XXXV. International Art Festival for Children and Youth "Spring Inspiration" | EAFF - European Association of Folklore Festivals

28 April - 1 May 2021
St. Petersburg Russia

Adults Childrens's Dances Choirs / Songs Orchestras Pop, Jazz, Modern, Hip-hop Classical or Marching Band and Majorettes

Director: Ruslan Lukichev

A relatively young city, St. Petersburg was founded in 1703, and has been playing key role in the history of Russia ever since. St. Petersburg's most renowned novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky in perhaps his greatest novel "The Brothers Karamazov" wrote about three brothers who represent three worlds: the intellectual, the spiritual, and the sensual. No doubt modern St. Petersburg offers a fascinating combo of all these worlds, which will make your stay here a unique and memorable one. Whether you are walking across the city in summer, visiting the world-renowned ballet at the Mariinsky Theater on a magical winter evening, enjoying an early autumn afternoon in one the city's outstanding suburban parks, or delighting in the world-class art collection at the Hermitage Museum at any time of the year, you are sure to appreciate the unique beauty and rich culture of the city on the Neva river. Take a bus ride along its main streets and prospects enjoying its splendid sights: numerous palaces and cathedrals, rivers and channels, old monuments and parks. The city's most popular spots are St. Isaac's Square, the Cruiser Avrora, the Peter and Paul Fortress. In summer a boat trip along the Fontanka River, the Griboedov Canal, or the Moika River; the Mikhailovsky Garden, the Admiralty or Palace Embankments; or around the Peter and Paul Fortress will unveil for you more mysteries of the Venice of the North. Don’t miss a chance to enjoy spectacular panorama of the rasing bridges at night. More than 20 bridges span the Neva river and its armlets. Most of these bridges are bascule bridges and are opened at night during the navigational season for large vessels to pass through. Among the most beautiful are the Troitsky (Trinity), Dvortsovy (Palace), and Bolshoy Okhtinskiy Bridges. Watching the raising of the bridges, whether from the embankments or from a pleasure boats, is one of the great St. Petersburg experiences during the dreamy White Nights of June and July.

Program:

28 April 2021. Day 1. Sightseeing (transfer is provided)

Arrival of the group to the station, meeting with the guide. Recommended arrival time: from 9:00 to 11:00. Meeting with the guide: not earlier than 7:00.

Boarding the bus. Sightseeing tour of St.Petersburg (preliminary list of attractions: St. Isaac's Square, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Blue Bridge, building of the Mariinsky Palace, the monument to the Tsar Nikolay the Ist, the buildings of Astoria and Angleter hotels, "The Bronze Horseman", the Admiralty building, the buildings of Senate and Synod, the Art Square, the monument to Alexander Pushkin, the building of the Mikhailovsky Palace, the Church of the Savior on Blood, the Field of Mars, the Peter and Paul Fortress, Cruiser Aurora, the Spit of the Vasilyevski Island, Rostral columns and other tourist attractions).

Walking tour of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Visiting the Peter and Paul Cathedral.*

Transfer to the hotel. Check-in time after 14.00. Early check-in in the hotel is possible only if there are free rooms available.

Lunch.

Organizational meeting with the leaders of the groups.

Completion of the first day. Free time. Optional - additional excursions.*

Night Saint-Petersburg is not another city, just special condition that you will see fully at the excursion time. You will go through the picturesque embankments, streets and districts, see the amazing building’s and touristic sites illumination. Saint Petersburg looks triumphal, elegant and amazed by its magical magnificent.

29 April 2021. Day 2. Festival (transfer is provided)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Boarding the bus. Transfer to the festival. Registration of contestants.

Rehearsal of the concert program according to the schedule.

Opening ceremony. Welcoming words of the jury and the Organizing Committee. Festival performances of the contestants. Meeting of the jury.

Lunch – complex dinner in a city’s café (Only for participants of this day festival).

Round table for teachers and group leaders, devoted to topical problems of education in the field of culture and arts. Discussion of performances of contestants with the members of the jury.

Gala concert. Disco.

