Battle show and water run. How Viva Braslav 2018 went
“Music, beach – that’s great! Braslav has truly become a center of attraction for lovers of summer atmosphere and carefree relaxation,” said the festival guests. The organizers gave young people the opportunity to spend two days together, socialize, listen to modern music, dance, gain wonderful impressions for the whole year, and the desire to return here again.
Most attendees came to the festival for the first time; there were also those who hadn't missed a single previous one and discover something new each time.
The organizers of the country's main music weekend, led by brothers Evgeny and Oleg Labutya, are taking care of this. The first innovation was extending the duration of the celebration. It lasted for two days on three concert stages. The second was changing the entry procedure to the festival grounds.
Young people exchanged tickets for ID cards with barcodes containing guest information, specifically photos and full names. The exchange procedure took a maximum of 10-15 seconds and ultimately reduced entry time into the festival zone. As the organizers clarified, offenders no longer had the opportunity to return to the celebration area after being removed.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of guests arrived in Braslav. Over 20,000 tickets were sold alone. And there were also those who partied on the beach and listened to music while outside the festival grounds.
Ticket holders enjoyed excellent conditions for both overnight stays and leisure activities. There were places to sit and rest, and even hammocks by the water. A large food court with a wide selection of food was available. The abundance of food outlets helped guests avoid queues.
The Pepsi Taste Challenge – "Battle of Flavors" initiative was also implemented here. Everyone could try drinks from different brands and choose their favorite.
A wedding service was also available at the festival. For those who wished to have a playful wedding ceremony, it was conducted with a veil, bouquet, and marriage certificate.
While some were basking in the sun, sports enthusiasts engaged in competitions in skateboarding, beach soccer and volleyball, American football, wakeboarding, cross-country, and basketball. They also had the opportunity to try slacklining and workout.
The program included over 10 types of sports. The "Wife Carrying Championship" and "Water Run," filled with extreme elements, gathered participants and spectators. In short, emotions ran high.
However, the most intense emotions were experienced on the dance floor, where show battles and master classes were held by professional dancers from Belarus and Latvia, ranging from classical breakdance to extravagant vogue, as well as the Belarusian Twerk Championship. And, of course, the final of the "Miss Viva Braslav – 2018" beauty contest.
After the qualifying rounds, 15 beauties from all over Belarus competed for the title of the festival's muse. Among them were representatives from our region from Novopolotsk and Chashniki. Ultimately, the title of "Miss Viva Braslav – 2018" was won by Anna Yankova from Mogilev.
Musical programs began in the evening. Although music was constantly playing on two stages during the day. One of them, the Coliseum Tuborg Stage, was made of wooden pallets in the form of a circular dance area with a bar in the center. Fans of modern youth music were constantly hanging out here. The headliners of the main stage on the first day were Artem Pivovarov and Ivan Dorn. DJs from Hungary performed afterwards.
On the second evening, Bianca, Malbec & Suzanna, Artem Pivovarov, Skrudzhi, and Sergey Bobunets rocked the stage. More than 50 top performers from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, as well as DJs and producers from the Netherlands and Hungary, presented their work on the festival stages.
What could not be expressed in words was explained to each other through music. The disco lasted until morning. It was not hindered by the rain – storm clouds grazed the city on both the first and second evenings.
Despite Viva Braslav being a private project, many festival events were attended by the chairmen of the regional and district Councils of Deputies, Vladimir Terentyev and Nina Puchinskaya.
Viva Braslav has become a brand of the city, its calling card, which attracts thousands of residents of Belarus and abroad. As Vladimir Terentyev noted, it will continue to develop with state support. This format is interesting for people. Last summer's record for the number of spectators was broken here, which means the festival will continue next year.