Maslenitsa Russian culture festival opens in London

The Maslenitsa festival opened yesterday in London, bringing a host of events celebrating Russian culture to venues across the city.

Also known as the Russian Sun Festival, Maslenitsa combines an Orthodox religious holiday with a celebration of the arrival of spring.

This year’s festival features a wide range of concerts, recitals, culinary workshops and lectures. Of particular note are a fashion showcase with award-winning fashion designer and Maslenitsa Fashion Award winner Natalia Kau on 8 March and the “Chekhov Maslenitsa Culinary Experience” at Knightsbridge’s Mari Vanna restaurant on 12 March.

“The number of events has increased and the program has become more intense — on some days several events will be held,” Olga Balakleets, head of the company organising the festival, Ensemble Productions, told RIA Novosti.

“[...] Maslenitsa festival is the perfect opportunity for Londoners to find out more about the rich cultural diversity of the Russian community in the capital,” London Mayor Boris Johnson said of the festival.

The Maslenitsa festival will run until 13 March 2016. A full programme of events can be found on the festival’s website.

Source: RIA Novosti (in Russian)