Journey into the Christmas musical forest. Platform “Time for Sweet Tooths”
A magical journey to Christmas awaits Muscovites again in winter holidays: on Christmas and New Year 2017, the New Year and Christmas festival, so beloved by the townspeople, will be held in the capital for the fourth time.
Festival "Journey to Christmas" 2016-2017 promises to be no less colorful than the previous ones, while remaining the same long: the holiday will take place from December 16, 2016 to January 15, 2017 - a whole month!
At 42 thematic venues located in different districts of the capital (mainly in the center), festival visitors will be able to see unusual art objects and light installations, exciting street performances and concerts, as well as take part in various master classes. The “Journey to Christmas” festival sites will be located on the streets and squares of the city and will be decorated in the spirit of the New Year and Christmas: this year 144 live Christmas trees will be placed on them.
In addition, quests and competitions await townspeople: by taking part in the “Happy Time” quest, festival visitors will be able to test their knowledge about the traditions of celebrating the New Year and Christmas and receive special festival coins that can be exchanged for gifts.
Festival venues
The Journey to Christmas festival will be held at 42 venues, b O Most of which - and the most interesting - will be located in the city center.
. Manezhnaya Square:"Magic time". The festival’s tallest living New Year tree (17 meters), brought from the forests of the Tver region, will be installed on the site. Here, master classes on journalism, cartooning and making New Year's gifts will be held for children, and adults will be able to visit a thematic fair where they will sell Christmas decorations(including antique ones), exclusive souvenir watches, carnival masks and gifts.
. Revolution square:"Magic Ice Theater" On Revolution Square, festival visitors can expect daily shows: ice ballets “The Nutcracker”, “ Swan Lake", "Snow White" and "Cipollino". More than 50 professional figure skaters are involved in theatrical productions; when there are no performances, the "Ice Theater" works like a skating rink, on the ice of which anyone can skate.
. Revolution square:"Milky Way". In addition to the “Magic Ice Theater”, on Revolution Square, festival visitors will find a 100-meter ice slide, which will be located near Manezhnaya Square.
. Pushkinskaya Square:"Cozy time." The fountain, turned off for the winter, will turn into the “Musical Forest” installation, which will combine the public’s favorite New Year’s and Christmas melodies with a light show. For children, master classes will be held on animation and drawing fairy-tale characters in Adobe Photoshop, as well as creating Christmas tree decorations using 3D printing.
. Novopushkinsky Square:"Gingerbread Village"In Novopushkinsky Square, visitors will be drawn into the world of fairy tales; here you can try traditional Russian gingerbread cookies, figured gingerbread cookies, pumpkin donuts and other sweets. Also on the site will be English language lessons and master classes on robotics.
. Kuznetsky Most: "Time of Magic" and "Gallery of Magic Trees". Kuznetsky Most Street will become a home of high fashion and style, where you can purchase items from the collections of Russian designers. Theater and acting workshops will be held for children. In addition, an exhibition of magical New Year trees will open outside.
. Gogolevsky Boulevard:"Star of Bethlehem" The site not far from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior will be dedicated to the Nativity of Christ. Here you can buy monastic goods.
. Tverskaya Square:"European Christmas Market". On Tverskaya Square near the monument to Yuri Dolgoruky, as part of the Journey to Christmas festival, a real Christmas village with houses, restaurants and an elegantly decorated Christmas tree will spread out. Here you can buy gifts, sweets, Christmas tree decorations and dishes from France, Spain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and others European countries. Children's New Year trees will also be held here in the traditions of different countries(Finland, Austria, Czech Republic, Spain and others), as well as Christmas trees in Russian traditions, handicraft master classes, poetry readings and concerts.
. Stoleshnikov Lane:"Warm time". Festival visitors will be able to take part in coffee and tea ceremonies, as well as master classes on handicrafts, New Year's table decor, latte art and making New Year's drinks.
This year, the Journey to Christmas festival will take on a truly international format: 15 countries will take part in it, whose representatives will introduce Muscovites to their New Year’s traditions, and the festival sites are preparing to receive (according to the organizers’ plans) as many as 12 million guests from Moscow and different cities Russia and the world.
