MAY – AUGUST, 2013
Summer in St Petersburg features a strange phenomenon: the White Nights, which have had many romantic mentions in poetry and literature.
Due to its northern geographical location, from early June to early July the city is almost always in daylight, as the sun never descends low enough beneath the horizon to allow the sky to grow dark. This wonderful spectacle provides the perfect backdrop for the White Nights Festival, which takes place from late May until late July, taking in music and dance performances from a host of Russian stars and internationally famous guests. The festival doesn’t stop here however, with other events taking place across the city. The Mariinsky Theater hosts a number of classical opera, ballet and dance concerts as part of its ‘Stars of White Nights’ program. Tickets are usually snapped up early for this event, so book ahead if you plan on attending one of the many fabulous recitals. There are also a number of carnivals going on, with one of the most spectacular taking place at Peterhof, featuring actors dressed up as figures from 18th and 19th century Russia, with reproductions of key historical events. There are even a number of stellar performances in the Palace Square; artists such as Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones have performed at previous events.