Russia Day: We Are Together!
Following the parade of nationalities on Lyubinsky Avenue, interactive spaces with a national component were open all day for Omsk residents: the Slavic Village, the Turkic Village, the Eastern Village, and the Western Village.
Today’s Russia Day is a celebration of the diversity of the peoples who call this country home — a festival of friendship and mutual respect between cultures.
Parade of Nationalities
The celebration of Russia Day opens with the traditional Parade of Nationalities
The column, bringing together over two thousand people, forms on Partizanskaya Street
There are still a few minutes left to take photos
The volunteer organizers also seize the chance to capture some memorable shots
If your soul is singing, you should definitely follow its call
And where there’s singing, there’s dancing — even if it’s just for one verse!
The creative groups from the city and region are full of energy and optimism
The younger generation is no exception
The wreaths are raised: the column is about to start moving
The “Sun” ensemble sets the rhythm for the procession
In the front rows are the national‑cultural associations of the House of Friendship
Representatives of more than 130 ethnic groups live in the Omsk Region
And all of them proudly march beneath the Russian flags
The fan instantly marks out the public organization of Koreans
That pattern is typical of Chuvash embroidery
Armenian folk costumes feature a completely different kind of decoration
Isilkul District is represented by a choral ensemble
The Omsk Kurdish community is small, but they always eagerly take part in city events
Within half an hour, the column reaches Victory Square
Here, the citizens are greeted by representatives of the peoples of Asia…
…and, of course, the peoples of Europe
The parade participants look to the future with hope
Everyone is in a great mood
Bringing up the rear is the youth theater, which will soon be entertaining young Omsk residents
Main Stage
The grand concert kicks off on the main stage
The “PrimaVera” Children’s Academic Choir performs the National Anthem of Russia
“A wide horizon opens for dreams and for life — the coming years reveal new paths ahead”
Igor Barinov, head of the Federal Agency for Nationalities Affairs, addresses the crowd
He is joined by Dmitry Kolozin, assistant to the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District
The head of the region, Vitaly Khotsenko, thanks his colleagues for supporting Omsk’s initiatives
After the speeches, the speakers left their wishes on one of the 12 “Russia Is Us” stands
Vitaly Khotsenko’s words neatly sum up what he said from the stage
Sergei Shelest, Mayor of Omsk, was also among the honored guests of the holiday
Among the first to take the stage are the artists of the Donetsk Philharmonic
They perform Vladimir Vysotsky’s song “It So Happened — the Men Left”
In their rendition, the song takes on a new, piercing, and deeply personal meaning
The musicians are wrapping up their tour across Siberian cities
The square is packed with the audience — the multi‑hour program is just getting started
The Omsk State Russian Folk Chorus always has something special to offer
It’s a combination of elaborate stage design and the highest level of performance
Artists from other groups are genuinely impressed by the renowned ensemble’s show
A vibrant choreographic piece tells the story of the native land
The “Siberian Patterns” ensemble opens the block of dances and songs of Russia’s peoples
This medley showcases the full diversity of our costumes and cultures
There’s room here for cool, restrained expression
And, of course, there’s room for unrestrained joy
There’s also space for human relationships and emotions
And certainly, there’s space for the hospitality that defines this vast country
Slavic Village
But let’s leave the main stage behind and take a stroll along Lyubinsky Avenue!
Four activity spaces are running at the same time here. The first one we come across is the Slavic Village
Folklore performers from the Okoneshnikovo District know just how to bring traditional songs to life
And they’re certainly not alone in their creativity!
Children’s ensembles showcase complex, story‑driven choreography
The delighted smiles are the well‑deserved reward for their applause
Nearby, you’ll find the Embroidered Map of the Omsk Region
Forty‑seven craftswomen worked on this project under the auspices of the Regional Center for Folk Art and the branch of the Higher School of Folk Arts
The patterns reflect the ethnic makeup and unique character of each of the region’s 32 districts
Residents from remote villages share the traditions they have carefully preserved
Visitors can take a photo in a folk costume against the backdrop of a neatly kept traditional house
Artisans offer unique handmade souvenirs for sale
Amateur creative groups can be found in every part of the street
Songs aren’t only coming from the stages — they’re everywhere there’s an accordion and the will to sing
The Cossacks, for example, have long been famous for their rich singing culture
Turkic Village
Let’s take another look at the traditional jewelry and keep walking
The market stalls are bustling with activity, and the style of the items on display is noticeably different now
That means the Turkic Village is just ahead!
Here, songs are performed in Kazakh and other Turkic languages
While waiting for their turn on stage, the dombra players watch the other performers
There’s definitely plenty to see at this venue
The vibrant colors and ornaments suit the young performers perfectly
In their routine, the dancers are absolutely captivating
Those who will soon take the stage exude calm and confidence as well
Eastern Village
The next popular photo spot appears as you approach the Eastern Village
Omsk residents enjoy the performances by Tuvan, Jewish, Korean, and other cultural groups
The Indian dance, as staged by the “Azhar” collective, is energetic and perfectly synchronized
The joyful performers have a way of charming everyone in the audience
Several numbers were presented by the Armenian Cultural Center “Luys”
Folk dances usually tell whole stories, and this one is no exception
Western Village
Let’s move to the part of Lyubinsky Avenue that’s farthest from Victory Square
Here, you’ll find craft stalls with unique handmade toys
In the Western Village, artists representing the countries of Europe and the Baltic states are performing
Just standing and listening to the beautiful songs — what could be better on a lovely day?
Many performers are yet to showcase their art to a wider audience
While they wait for their turn, the young artists color in outline panels and add the missing details
The fun isn’t limited to the stage: anyone passing by is welcome to join a dance lesson
Vintage instruments give the music a distinctive, unusual sound
To learn more about Latvian traditions, you can visit Bobrovka in the Tara District
A separate space is set up by the Germans from the Azovo District
They cherish their national traditions and are grateful to the Omsk land
Russia Day offers many opportunities for different cultures to connect and grow closer
Musical Finale
A busy day comes to a close with a performance by the Russian Chamber Orchestra “Fret”
The ensemble is led by Sergei Bezborodov, Honored Artist of Russia
Every performance by these musicians is a lasting boost of good mood
At 5 PM, the venues on Lyubinsky Avenue close, but people are in no hurry to leave
It’s hard to disagree with the message written on the street display: “Russia’s strength lies in its people!”
This vibrant celebration gives us confidence in the bright future of our united country
