Vitebsk is ready to host guests and participants of the "Slavianski Bazaar"

The chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, Viktor Nikolaikin, reported on the readiness of the festival capital to receive guests. He assured that all construction work, of which a lot has been done this year, will be completed within two to three days. Following the proverb: "You are judged by your appearance," special attention was paid to the entrance to Vitebsk. Most guests arrive from the direction of Moskovsky Prospekt; this road and its adjacent territories have been put in order, as have, incidentally, the other gates of the city – from the direction of Polotsk and Saint Petersburg.

Vitebsk Airport will be ready to receive charter flights; a VIP lounge has been equipped here for receiving distinguished guests. During the festival, an additional train will run between Vitebsk and Minsk, arriving before the evening concerts begin and departing after they end. City transport will switch to round-the-clock operation.

Viktor Nikolaikin focused on the remarks made by participants and guests of the city after the previous forum. All of them have been taken into account. In particular, a bus will run to Ilya Repin's estate "Zdravnevo," and the number of superior rooms in the city's hotels will be increased.

A "hotline" is planned to provide information on the availability of rooms in hotels, dormitories, and hostels, as well as to answer other questions.

It is planned to open three tourist information centers – near the town hall, on Pushkin Street, and in Zadvine – where one can learn about cultural and excursion programs. Volunteers from among the students of the Faculty of History of VSU named after P. Masherov are ready to act as guides for guests of Vitebsk.

32 food service establishments will serve the participants of "Slavyansky Bazaar", where payment can be made with the festival currency – "vasilki". Guests from other countries will be able to use menus in English, and waiters have also learned some foreign language.

In addition, trade rows will stretch for 10 km in the city, and the farmsteads of all districts of Vitebsk region will invite guests to have a snack and enjoy the performance of folk ensembles.

All facilities where the main events will take place have been renovated, including the Summer Amphitheater, Vitebsk Concert Hall, the Philharmonic, both theaters (Kolas Theater and Lyalka Theater), and the festival directorate building. A large-scale youth festival will be held on Victory Square, which for the first time will last not one, but two days. The Minister of Culture of Belarus Boris Svetlov spoke about the cultural program. Other heads of ministries and departments also spoke at the organizing committee, assuring that the XXVI International Festival of Arts will be held at a high level.

– Vitebsk is ready to host a large-scale cultural forum, which will be attended by representatives of 37 countries, including high-ranking guests. This indicates that our "Slavyansky Bazaar" is in demand, well-known, and is a visiting card of both Vitebsk and Belarus, – summed up Vasily Zharko after visiting the main festival venues.

Tatyana Pasternak. Photos by Anton STEPANISHCHEV. "Vitebskie vesti".