Trade fairs
As before, bright fairgrounds and shopping chalets will open their doors to festival visitors. This time, Muscovites were allowed to take part in the formation of the assortment of fair chalets: a vote was held on the Active Citizen portal about what citizens would like to see for sale at the festival sites.
In beautiful chalets, decorated in the style of New Year and Christmas, festival guests will be able to buy candies and sweets Gift Baskets, New Year and Christmas souvenirs, home decorations and toys, as well as holiday accessories and paraphernalia.
Visitors who want to grab a bite to eat or warm up will be able to buy baked goods and hot drinks.
Familiarize yourself with the program and content of all holiday venues in more detail. festival "Journey to Christmas" You can also find announcements and a detailed schedule of events on the official website of the festival:
As part of the 4th annual grand citywide event, from December 16, 2016, the main streets, boulevards, avenues, squares of Moscow will shine with millions of colorful lights.
At the most popular venues in the capital, Muscovites and city guests will find an unforgettable mix of all kinds of winter activities- from bright ice performances and fun folk winter fun to fairs, exhibitions, competitions and all kinds of master classes!
Ice skating rink and fair on Red Square
It will become the main festival site in the 2016/2017 season. It will be decorated in the style of abstract works by M. Chagall and V. Kandinsky. The atmosphere of a different reality will be complemented by bright multi-colored lights, fairgrounds, a festively decorated New Year tree, etc. Here everyone will be able to meet and take pictures with Father Frost and the Snow Maiden, watch street theater performances, buy a souvenir, go ice skating, and much more. etc.
Fair on Manezhnaya Square
A huge fair will take place where citizens will be able to purchase a wide variety of goods, including carnival masks and even antiques. Young visitors will be offered to master the profession of a reporter by recording a congratulation message on New Year and Christmas, create magical cities and other images of the most long-awaited holiday of the year.
European Christmas market
It will temporarily turn into a fabulous Christmas town with cozy shops, restaurants and, of course, a decorated Christmas tree. Here, Muscovites will enjoy a daily holiday program, where they will learn a lot of new and interesting things about New Year and Christmas festivities in Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and other European countries.
"Winter Games Time" site on Tverskoy Boulevard
During the festival, Tverskoy Boulevard will be covered with a fabulous canopy consisting of numerous snowflakes - a unique 100-meter light tunnel will be installed here! Guests of the site will be able to go sledding, skiing, play curling, hockey, and in a specially equipped house, using a virtual reality helmet, even perform unforgettable journey into the unknown world!
Venue "Cozy Time" on Pushkinskaya Square
For the New Year and Christmas, Pushkinskaya Square will also be transformed. Here the organizers are going to revive the “sleeping” fountain and turn it into a fabulous “Musical Forest” - a light and music installation that will delight guests with bright lights and pleasant holiday melodies. There will also be a fair with souvenirs, gifts, etc.
Platform “Time for Sweet Tooths”
Address: Leningradsky Prospekt, 62
The site will primarily be of interest to those with a sweet tooth, because this is where adults and little lovers of all kinds of delicacies and desserts will find themselves in real heaven! Visitors can get acquainted with the culinary traditions of the equatorial and tropical countries, master classes on making hot chocolate with chili peppers, sweet bread with candied fruits, fried bananas and much more. etc.
Venue "Candle Yard" in Kuzminki
St. Marshala Chuikova, ow. 3
Another culinary and entertainment program awaits visitors in Kuzminki. Here, children and their parents will be told about the secrets of preparing New Year's and Christmas delicacies: Italian sweet pizza, Laurentian bean pie, Lithuanian poppy seed milk, etc. After the gastronomic experience, everyone will be able to taste their own and try other people's holiday masterpieces!
"Christmas Book Market" site on Novy Arbat
If you doubt that a book is the best gift, then be sure to visit the Christmas Book Market, because it is here that the latest novelties from major domestic publishing houses will be presented, as well as designer notebooks, notepads, pens and other pleasant little things for practicing one or another type of creativity. Famous writers, actors and musicians will perform at this venue every day.
