Colors of Odessa - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Cultural life in Odessa is rich in original holidays and exciting festivals. Many of the events are of global significance and attract a heavy traffic of foreign tourists. One of such events is a festival called Days of Europe which is held annually and falls on the third week of May. An essential feature of the scale holiday is a variety of events taking place within the festival: children drawing contest, different exhibitions of photographic art, conferences, street concerts, kids’ fests and culinary performances.

Gastronomy part of the festival deserves special attention of tourists. The Prymorsky Boulevard is a favorite destination of gastronomy tourism enthusiasts during the festival as this is exactly the place of holding numerous culinary shows, master classes and fairs dedicated to ethic cuisine.

The same interesting national holiday is the Independence Day which is celebrated on the 24th of August. In the morning hours the residents of the city come to the Kulikovo field where a grand military parade and military machines display take place. After the show a part of military machines are exhibited on the square and the exhibition lasts till the late evening. One of the most remarkable and exciting events of the holiday is a fair, where one can explore and buy different handicrafts of local masters. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The holiday of the Independence Day ends with a bright pyrotechnic show which takes place in the Victory Park. A city day is another scale holiday which falls on the 2nd of September. The festive day starts with a flower march taking place in the Prymorsky Boulevard. Unique compositions of unusual shapes are made of flowers specially for the fest. In the afternoon the Parade of Artists takes place in the Deribasovskaya Street. Famous actors, artists and thespians take part in the march.

Several significant events take place on the square in front of the Vorontsov Palace. One of the events is a live chess play. The square is turned into a huge checkerboard and kids are engaged as chess pieces. Grand chess masters of international level are competing in chess playing art. It should be noted that a live chess play is one of the oldest and most exciting traditions of the holiday as it has been accompanying it for the last 200 years.

The holiday will be as well of great interest for music fans as the city day in Odessa is accompanied with various music events including as classic music concerts so grand rock festivals. Considering music traditions and events tourists should necessarily visit the Odessa jazz carnival which is held in the end of September. Famous music bands and amateur musicians are engaged in the carnival.

One of the most colorful events in Odessa is Maslenitsa, a Slavic festival rooted in pagan customs and times. The holiday is traditionally celebrated in mid-February, and the main celebrations take place in Shevchenko Park. Among them are theatrical shows, food tastings (the main dish is pancakes), a craft fair, contests, and sports competitions. The culmination of the event is the traditional burning of the effigy of Lady Maslenitsa symbolizing winter. Once it was believed that this is the only way to call spring. A special holiday program is organized for children who can enjoy lots of treats and entertainment. Besides Shevchenko Park, the venues are the Odessa City Garden with a gastronomic program, music concerts, and workshops, as well as Deribasovskaya Street where a fair opens.

Get acquainted with a rich local culture in mid-October, when the city celebrates the Day of Ukrainian Cossacks. The holiday falls on October 14 and coincides with another event - the Defender of Ukraine Day. The neighboring village of Prylymanske becomes the venue where they recreate a traditional Cossack village. Visitors will be able to find out how the rite of passage to the Cossacks takes place and try traditional foods, including kulesh. This is one of the most colorful celebrations in Ukraine so it couldn’t be complete without mass festivities. No less interesting is the ethnic festival "Wreath of the Danube" held at the beginning of August. During the festival, a craft fair open in Deribasovskaya Street, musical concerts, food tastings, and competitions are held.

One of the city's most famous celebrations is the Odessa Sea Fest, which lasts a week at the end of June. Visitors to the festival will enjoy theatrical shows and performances with the participation of sailors, sailing on luxury yachts, music concerts (among the genres are rock, jazz, blues), art exhibitions and workshops, contests, animation, meets-and-greets, thematic tours, fashion shows, and film screenings. Given such a rich cultural program, there are quite a lot venues for the festival: the most important one is Odessa Marine Passenger Terminal, theaters and art cafes stage all kinds of performances, interesting events are held in the Odessa City Garden and the Greek Park. The event wouldn't be complete without festive beach parties taking place on such beaches as Langeron, Otrada, and Riviera.

Odessa's distinctive culture is known throughout the world, as well as the fact that the city is often called the "capital of humor". Therefore, it shouldn't come as a surprise that as many as three major comedy festivals are held here. The first festival is dedicated to April Fool's Day and is called "Yumorina". Virtually the entire city area serves as the venue, except for remote residential areas. At this time, Odessa natives come up with amusing jokes and pranks - of course, passers-by should be ready. A colorful parade is held in Deribasovskaya Street, and a cosplay show takes place in the Odessa City Garden. Apart from that, local cultural institutions host musical concerts and theatrical shows, which, naturally, cannot do without joking.

