Press releases

10 Jul 2026

Slavianski Bazaar’s Cornflower Tour makes its final stop in Brest

BREST, 10 July (BelTA) – The Cornflower Tour project, held ahead of the 35^th International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, is concluding its journey through the country’s regions in Brest, BelTA reports.

A craft fair has been set up near the Belarus Cinema on Sovetskaya Street. Artisans are showcasing jewelry, souvenirs, and clothing embroidered with the festival’s symbol, the cornflower.

Craftswoman Viktoria Trofinyuk spoke about her works, created specifically for the Cornflower Fair. “My cornflowers are made of glitter foam and come with a clip, so they can be worn in the hair or used as a festive accessory,” said the Brest resident.

Among the participants are artisans from various districts of Brest Oblast. One of them is Sergei Golovchik from Kamenets District. “Such mobile formats are definitely needed for a major international festival. There are so many talented young people from the regions who remain in the shadows. When you hear our compatriots for the first time, you get goosebumps. I used to be a musician myself and graduated from a music college, so I understand how important this is,” he emphasized.

Residents of the region noted that the arrival of a piece of the festival in Brest came as a pleasant surprise. “We had heard a lot about the Slavianski Bazaar, but traveling all the way to Vitebsk is too far for us. We were surprised that it would come to Brest. We saw the news online and decided to take part in the fair. It feels like we are truly part of one big project,” said Alesya Primakova from Kobrin.

The Belarus Cinema hosted a photo exhibition titled “35 Moments of the Festival.” It features a collection of postcards created by the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk directorate in collaboration with the BelTA news agency. Each of the 35 panels captures a year of the festival, from black‑and‑white images from 1992 to vivid shots from last season. The series includes over 120 photographs in total. “Each photograph tells its own story and conveys its own mood. Together, they form a unified picture of a celebration that has been bringing people together through art for 35 years,” said Svetlana Zelenovskaya, coordinator of the Cornflower Tour project.

During an interactive quiz, participants demonstrated their knowledge of the festival’s history. “The questions cover a wide range of topics, from history to geography. Over the course of the festival’s existence, more than 80 countries have taken part. Audiences in different cities really enjoy it, people join in, sing, and dance,” said Svetlana Zelenovskaya.

Quiz participants emphasized the project’s significance. “We are cultural workers, so the festival theme is of great interest to us. It was fascinating to learn about its history, structure, and organization. I studied in Vitebsk and attended the festival as a spectator many years ago. Now it is interesting to see what innovations have been introduced,” said Tatiana Goralchuk.

Yekaterina Vabishchevich noted that 35 years is a whole lifetime for the festival. Last year, she was a spectator in Vitebsk and saw performances by numerous artists. In her words, the city truly comes alive during the festival days.

Lyudmila Mokhnach has never attended the festival in person but has followed it on television. “I especially root for our artists and the children taking part in the competitions. I want to see them win,” she admitted.

In the evening, the event will conclude with an interactive program called “Festival Karaoke With a Star.” According to the organizers, some 210 applications were received from Brest. “We selected 11 participants who will perform tonight. Also invited are Artyom Skorol and Lera Bernatovich,” added Svetlana Zelenovskaya.