Fishy Fun Day for Cool Families
The third festival in the “Omsk Family from A to Z” series was timed to coincide with Fisherman’s Day and invited city residents to compete in fishing and fish soup cooking. On July 13, guests enjoyed interactive zones, performances by local creative groups, and the day concluded with a soup tasting, awards for the best entries, and a foam party.
The event was organized by the City Department of Culture together with the Association of Omsk Culinary Professionals and the municipality’s social partners.
Interactive Zones
The festival’s territory is the beach at the Victory Park
“Great Family — Great Catch” is the motto of this sunny day
The idea of holding “fish‑themed” family competitions appealed to many
In the shade, animators and interactive zones keep children entertained
Adults often can’t resist stopping by the characters from movies and games either
The “Bunny Tales” studio draws little ones into the world of Russian folk culture
Oleg Fedorenko, Director of the Department of Culture, shares the project’s concept
Volunteers from the “LizaAlert” team tell children how to behave in the forest
Traffic Police Inspector Natalya Malykhina runs a workshop on making a reflective keychain
The stage is given over to performers from the city’s cultural institutions
Modern hits are performed by soloists of the “Melody” group
The “Sunrise” ensemble includes keepers of Russian song traditions
Fish Soup
The fish soup cooking competition starts with distributing fish and vegetables
When the competitors have the same ingredients, it’s the family recipes that make the difference!
Support groups probably won’t influence the jury’s choice, but they definitely make it more fun
Participants decide for themselves how to cook: on gas, charcoal, or wood
If you have cooking experience, you can choose the most exotic seafood
Chefs from well‑known Omsk restaurants have the opportunity to help families
It’s not just about giving advice — there’s time to demonstrate and to explain as well
A professional needs just one minute to fillet fish without a single bone
For housewives who usually cook only at home, this kind of interaction is a rare and valuable experience
Tucking hair under a head covering is a hallmark of a responsible cook
The Karakuts and Zhdanov families pay attention to the details, and that’s precisely why…
Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves — just remember these charming Omsk women!
Work is in full swing all along the shore — literally and figuratively
It looks like the vegetables are ready, and the seasonings have given the right flavor
The final touch is adding the fish itself
A quarter of an hour later, the tasting begins
Visitors to the park can influence who wins the audience choice prize
Still, it’s better to go vote at the judges’ tent on a full stomach
The jury members also taste the soups prepared by the teams
And while the festival guests’ praise is certainly pleasant…
…a high mark from a practicing chef is truly inspiring and uplifting!
Concert
Meanwhile, performers from the “Raspberry” dance project take the stage
Their repertoire features intricate mini‑performances inspired by diverse cultures
The stunning costumes are unique for each number
Energetic and perfectly synchronized — that’s exactly what a performance at a city festival should be
Grotesque and humorous plot twists let the audience experience the full range of emotions through dance
Those radiant smiles will stay with even first‑time viewers of the group
Where should this choreographic journey around the world end?
Of course, in Russia!
One more performance remains — a dance medley
For this number, the audience is invited onto the stage
Following the dancers, they repeat simple moves from well‑known music videos
The “Raspberry” program wraps up with a fitness warm‑up for all guests
Awarding the Families
Maxim Komendantov, the evening’s vocalist and host, announces the awards ceremony
Sixteen families receive certificates for daring to cook fish soup in public and treat the guests
Even the audience choice prize is awarded — the Yuryev family takes it home
The main suspense of the evening is about to unfold
The first place goes to the now‑familiar Karakuts and Zhdanov families!
Natalya can hardly believe it — she was just enjoying the experience and never dreamed of winning
The winners’ emotions on stage keep running high
Isn’t it time to think about opening their own fish restaurant?
The certificate reads: “May your success serve as an example for Omsk families”
Fishing
At 6 PM the fishing competition starts — spots are assigned by draw
Many of these anglers were just cooking fish soup — talented people shine in everything they do
To keep the tournament fair, patrols line the shore
Organizers recommend releasing the caught fish after weighing
But taking a keepsake photo with the trophy is a must
Anglers have just ninety minutes — time flies by
A siren sounds and judges are ready to record each participant’s catch weight
Looks like the crucian carps will soon be back in their home waters
The number on the digital display is the key to earning respect among fellow anglers
Oleg Fedorenko returns to the stage for the awards, and he’s not alone
He’s joined by Natalya Oreshich, a fishing sports judge
By the catch weight, the Merkel family takes first place among the 24 families!
Foam Party
The final treat of the day is the foam party
Hot weather, loud music, and a Saturday evening — what more could you need for fun?
Both kids and adults dive into the fun with equal excitement
As they say, you can never have too much foam
Dozens of people try to catch the foam cannon operator’s attention
When a powerful blast hits, the joy is absolutely unbeatable
Of course, all good things come to an end
The foam fades and the last quirky photos are snapped
Even though all the fish soup is long gone, the festival’s memory will stay with everyone for a long time
