In the Gorodok district, the "Gorodok Parnassus" festival brought together lovers of folk art, poetry, and folklore
Hundreds of residents of the district and guests from Belarus and Russia traditionally gather at the event to showcase their talents and marvel at the talents of others. The festival is the calling card of the district, dedicated to a local native – the poet, author of the poem "Taras on Parnassus" popular in the 19th century. The mythical mountain where the action takes place in the work is a symbol of creative achievement. Therefore, the festival presents amateur art in all its manifestations – from poetry and dances to traditional crafts and national cuisine.
For several years now, the celebration has been organized in the Vorobyovy Gory tract on the outskirts of the district center. In a picturesque corner on the lake shore, dozens of thematic interactive zones have been opened, including for children, exhibitions-sales of handicrafts, and the gastronomic yard "Yushka for Taras," where visitors were offered to taste dozens of variations of the popular fish soup, etc.
The festival was attended by the Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev. He emphasized that year after year this event attracts more and more guests. The head of the deputy corps also revealed a secret – the district and regional authorities are making every effort to ensure that the right to host one of the upcoming Days of Belarusian Written Language is entrusted to Gorodok.
The festival was also attended by: Irina Polyakova, Deputy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, Anatoly Shchastny, Deputy of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly, Marina Novitskaya, Head of the Main Department of Ideological Work and Youth Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee, Petr Podgursky, Head of the Department of Culture of the Regional Executive Committee.
During the grand opening ceremony, the Chairman of the District Executive Committee, Petr Korobach, presented commemorative gifts and "Zorny Taras" statuettes to the laureates of the "Zemlyak Goda" (Countryman of the Year) award. The award is presented to both natives of the district and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the development of Gorodok region. This year, the awards were given to the former head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus, Vladimir Vashchenko, who lived in the agro-town of Bychiha in his youth, and the famous Belarusian artist Viktor Shilko, who was born in the village of Zarechye.
After the official part, a series of contests followed, including "Vlastelin Lesa" (Master of the Forest) (the protagonist of the poem "Taras on Parnassus" was associated with the forest), folk art contests "Ci znal kto iz vas, bratki, Tarasa?" (Did any of you, brothers, know Taras?) and "Dlinnaya kosa — devichya krasa" (Long braid is a maiden's beauty) for prizes from the district newspaper "Gorodoksky Vestnik". The poetic platform "Veranitsinskaya zorka" (Veranitsa Star) also became one of the central events.
