Press releases

28 Jun 2026

From walk of fame to Father Frost in July: Looking back at 2009 Slavianski Bazaar

MINSK, 28 June (BelTA) – The countdown is on: just 18 days left until the 35th anniversary edition of Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk. To mark the occasion, BelTA is launching a daily retrospective series. Every day, we look through our archival materials to relive the brightest highlights from each year of the festival. Today’s feature takes us back to 2009.

The 18th edition of the Slavianski Bazaar International Festival of Arts took place on 9-17 July. Hitting its 18th anniversary “coming-of-age” landmark, the festival’s all-time track record reached nearly 1,800 concerts, plays, exhibitions, presentations, and shows, drawing more than 3.1 million visitors. The 2009 event alone saw 4,800 accredited participants and guests.

Traditionally, the highlights of Slavianski Bazaar included its opening and closing galas, the Vitebsk International Pop Song Performers Contest, and the 7th edition of the International Children’s Music Contest. Another major highlight was the program featuring acclaimed Russian stars. A total of 20 concerts took place at the Summer Amphitheater, featuring seven midnight solo shows by major celebrities and welcoming 110,000 fans.

The festival’s opening brought together beloved pop icons and acclaimed ensembles. Taking the stage were Yadviga Poplavskaya and Alexander Tikhanovich, the brass and string groups of the Presidential Orchestra of Belarus, the military honor guard companies of Belarus and Russia, and international star Lara Fabian, among others. The gala concert beautifully captured the spirit of togetherness and solidarity among Slavic nations.

In 2009, Slavianski Bazaar introduced its own Walk of Fame near the Summer Amphitheater. The site features marble tiles dedicated to acclaimed artists and cultural figures who received the Belarusian president’s special award, Through Art to Peace and Mutual Understanding (instituted in 2005). Framed by the festival’s signature cornflower symbol, each tile honors a major talent. Near the entrance, a striking stele features a sculpture of a girl holding a wreath – a large-scale replica of the official trophy. In 2016, the location was officially renamed, yet locals and performers still affectionately call it the walk of fame. Strolling past the marble cornflowers, visitors can spot the names of legends like Vladimir Mulyavin, Igor Luchenok, Polad Bulbuloghlu, Mikhail Finberg, Taisia Povaliy, the festival’s iconic presenter Alena Spiridovich, Anatoly Yarmolenko, and Yuri Antonov. This star-studded square is a staple of local tourist itineraries, offering travelers a glimpse into its creation and its vital role in the festival’s legacy.

A historic moment marked the opening of the 18th arts festival in Vitebsk as the bells of the restored Holy Resurrection Church broke a 70-year silence. This landmark is a prime example of 18th-century Vilnian Baroque architecture. Its first Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus. Originally blown up in 1936, the church’s reconstruction launched in 2001, focusing heavily on reviving its classic Baroque aesthetics and ornate masonry.

Sixteen rising stars competed in the 18th Vitebsk International Pop Song Performers Contest, where a Russian artist claimed the Grand Prix. In the 7th International Children’s Music Contest, a Romanian girl rose above a field of 18 other young contestants to take home the main prize.

Soviet and Russian poet and author Yevgeny Yevtushenko held a creative evening called A Romance with Life at the Vitebsk Concert Hall. He revealed that this was his very first visit to Slavianski Bazaar, noting that Vitebsk had always been intertwined with Marc Chagall in his mind. “I have his charming sketch on my wall – a gift from when I visited him in France in 1963. And this is the first time I’ve brought my wife Masha and our two sons, Mitya and Zhenya, to Vitebsk,” the renowned poet said.

Russian singer Boris Moiseev also stood out as one of the festival’s most vibrant guests. He even treated journalists to ice cream during his media session.

The Day of Belarusian Culture featured a special screening of the Belarusfilm movie New Year Adventures in July at the House of Cinema. Defying the intense heat, Father Frost and the Snow Maiden greeted young fans with gifts, while a festive Christmas tree adorned with cornflowers lit up the lobby.

During the screening of the film Sniper, servicemen treated attendees to a taste of a traditional military porridge.

At the same time, the City of Craftsmen fair in Zadvinyie that is always a crowd favorite during the festival saw over 800 artisans showcasing their unique handicrafts.

Back in 2009, Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk drew 570 journalists from 130 media outlets and websites across 16 nations to cover the festival.

The main lineup of the 35th edition of the Slavianski Bazaar International Festival of Arts will run on 16-19 July, while the very first concerts will kick off on 14 July.