Venue "Time of Fairy Tales" on Arbat
At the “Time of Fairy Tales” site, Muscovites and guests of the capital will plunge headlong into an unusual culinary fairy tale. Here everyone can prepare Belgian waffles, French pancakes, gingerbread men, mulled wine and other treats with their own hands, and then taste and treat their “colleagues in the culinary workshop.” And at the fair running here you will be able to buy Christmas tree decorations, souvenirs, dishes, tablecloths, napkins, various delicacies, etc.
Venue "Time of Magic" on Kuznetsky Most
On this site, visitors will be able to update their wardrobe. Here, both young and already well-known domestic designers will present their clothes and jewelry to the attention of city residents. Various master classes will be organized for children.
"Happy Minute" platform
St. Skhodnenskaya, vl. 56
If you want to arrange for your family unforgettable holiday, for example, in Russian style, then be sure to visit this site. It is here that the townspeople will be told about how New Year's balls were held in the 19th century, what guests were traditionally treated to at that time, how Christmas was celebrated in Russian villages, and much more. etc.
Venue “Gourmet Time”
Klimentovsky lane, 8
Here you can find the best treats for your holiday table. All kinds of culinary delights, meat delicacies, farm products, red and black caviar - this and much more will be presented to the attention of Muscovites at the fair at the Gourmet Time site.
Playground "Active Leisure Time"
St. Kosygina, 17
This is not the platform where young Muscovites and their peers from other cities of the country will be greeted by famous characters from their favorite fairy tales and animated films. Little visitors will be able to dance at a disco with the cute Snow Maiden, learn about what traditional winter fun was in fashion in Rus', get acquainted with the basics of ballroom etiquette, etc.
Place "Handicraft Time" on Sokolnicheskaya Square
At the “Handicraft Time” site, guests will be able to make unusual New Year’s decorations and carved candles with their own hands, learn to draw in the sand and make various souvenirs, take part in theatrical performances, learn a lot of new and interesting things and traditions of celebrating the New Year in Russia, etc.
"Future Time" site in Troitsk
Troitsk, Sirenevy Boulevard, vl. 1
Christmas on the sea coast, coconut smoothie and an unusual sand snowman - about New Year's traditions in exotic countries will be told to Muscovites at the Future Time site in Troitsk. Master classes on preparing winter holiday treats in Japan, India, the Philippines, etc. will be held here every day. warm countries peace.
Venue "Magic Ice Theater" on Revolution Square
At the Magic Ice Theater venue, the capital's theater connoisseurs will be shown spectacular musical ballets on ice, including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Snow White and Cipollino. Performances start at 19:00.
Hundred meter ice slide
m between Manezhnaya Square and Revolution Square
Between Manezhnaya Square and Revolution Square there will be a huge, 100-meter ice megaslide, which both children and adults will be able to ride. Decorate a huge structure icy hours, and small fair houses-chalets will be installed at the base.
"Gingerbread Village" site
St. Bolshaya Bronnaya, 29
A small “Gingerbread Village” will be located in Novopushkinsky Park. You can never have too many sweets during the holidays! And this site will be a real paradise for those with a sweet tooth - here everyone will be able to try gingerbread cookies, Russian honey gingerbread and other sweets.
Playground "The Little Prince"
atl. Rozhdestvenka, ow. 6
During the festival, the Little Prince venue will open on Rozhdestvenka Street. It is expected that it is in this part of the city that families with children will most enjoy walking, because an unusual children's holiday fair will open here, where they will sell all kinds of sweets, board games, soft toys, etc.
"Christmas Stories" platform
Kamergersky lane, ow. 2
If you want to know how Christmas is celebrated in different countries of the world, what music is preferred, what they eat and how they dress up, then we recommend visiting the “Christmas Stories” site. Among other things, there will be exciting gastronomic shows where guests will be shown how to cook traditional National dishes Italy, Belgium, Mexico and other countries of the world.
