A guide to the White Nights in Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is one of those cities lucky enough to be able to witness the midnight sun, or midnight twilight to be more precise. From about June 11 to July 2, Saint Petersburg doesn’t have nights as such, but rather than that, 12  hours of twilight during which people will do anything but sleep. These days are the time when the White Nights Festival is taking place, a an annual international arts festival with varied events ranging from ballet to famous international bands.

While other night-time cultural festivals drew their inspiration from the Saint Petersburg event, only this festival manages to completely chase away the night, so here’s a short guide to the White Nights in Saint Petersburg.

About the White Nights

The nights are getting significantly brighter starting with May in Saint Petersburg, but the real White Nights last only

from June 11 to July 2. White nights are not unique to Saint Petersburg, of course, but it is the northernmost city with a population over one million, so naturally the white nights here have gained more recognition than anywhere else. The sun never sets during this period, and the nights are so bright that the street lights don’t even have to be turned on.

The streets are usually full of people of all ages, who gather at pavement cafes and bars or to watch the street entertainment. The White Nights in Saint Petersburg is the largest public festival in all of Russia, and it is attended by approximately 1 million people, both from Russia and abroad.

Events

One of the main events of the festival is the “Stars of the White Nights”, a series of ballet, opera and orchestra performances at the Mariinsky Theater, mostly during the evening. If you love ballet, you should definitely attent these events, because you’ll get the chance to see some of the most famous ballet dancers in the world.

Operas and concerts usually take place at the Mariinsky Concert Hall, one of the best sounding concert halls in the world. The most famous public event of the festival is the Scarlet Sails, which features impressive fireworks, concerts, and a huge show that consists of mock battles between pirate ships with red sails on the River Neva.

There’s also a number of carnivals, the most popular of which takes place in Peterhof suburb, where actors in period costumes enact historical events from the past. Check out the Palace Square and Catherine Palace for some very interesting carnival events.

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