Alexandria gathered friends for the 16th time
For the 16th time, the cozy agrotown on the banks of the Dnieper has gathered more than a hundred thousand guests for the "Kupalle" festival.
Here, on the border of the Vitebsk and Mogilev regions, there is always a special atmosphere of creativity, originality, and positivity. Every year is a meeting with new emotions and impressions, the most unforgettable ones. The main themes of this year's festival were the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, the unity of the peoples of Belarus and Russia, and the strengthening of family values.
Traditionally, the President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko participated in the gala concert of the republican holiday "Alexandria Gathers Friends". About how dear these places are to him, the Head of State will say during his greeting:
– I am glad to welcome you to Alexandria – one of the most beautiful and cozy corners of our Belarus. What this land means to me, the people living on it, is no longer a secret. Here you rest your soul just as I do. And on this stage, I always want to talk about what is close and understandable to each of us. About origins, about culture, about our traditions. You know how tenderly and attentively I relate to our cultural heritage. It is the foundation of foundations. It is our soul. Without it, there is no history, no statehood, and we do not exist either – there is no people.
The President also reminded that exactly a year ago he asked for the restoration of the ferry crossing, which connects the Shklov and Orsha districts across the Dnieper River, for the current opening of the festival.
– Its launch is also a tribute to historical tradition, – noted the President. – The residents of Shklovshchina know well that the right bank of the Dnieper has long been famous for fairs. It was more than just trade. Life, including cultural and creative life, rich in emotions, was bustling there. Trade is not just an economic concept. And if it is economic, it carries with it the cultural and moral foundations of our people. Almost like at our holiday. I am convinced that this crossing will become another symbol of the festival, connecting our people and eras. Most importantly, when making such a decision, I thought about the fact that crossings, bridges are what connects people, unites and links the banks.
After Alexander Lukashenko's speech, the audience found themselves in a real open-air cinema "Alexandria". A musical with interactive elements unfolded on stage. Songs from beloved Soviet films were performed in a new way. They were performed by Aleksandr Solodukha, Anatoly Yarmolenko, Ruslan Alekhno, Vladimir Gromov, Victoria Aleshko, Alena Lanskaya and other artists of the domestic and Russian pop scene. The host of the gala concert was the popular Russian actor Aleksandr Oleshko, and the special guest was Grigory Leps.
The main event concluded with fireworks and the lighting of the Kupalle bonfire on the banks of the Dnieper.
At the "Alexandria Gathers Friends" festival, the chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Aleksandr Subbotin and the head of the Orsha district Igor Moroz also attended. They visited the Vitebsk region's courtyard and tasted new products from the Orsha meat processing plant.
The festival atmosphere reigned in every corner of Alexandria. Trade and craft rows, food courts, presentations of favorite brands, and souvenirs stretched for several kilometers. As always, guests from various regions of Russia were impressed. More than a thousand craftsmen participated in the fair.
The Kupalle wreath is the main attribute of the holiday. Master classes on its creation were available at every turn. The show of airplanes and parachutists soaring in the sky with flags turned out to be grandiose.
Cheerful music and Kupalle songs were heard from every courtyard. Traditionally, the residents of Orsha also actively participated in the holiday. Craftsmen from Kopyl presented their products, and the Orsha meat processing plant and flax processing plant showcased their goods.
The event "Union State at Kupalle" and the gala concert "Union Stars Visiting Alexandria" took place in an expanded format, featuring the winner of the "Factor.by" project Ivan Dyatlov, as well as the Russian performer Aleksandr Panayotov.
Alexandria has long become a cultural center that people want to return to year after year. And this meeting will definitely take place in July 2026.
Anastasia TUROK.
Photo by the author and from the website president.gov.by.