Venue "Nativity of Christ"
Gogolevsky Blvd. ow. 4
On Gogolevsky Boulevard, not far from, there will be a “Nativity of Christ” site, where monasteries in Moscow and the Moscow region will present their goods to visitors. Here everyone will be able to purchase icons, books, candles, honey, scarves and much more. etc.
Venue "Warm Time"
Stoleshnikov lane, 10–14
A “Warm Time” site will open on Stoleshnikov Lane, where everyone will be taught how to understand different types of coffee and tea, fascinating tea and coffee ceremonies will be held, master classes on latte art, and training in how to decorate and serve a festive table.
Venue "Time of Carols"
St. Sheremetyevskaya, 6
A lot of fun awaits visitors at the “Time of Carols” site! Here, citizens and guests of the capital will read winter poems by famous Russian authors: K. Chukovsky, S. Marshak and A. Barto. In addition, guests will learn to carol, play spoons, rattles, xylophone, etc.
Venue "Time of Romantics"
Orekhoviy Blvd., ow. 14
In Russia, Father Frost and the Snow Maiden come to us for the New Year, in America - Santa Claus. But who comes to the children for new year holidays in Finland, China, France and other countries of the world, Muscovites will learn at the “Time of the Romantics” site. Here the townspeople will learn several Christmas songs on foreign languages, and will also stage mini-performances based on the fairy-tale works of G.Kh. Andersen, C. Perrault and the Brothers Grimm.
Playground "Toy Time" on Europe Square
On Europe Square, everyone can become a real assistant to Santa Claus. Here, young and adult Muscovites will need to solve fairy-tale riddles with various puzzles, take part in chess matches, sports relay races, etc.
Venue “Visiting Grandfather Tik-Tak” in Zelenograd
Zelenograd, pl. Youth, ow. 2
In Zelenograd, at the festival site “Visiting Grandfather Tik-Tak”, visitors will be able to take part in various gastronomic master classes. And to make them feel cheerful and not freeze, they will be treated to a delicious Christmas drink made with cardamom and orange.
This year Moscow will go to Russia for the 4th time Journey to Christmas! The festival will take place at 33 venues from December 16, 2016 to January 15, 2017. Guests can enjoy concerts under open air, street theater shows and master classes.
The venues will be decorated with sparkling garlands, real Christmas trees, and huge glowing balls. On Poklonnaya Hill And VDNH Large balls of light will appear. On Pushkin Square they will create a Musical Forest (a panel of LEDs, where each pixel is a note). The LEDs synchronize with the music, and it seems that the light will begin to sing.
Carousels will be installed at 6 sites, and between Manezhnaya Square and Revolution Square will create the largest ice slide, 7 meters high and 100 meters long. The large-scale structure will be assembled from ice blocks and decorated with a clock made from ice. And besides skating, winter fun and games await children.
On Revolution Square There will be a free skating rink open every day. Guests will see the performances of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cipollino and Snow White. 50 famous figure skaters will take to the ice. And on January 7, Christmas skating will be held here with athletes of the Russian national team, Olympic and world champions.
At the skating rink Red Square will hold events dedicated to winter sports and national holidays, as well as theatrical performances. Here you can take a photo with Father Frost and the Snow Maiden and, of course, make a wish. Folklore ensembles will create a festive atmosphere.
200 shopping chalets will be installed at the festival sites. On the shelves there will be Christmas tree decorations from the 1950s–1960s, porcelain and glass decorations filled with dried flowers, lace tablecloths and napkins, wooden souvenirs with designer paintings, felt boots, cozy knitted sweaters, mittens and scarves made of natural sheepskin, figured chocolate, gingerbread houses, caramel apples and much more. On Kuznetsky Most visitors will find items from the collections of both already famous and emerging Russian designers.
Products will be brought to the festival from 40 regions of Russia, including Tver, Astrakhan, Ryazan, Orenburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Vladimir, Tula, Ivanovo regions, Republic North Ossetia, Republic of Karelia, Krasnoyarsk region and others. There will also be goods from 15 foreign countries, including Belgium, Italy, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Serbia, Armenia, China, Mexico, Peru, Morocco and others.