Awarding ceremony, presenting of the diplomas, cups, souvenirs. Presenting letters of thanks and certificates of participation to the teachers and group leaders (during round table).

The closing ceremony of the festival. Informal communication, exchange of contact details.

Transfer to the hotel. Completion of the second day. Free time. Optional - additional excursions*.

Grand Maket Rossiya. Grand Maket is a grand layout of Russia with different regions and it’s features. The creators of layout don’t make geographic similarities specially, the main idea was recreation of daily life of our multimillion country.

Tour to Pavlovsk. During this suburban excursion you will visit Pavlovsk – gorgeous palaces and park ensembles made as summer residence of imperator Pavel Ist and his family. Excursion includes walking through the beautiful landscape of Pavlovsk’s park and visiting the Pavlovsk Palace

Mariinsky Theatre is one of the most great and famous theatres in the operas and ballets world. Excursion intended for high school students and includes meetings with basic concepts of musical theatre, short essay of Mariinsky theatre history, excursion through the audience part of the theatre.

30 April 2021. Day 3. Excursion to the attractions near Saint Petersburg (transfer is provided)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from the hotel no later than 12.00. Boarding the bus.

The guided tour to Peterhof (the former residence of Peter the Great):

Bus excursion;
Walking tour of the upper park of the residence;
Walking tour of the lower park of the residence*

Return to St. Petersburg. Transfer to the train station. Recommended departure time: after 18.00. Free time before getting on the train. Completion of the program.

If you choose 4-day stay:

30 April 2021. Day 3. Free day

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time.

1 May 2021. Day 4. Excursion to the attractions near Saint Petersburg (transfer is provided)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from the hotel no later than 12.00. Boarding the bus.

The guided tour to Peterhof (the former residence of Peter the Great):

Bus excursion;
Walking tour of the upper park of the residence;
Walking tour of the lower park of the residence*

Return to St. Petersburg. Transfer to the train station. Recommended departure time: after 18.00. Free time before getting on the train. Completion of the program.

* Not included in the registration fee.

Participation fee:

3 days / 2 nights

89 Euro per person - Category "Standard" - Quadraple Rooms with Bathroom, continental breakfast
89 Euro per person - Category "Standard+" - Standard Double (Twin), Triple and Quadruple Rooms with Bathroom, buffet breakfast.
95 Euro per person - Category "Comfort" - Standard Double (Twin) with Bathroom, buffet breakfast

4 days / 3 nights

105 Euro per person - Category "Standard" - Quadraple Rooms with Bathroom, continental breakfast
109 Euro per person - Category "Standard+" - Standard Double (Twin), Triple and Quadruple Rooms with Bathroom, buffet breakfast.
115 Euro per person - Category "Comfort" - Standard Double (Twin) with Bathroom, buffet breakfast

** WARNING! Number of hotel rooms is limited! We book the rooms only after receiving prepayment. 3-bed rooms are available upon request.

Participation fee includes:

Accommodation in Saint-Petersburg (2 or 3 nights);
2 or 3 breakfasts at the hotel;
2 three-dishes lunch in city’s café (on the first day of the program and on the festival day);
Guided sightseeing tour of St.Petersburg;
Walking tour of the Peter and Paul Fortress;
Bus excursion to Peterhof;
Meeting the groups at the station and accompanying groups to the station (for small groups (less than 10 persons) – on request);
Transfers according to the festival program***.

Participation fee doesn not include:

Entry tickets and sightseeing fees;
Entry tickets to parks of Peterhof;
Additional sightseeing tours and transfers;
Transfer “station-hotel-station” for small groups (less than 10 persons) – on request;
Transfer from and to the airport;
Additional night of stay in the hotel (price upon request).

Organizational fee for one nomination (not included into the participation fee):

12 Euro for one ensemble participant (no more than 180 Euro for an ensemble)
25 Euro for a soloist

** WARNING! If the sightseeing tour or transfer is rescheduled by the applicant's request to the date or time differing from the standard festival program all expenses shall be paid by the contestant according to the issued invoice.

Any group willing to participate must submit an Application form.
Approved groups pay in advance a 10% guarantee fee, which is to be deducted at the final payment.