By Lidia Novikova
The city is already preparing for the holiday, which is to be held from June 1st-3rd. Its streets and squares are being brought into order while work is soon to start on the city’s historical centre — hosting national ‘craft centres’.
The programme covers around 50 events — from concerts, contests and thematic festivals, to exhibitions and the festival’s trademark fancy-dress theatrical parade. A Town of Craftsmen and a national cuisine fair are also planned.
At least twenty new projects are being organised, including an exhibition of national economic achievements, a parade of Belarusian technology, a contest of athletes and a festival of combat sports.
Each year, the number of entrants rises. The first festival brought together just 11 national-cultural associations while the 8th, organised two years ago, welcomed 33 nationalities. This year, three more are to join the holiday: the Spaniards, Venezuelans and representatives of African nations.