On Manezhnaya Square A large cheese market will open, bringing together 60 producers from all over the country. There you will find rocle in the Swiss style, cheese balls with cranberry jam, bruschetta with cheese, as well as cheese pies, ricotta with blueberry jelly, chocolate cheese, cheesecakes and many varieties of mulled wine and punch.
60 Moscow restaurant chalets will create a festive menu for the festival. Famous chefs will teach you how to prepare Christmas and New Year's dishes: a sweet Christmas tree and non-alcoholic mulled wine, Olivier salad and kulebyaka with apple filling, warming honey whipped with spices and an uzvar made from dried fruits: cherries, apples, pears, apricots and hawthorn fruits. Sweets lovers will learn recipes for New Year's desserts from southern countries, such as Sweet Corn Cinnamon Raisin Pancakes, Chili Hot Chocolate, and Fried Bananas with Creamy Caramel Sauce.
For children and adults the festival will take place around three thousand master classes, entertainment and educational events. At culinary master classes, children and their parents will learn how to prepare dishes from their favorite fairy tales and cartoons: cheesecakes according to Freken Bok’s recipe, cookies with chocolate chips or semolina porridge with fruits from the fairy tale The Fox and the Crane. IN Kuzminki they will tell you how to prepare Italian dessert pizza with bananas and kiwi, spicy Icelandic tea latte, a Scandinavian Christmas drink made from blackcurrant, orange, grape juice, raisins and almonds.
On Kosygina street The children will enjoy a disco, sports relay races based on the cartoon “Winter in Prostokvashino” and dance classes. On Sheremetyevskaya street guests will be taught caroling, playing the xylophone, rattles and spoons. On New Arbat, where the longest book fair is located, free writing school classes will open, lectures, master classes, meetings with writers and presentations of fresh books will be held. IN Novopushkinsky square will conduct entertaining lessons on English language and robotics.
The Happy Time quest will be held at 17 festival sites. Its participants will compete in their knowledge of the traditions of celebrating the New Year and Christmas. After answering the treacherous questions of grandfather Tik-Tak and his granddaughter Minutka, they will receive gold coins that can be exchanged for surprises. In total, more than 50 thousand prizes were prepared for festival guests.
A year ago, the festival became the largest in Europe: more than 10 million people visited it. And this time the city is expecting even more guests. Don't miss the chance to visit one of the most beautiful and large-scale fairy tales that takes place during the winter season in Moscow!
Festival Venues:
1. Red Square, possession 3
2. Manezhnaya Square, possession 1
3. Revolution Square
4. Revolution Square (transition to Manezhnaya Square)
5. Kuznetsky Most Street, property 7 (the area in front of the Central Department Store)
6. Kuznetsky Most Street, property 6–3 (near the “Bolshoi” restaurant)
7. Pushkinskaya Square
8. Novopushkinsky Square
9. Rozhdestvenka Street
10. Tverskoy Boulevard
11. Tverskoy Boulevard, possession 2 (near the monument to Timiryazev)
12. Tverskoy Boulevard, property 19 (near the Yesenin monument)
13. Kamergersky lane, property 2
14. Arbat street, building 19
15. Arbat Street, property 6/2
16. Klimentovsky lane, building 8
17. Gogolevsky Boulevard
18. New Arbat Street, building 13
19. New Arbat Street, building 15
20. New Arbat Street, building 19
21. New Arbat Street, building 21
22. Tverskaya Square
23. Stoleshnikov lane, building 10–14
24. Leningradsky Prospekt, building 62
25. Sheremetyevskaya street, house 6, building 1
26. Sokolnicheskaya Square
27. Orekhovy Boulevard, property 14
28. Marshal Chuikov Street, property 3
29. Kosygina Street, property 17
30. Europe Square
31. Skhodnenskaya Street, property 56 (near the Kaleidoscope shopping center)
32. Troitsk, Sirenevy Boulevard, possession 1
33. City of Zelenograd, Yunost Square, possession 2
34. Usacheva Street, building 26 (Usachevsky Market)
35. Kirovogradskaya street, building 15 (near the Electronic Paradise shopping center)
36. Mytnaya Street, building 74 (Danilovsky Market)
37. Leninsky Prospekt, building 109 (near the Rio shopping center)
38. Bolshaya Cheryomushkinskaya street, building 1 (near the Rio shopping center)
39. Garibaldi Street, building 23 (near the Panorama shopping center)
40. Profsoyuznaya Street, building 61a (near the Kaluzhsky shopping center)
41. Vernadsky Avenue, property 86a (near the Avenue Southwest shopping center)
42. Kutuzovsky prospect, building 57 (near the Oceania shopping center)
In Moscow, from December 16, 2016 to January 15, 2017, the IV festival “Journey to Christmas” is taking place. 42 colorfully decorated festival venues opened throughout the city. Guests from 15 countries and 40 regions of Russia participate in their work. Let's take a walk through the central festival grounds and start with Manezhnaya Square.