Just before the April Fools' Day, the festival of clowns and mimes "Comediada" is held in the Clowns' House. At this time, it gathers clowns, comedians, and mimes from all over the world - from France to Argentina. It is organized by the Masks-Show Theater popular in ex-USSR countries. Visitors can enjoy not only shows but also parades and competitions. The third festival is called the "Southern Laughter League in Odessa" and is held at the beginning of the second winter month. This is where a qualifying round for the subsequent games of the popular Ukrainian show takes place. The organizer is Studio Kvartal 95 extremely popular in Ukraine and Russian-speaking countries.

Odessa is famous for its rich culinary traditions, and one of the most popular gastronomic festivals is an originally named festival "Taki da, vkusno" ("Yes, tastes good"). It is traditionally held in mid-September for two days at the Odessa Film Studio where at this time you can taste some culinary delights, learn more about the cooking traditions in South Palmyra, cheer for a chef you like at gastronomic competitions, as well as enjoy music and entertainment programs. They also like beer in Odessa (especially craft beer), and that's the reason why the Odessa Factory Of Sparkling Wines hosts the Odessa Beer Festival in mid-May. Its program involves tastings of different types of beer, master classes on its selection and production, thematic exhibitions, live music concerts.

Together with young tourists, it is definitely worth visiting the two children's favorite festivals: the Chocolate Festival and the Ice Cream Festival. The first one takes place at the end of the first spring month on the grounds of the Stalkanat Art Concert Hall. Apart from a gastronomic program with tastings, visitors can enjoy contests, contests, quizzes, workshops, exhibitions, and art installations. Admission to the festival is free for children under 12 years old. Well. the Ice Cream Festival is free for everyone. The annual event takes place in Victory Park in early June. At this time, you can try not only ice cream but also cocktails and desserts based on it. The festival is always accompanied by interesting contests and workshops.

Historical reenactment festivals are no less exciting in Odessa. One of them - the Powder Tower - takes place at the end of spring, marking the beginning of the summer season. The traditional venue is Shevchenko Park located near the eponymous Powder Tower. Within the framework of the festival, they hold quests, contests, knightly tournaments, fire-show, dance and theatrical performances, folk concerts. At Easter, visitors can witness the “Revived History” - a reenactment parade passing along the city's main street of Deribasovskaya, which makes you forget that it's actually the 21st century. People dressed in Ancient Roman military clothing accompany Jesus Christ who is going to be executed, after which the audience has the opportunity to see his last days and resurrection.

The unique festival “Fantasy Weekend Odessa” has already managed to win hundreds of geeks - fans of historical reenactments and fantasy, cosplayers and dreamers. It is held in one of the Ukrainian cities every year, and the "South Capital" is chosen quite often. The event takes place at the end of July when the audience can enjoy knightly tournaments, craft fairs and workshops, medieval games, costume contest. And all this happens in a fabulous atmosphere where it's difficult to find out what is real and what is not. Medieval music and dancing, as well as minstrels and buffoons' performances, contribute to that. Another unique event is "Kotofest" taking place in early March. This one invites you to enjoy Ukrainian films and musical performances. There are three venues: More Music Club, Konon Film Lab, and Vykhod Club.

We can't fail to mention Odessa's biker festivals since the motorcycle culture is quite well developed in the city. The first fest marks the opening of the season and is held throughout June. A column of bikers riding along the main streets is a necessary attribute of the event. It is called the Bike Beach Fest, and the venue is Arcadia beach complex. The event is organized by the famous motorcycle club Angels MC. The second festival is held for 4 days in mid-September and is called the Autumn Rock and Roll. Traditionally, it takes place at Odeskabel Arena where rock and metal bands from all over the world perform for the audience. At the end of July, you can witness the International Tattoo Festival, which is held annually at the Seaport Concert and Exhibition Hall. Tattoo artists demonstrate all their skills, not without music concerts, motorcycle shows.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated not only in Ireland - the holiday has taken root well in Odessa. Traditionally, it takes place in mid-March. Apart from the parade on Primorsky Boulevard, which turns fully green at this time, visitors can enjoy craft fairs, workshops, and thematic photo zones. Popular programs are also prepared by popular Odessa clubs - in particular, by More Music Club and Mick O'Neills Irish Pub. And if you want to attend music concerts with traditional Irish songs and dances, go to the Odessa City Garden. Several times a year, Odessa holds the "Weeks of Good Deeds", during which social events are organized.