at (+7(495)966-09-22) or via email: pchelovodstvovdnh@gmail.com
At 1 p.m. on 14 March, the Russia—My History Historical Park will host a wooden spoon painting workshop. Participants will discover the secrets of the craft of the ancient Slavic people, develop their fine motor skills, delicateness and ability to measure with their naked eye. The workshop is suitable for fans of traditional crafts, people who love and study history and those who wish to develop their creativity and imagination. All materials are provided free of charge. Registration is required to attend the workshop.
Workshop programme was developed by the Park of Crafts residents. Glass-blowing School and Workshop invites attendees to learn techniques like smalt and stained-glass mosaic, lampwork (work with hot glass and open fire), fusing and stained glass. The doors of the workshop will be open from 11–14 March. A schedule of the workshops is available on the website www.glassstudio.ru in the School section. To register for the event, call +7(977)250-11-77.
The Dymov Ceramics School offers daily workshops on making butter cans and milk pots on a potter's wheel, caviar dishes with clay spoons using the hand-sculpting technique and painting plates for pancakes. The workshop will run from 11 to 14 March, starting at 11 a.m. every day. Admission fees apply. To register for the event, call +7(985)419-89-03.