This year new shopping chalets are presented, they are no longer wooden, but completely glass
You can purchase New Year and Christmas souvenirs, sweets and other gifts
Large New Year cards were installed on the square
“Journey to Christmas” opens the next cycle of “Moscow Seasons” - public street events for citizens and tourists. They include City Day, nine major city festivals and several dozen other events. In 2016, the sites were visited by over 50 million people.
An ice plastic slide was installed for children
The façade of the slide has carved ice figures and is also decorated with a huge clock made of ice.
Alley of New Year trees along the ice slide
A free ice skating rink will be open daily on Revolution Square.
And at certain times there will be performances of “The Nutcracker”, “Swan Lake”, “Cipollino” and “Snow White”.
Poster for the ice theater on Revolution Square
Let's take a look at Nikolskaya Street. There are simply luminous arches installed here; last year they looked more beautiful. There are no shopping chalets on the street this year
There are also luminous arches installed near the Vitali fountain on Revolution Square.
There are no shopping chalets here either this year, except for luminous arches and trees there is nothing here
Arch near the Bolshoi Theater
No shopping chalets, master classes...just a light arch and that’s it
A fairytale forest appeared in Kamergersky Lane
There is a fair dedicated to Christmas and New Year traditions from different countries. At culinary master classes, guests will be taught how to prepare dishes of national cuisines. You can also buy authentic souvenirs here.
Very beautiful lanterns "glasses of champagne"
New Year trees and lantern glasses decorate the Moscow City Hall building
All new lighting poles on both sides of Tverskaya from Manezhnaya to Pushkinskaya Square are decorated with luminous structures. The height of the glasses is up to seven meters.
Shopping chalets and houses with master classes were located behind the monument to Yuri Dolgoruky
Can be done beautiful photo with Santa Claus
Children can ride the carousel
Christmas living room, where master classes for children are held
You can snack on sausages, price 250-300 rubles
Shopping chalets
Light arches are installed at all festival sites
Walking along Tverskaya Street we came to Pushkinskaya
The dynamic light installation “Musical Forest” is located on Pushkinskaya Square
On it, sound - with the help of an equalizer - will form alternating light patterns. The duration of each performance is eight to 10 minutes.
“Musical Forest” consists of 50 trees and 50 thousand LED pixels. They are programmed so that the backlight changes depending on the music. Each pixel responds to a specific note.
Where there was a fountain in the summer, now there is a pedestrian area and everyone can come here and take pictures of luminous animals
There is not enough space here and therefore there is a complete crowd... everyone must take a photo with the hare in the background :):):):):)
Fairy-tale characters walk around here and delight visitors.
Novopushkinsky Square is also decorated with a light arch
A fantastic installation was installed on Tverskoy Boulevard - a hundred-meter light tunnel
Perhaps one of the best installations of this festival is the Light Tunnel
Everyone goes into the tunnel and takes pictures :)
It’s true that there are quite a lot of people here who want it
And in front of the light tunnels there are numbers 2017
Here is the festival “Journey to Christmas 2016-2017”. It seemed to me that last year there were more installations, figures and somehow it was better, but it’s definitely worth a walk
Every year Moscow is transformed before the New Year - central squares filled with New Year paraphernalia, Christmas markets and other entertainment appear. This year, the annual Journey to Christmas festival will last from December 16 to January 19, 2017. We decided to walk through the main sites on the opening day and note the most interesting ones. We share our feedback without delay.
