This Saturday, May 19, St. Petersburg will host one of the spring’s most exciting events, the Peterhof Fountains Opening Ceremony. Every year, children and adults alike flock to the park to see the magnificent fountains and enjoy an extravaganza of light, water, music, and fireworks. The show kicks off at 1 pm. You don’t have to come exactly on time, as the ceremony will last all day, so feel free to drop by in the evening if you prefer. You will need to buy entry tickets, though, and the queues may be quite long, so we advise you buy one in advance!

Straight after a busy day at Peterhof, you can embark on a museum tour at night as part of the Night of Museums! More than a hundred museums will open their doors to the public in the evening and at night. Visitors will not only get an opportunity to take a closer look at paintings, sculptures, and installations but also witness a number of art performances and concerts at unusual hours. Some museums will be open from 6pm to 11pm, while others will remain open all night from 6pm to 6am. Regular admission fee is 400 rub for the entire tour, and will give you access to well over 100 museums. Tickets can be purchased in any of the museums and the city’s ticketing offices.

If you are a nature lover and want some peace of mind, Tulip Festival on Elagin Island is exactly the thing for you. Thousands of tulips will be in full bloom, including some very rare species, e.g. black tulips. This year, the festival's flowerbeds will be inspired by the drawings of famous Russian artists, such as Bakst, Benois, Roerich, Korovin, etc. The festival will last for the whole weekend, but the tulips will be blooming for the next couple of weeks.

Another major event that you might like is Finland Day at Tkachi creative space (May 19 from 2pm till 9pm). Guests can learn about Finnish culture and design, take part in various workshops, try traditional Scandinavian food, listen to Finnish music, meet the Moomins and even learn a few phrases in this extraordinary language! Entrance is free.

Whatever you choose, we hope you enjoy your weekend! Yours truly, ITMO.NEWS.