Regions of Russia: New Year celebration in St. Petersburg

December 30, 2010 to January 7, 2011 St. Petersburg holds traditional celebrations.

On the New Year's Eve the Palace Square will be transformed into a fairy-tale forest. In the most highly anticipated night of the year the Palace Square will welcome its guests in the fabulous scenery of the forest of the 600 living pines.

St. Petersburg residents and guests well be presented with a thrilling spectacle - the third festival of light music video projections on the walls of historic buildings. This year, a huge screen for the projections will be the facade of the Winter Palace. At this time the festival has been prepared by the Russian Engineers Theatre "AXE" and "John-Studio", which today are among the leading producers of cutting-edge projection performances. Performances at the Palace Square will be on display daily from December 31 to January 7, from 18.00 to 22.00 every hour.

December 30 at 16.00 to begin a colorful procession of Santa Claus and his entourage along the Nevsky Prospect, and at 17.00 all St. Petersburg residents and visitors will witness a magical effect at the Palace Square, during which the lights will be lighted on the main New Year tree of the city.

Also, in the Alexander Garden, visitors once again will be able to enjoy the Big and Small toboggan, working for free to all comers.

Every year, on the orders of the Governor of St. Petersburg, all the schoolchildren of the city 1st to 4th grade receive an invitation to festive Christmas tree celebrations. The celebrations were held 24 to 29 December 2010. Each student was able to watch this colorful show featuring more than 300 artists and get a Christmas gift.

At Christmas, on January 7 the Palace Square will highlight a theatrical performance for children and adults.