If earlier we looked with interest at photographs of European Christmas markets and dreamed of seeing it with our own eyes, now Muscovites and guests of the city do not need to go anywhere, because every year in Moscow there are many New Year's fairs, sites with giant New Year's decorations and installations, and how many winter entertainment! Winter 2017 was no exception, the Journey to Christmas festival, parks, shopping centers and the skating rinks have prepared so many surprises that choosing what to see in New Year’s Moscow, where to take a walk, where to have a photo shoot, where to go with children is not easy. We have chosen the most interesting places and New Year's events in Moscow, we went out into the street with a camera and prepared for you a guide to the New Year's center of the capital.
Perhaps the most anticipated New Year's surprises are these.
1. Designer Christmas trees: Kuznetsky Most street, property 6-3 (near the Bolshoi restaurant)
2. 3D Christmas tree decorations and magical animation on Pushkinskaya Square
3. Tverskoy Boulevard: light tunnel on
4. Hundred-meter ice slide: Revolution Square (transition to Manezhnaya Square)
5. Ice skating rink and Christmas market on Red Square
6. Magic Theater on Revolution Square: free ice shows
7. Fairs
8. Christmas tree-carousel, 160-meter light tunnel and starry sky at VDNH
The long-awaited illumination in Moscow was lit on Friday evening, December 16. We, having forgotten about the frost, set off on a journey through the center of Moscow. In order to spend the time most efficiently, we first drew up a route: we decided to start from the Teatralnaya metro station (from the Bolshoi Theater), then walk to the Central Department Store, walk along Stoleshnikov to the fair, which is located opposite the Moscow City Hall. From there we planned to walk to Pushkin Square. Well, it was decided to end our first New Year's walk on Revolution Square. Although it is best to start the journey with the latter - but first things first.
New Year's Bolshoi Theater
At about 19-30 we met near the Teatralnaya metro station and went to the big theater. The first thing we saw was a light composition similar to the crown from the Nutcracker play. Imagine our surprise that the Bolshoi Theater did not have any fair this year, but in previous years there was. Well, let's move on.
View from the Bolshoi Theater.
The Central Department Store (TSUM) shimmers like a precious diamond before the New Year.
As always, the TSUM windows are surprising - the fruit of the designers’ fevered imagination, but looking at them is very funny.
Fair on Kuznetsky Most
We quickly reached the first fair on our way - the fair on Kuznetsky Most. This year, the shape of the houses that housed the fair surprised me a little. Retail outlets are glass pavilions decorated with LEDs. Modern, but does not create a holiday feeling.
We went into one of these houses and bought mulled wine - the frost was seriously raging.
According to my companion, the most beautiful Christmas trees in Moscow are located near the Cartier store on Kuznetsky Most. I think I agree.
The Petrovsky Passage shopping complex is very beautifully decorated - we also dropped in there to warm up - silence, beauty, no one.
Next we went to Stoleshnikov Lane towards the City Hall. Almost all pedestrian streets decorated in the same way - with the ubiquitous LED trees. It’s beautiful, but since they stand in Moscow all year round, they didn’t cause us much surprise.
There were indeed such interesting compositions - a symbol of the holiday. Either a watch or a carriage.
Fair near the monument to Yuri Dolgoruky (Moscow City Hall)
Near the City Hall there was a fair, oriented to be shown on television - everything was very beautiful, in a European way.
Along the perimeter of the square there are retail outlets where you can buy Christmas goods from different European countries.
Next, we go out onto Tverskaya Street. The main feature of Tverskaya is the special design of the lighting poles - if you look closely, you can recognize glasses of champagne in these lights.
In short dashes we reached Pushkinskaya Square. There is no way to get lost here: near the monument to Pushkin there is a composition called the Musical Forest, and on Tersky Boulevard there is a light tunnel. What to do? We decided to look at everything in order and started with the fun, oh, musical forest.
