The best Ded Moroz and Snegurochka were chosen in the Vitebsk region

The main New Year's characters were determined at the regional competition "Yolka-FEST — 2015".

The calendar states that winter has not yet arrived, although the morning frost has been convincing otherwise for several days. And those who visited the regional palace of children and youth on Thursday for the "Yolka-FEST — 2015" competition, managed not only to get into December but also to celebrate the New Year. And not just once. It must be said, they had a great time, as entertainment was offered for every taste: sing if you want, dance if you want, or decorate a Christmas tree or find answers to riddles.

This colorful competition is traditionally held in Vitebsk at the end of the year to improve the methodology of holding mass events in secondary, preschool, and additional education institutions, to give organizers of such celebrations an opportunity to demonstrate their developments, exchange experience, and improve their professional level.

It was not easy for the participants of the review, representing different regions of the oblast, to compete for victory. On the one hand, it was necessary to please the strict jury, which evaluates methods of working with the audience, originality of the plot, level of performance, artistic, musical, and technical solutions. But it was no less important to win the sympathy of the young audience, for whom these festive game programs are actually designed.

So that the spectators would not get bored, each of the 11 creative teams used its own techniques: boys and girls were offered to finish poems and sing karaoke, play snowballs, or imagine themselves as Christmas tree decorations... Ded Moroz and Snegurochka from the Polotsk District Center for Children and Youth were actively helped to involve the children in the exciting action by spectacular mascot costumes. Novopolotsk Secondary School No. 5 began its performance with a humorous film about Ded Moroz preparing for the competition. And Vitebsk Secondary School No. 33 prepared many energetic dances.

Everyone tried their best, of course. But in the end, Alexander Timokhin and Raisa Meladze from the Polotsk District Center for Children and Youth were recognized as "Ded Moroz and Snegurochka of the Year". The second place went to the New Year's characters from Mazolovo Secondary School of Vitebsk District, and the third place to the representatives of Vitebsk Secondary School No. 33.

And the 1st place for the best plot-based game program was awarded to Secondary School No. 5 of Novopolotsk. In addition, the residents of the oil city were recognized in the nomination "Best Multimedia Presentation". The performance of the Center for Creativity of Children and Youth of the Oktyabrsky District of Vitebsk was deemed worthy of 2nd place, and this same team received a diploma "For the Best Choreographic Solution". The Ushachi District Center for Children and Youth with its program took 3rd place.

Lilia Ivchenko. Photos by Dmitry Osipov, "Vitebskiye Vesti".