Musical forest on Pushkinskaya Square
Every 10 minutes music sounds and this entire white composition is filled with different bright colors. The spectacle is very beautiful! In addition, you can penetrate into the very heart of this composition.
In the center there is a certain fabulous white tree, decorated with balls and icicles. There are so many people that it is very difficult to even take a photo. Everyone wants to plunge into a fairy tale!
On Pushkinskaya Square there are also glass pavilions where they sell balls, Christmas trees and all sorts of New Year's rubbish.
Having pretty much frozen by this point, we decided to go to the famous self-service restaurant with the letter “M” on Pushkinskaya Square to warm up. I was a little surprised that at all these fairs there were practically no places to eat. And I really wanted to eat a hot sausage in the cold!
Light tunnel on Tverskoy Boulevard
The main attraction of Tverskoy Boulevard is, of course, the light tunnel, which this year was moved closer to the people, closer to the metro.
We walked right through the tunnel and expected to see fairground houses, but we saw only one, and in it... a guard lives. A little further along Tverskoy Boulevard we spotted an ice town, apparently intended for playing snowballs.
The second part of Tverskoy Boulevard seemed somewhat dark and uncomfortable to us - so we decided to turn around and finally head towards Okhotny Ryad and Manezhnaya Square.
On Tverskaya Street, in addition to the above-mentioned “glasses of champagne,” opposite Kamergersky Lane, one can note a chess composition, where the royal throne is located in the center.
We stayed here a little to admire Kamergersky Lane.
Okhotny Ryad is ready for the New Year
The end of the evening - and we are just approaching the “Heart” of the Christmas festivities. On Okhotny Ryad we see a New Year's carousel and numerous glass box stalls. By 10 o'clock they were all already closed.
Traditional carousel.
Large postcards based on Soviet motifs.
Against Historical Museum an unusual ice town is located.
After visiting the fair on Okhotny Ryad, we head to Revolution Square.
Revolution Square before Christmas
The Ice Theater is located not far from the metro. He looks quite impressive and beautiful from all sides. To get to the show here, you need to carefully study the program. I even wondered how it would accommodate everyone? Ice ballet starts at 19-00.
To finish off our visit to the first day of the festival with dignity, we decided to look at Nikolskaya Street. Nikolskaya is decorated in the same way as last year - with Italian LED arches.
This is how our almost four-hour walk around New Year's Moscow flew by unnoticed.
So, the most interesting platforms in my opinion are:
1. Ice theater on Revolution Square
2. Ice slide on Revolution Square
3. Musical forest on Pushkinskaya Square
4. Light tunnel on Tverskoy Boulevard
In general, when walking around Moscow before the New Year, you get a strong feeling that you have already seen all this last year. Glass pavilion houses are probably more comfortable for sellers, but they do not create a New Year’s mood.
Traditional light tunnel on Tverskoy Boulevard. This year it was located at the very beginning of the boulevard, next to the metro. It is so long that you can’t even see the end of it! There's plenty of room for photos for everyone. #Tverskoy Boulevard #travelChristmas #Christmaslight #MoscowNewyear #newyear2017 #newyear2017 #earlyyear #merrychristmas #travelofRussia
Posted by Nina and Natasha, travelers (@shagauru) Dec 17, 2016 at 2:11 PST
Addresses of Christmas markets in the center:
1. European Christmas market on Tverskaya Square
2. Manezhnaya Square, possession 1
3. Pushkinskaya Square5. Novopushkinsky Square - gingerbread, pastries, kurabye
6. Sweet Christmas trees and mulled wine: Arbat Street, building 19
7. Decor items self made on Kutuzovsky Prospekt
8. Tea and coffee traditions on Stoleshnikov Lane
9. New Year's toys and masks at Rozhdestvenka
10. New Year's book fair "Book-Market" on Novy Arbat
11. Square in front of Sokolniki Park
12. There will be a Sweet Fair on Leningradsky Prospekt, 62
13. Fair near the Raikin Plaza shopping center on Sheremetyevskaya street
14. VDNHAll this is my subjective opinion, but otherwise everything is fine, happy upcoming everyone!
The next post will be about the festival sites on Novy Arbat.