New Year's Eve at Manezhnaya Square. Festive concerts and performances, light shows and costumed karaoke: celebrate the New Year at the Journey to Christmas festival. Journey to Christmas: itinerary with site map
Every year in new year holidays A bright event called "Journey to Christmas" is taking place in the capital. The festival starts in the very heart of Moscow, so many Muscovites and guests of the capital are already interested in what Manezhnaya Square will look like on New Year 2018.
Festival Center
With the approach of the New Year and Christmas holidays, Moscow is becoming more and more beautiful every day. Only a few days pass and you can already fully admire the elegant Christmas trees, ice sculptures, bright illuminations, numerous skating rinks and fair towns.
AT last years, Manezhnaya Square is the center of the Journey to Christmas festival. Here they set up the largest Christmas tree, organize the largest Christmas market and the longest ice slide.
Muscovites and guests of the capital are always interested in what's new in the New Year decoration of the square. It always amazes with its beauty and originality. An elegant forest beauty flaunts in the center of the square. Fountains are decorated in a new way every year. Everywhere there is a riot of colors from the illuminations and garlands that adorn the buildings and trees in the square. A light installation in the form of a Christmas toy has already become familiar, which has delighted Muscovites over the past two years. It took ten kilometers of garlands to decorate the giant ball. Thanks to this, the toy shimmered with all unthinkable shades. In a matter of minutes, it turns into the sky of the Arctic, the northern lights or reminds us of a winter blizzard. This art object is always very popular. You can even go inside and make a wish. Selfie lovers don't miss this place either. I wonder if there will be something new in this regard in 2018.
The exhibition hall on Manezhnaya Square is also transformed during the New Year holidays. Its facade is decorated with a huge screen. In the evening, it broadcasts various performances in 3-D format. Video mapping "Dreams of Moscow" can be watched from 17:00 to 22:00.
As it was before
From time immemorial, Moscow has been famous for the scope of New Year's festivities. Previously, on Mokhovaya and Manezhnaya streets, as well as on the square where they intersect, there were mass celebrations with songs and dances. Everywhere there was a brisk trade in pancakes, loaves and other delights of Russian national cuisine. As old photos testify, Muscovites liked to gather on Manezhnaya Square on all holidays. In winter, the favorite pastime of the celebrating crowd was sleigh rides, singing cheerful New Year's songs, dancing around the Christmas tree and children's fun on the ice slides.
Moscow old-timers know that Manezhka has always been famous for its cheerful disposition. On holidays, fist fights, funny booths and other folk entertainments were held here. Spontaneous trade in everything and everything flourished. People walked until they dropped in numerous taverns. In 1932, the new Bolshevik government decided to put an end to this "Moscow womb." Everything was demolished, and the area of Okhotny Ryads in Soviet time presented a sad picture. Everywhere there was only bare asphalt.
In the nineties of the last century, Manezhnaya Square was completely reconstructed, and it “came to life” again. There were beautiful fountains, a walking area with cute benches. Now it is a favorite vacation spot for Muscovites. A huge shopping center has also been built underground here.
New Year's Fair
During the New Year period, the area around the seventeen-meter Christmas tree turns into the liveliest place, where in special chalets you can:
- purchase original Christmas decorations;
- buy New Year's souvenirs and gifts;
- try fresh pastries, gingerbread and pancakes;
- drink hot tea, coffee and mulled wine.
The peculiarity of the fair is that every year it is dedicated to a certain topic:
In addition, various master classes are held on Manezhnaya Square, where they teach:
- make cartoons;
- make Christmas decorations;
- how to become a professional journalist, etc.
ice slide
Of particular note is the construction of ice, which stretches from Manezhka to Revolution Square. The giant slide is 100 meters long and seven meters high. Tons are spent on its construction river ice, which is specially imported to the capital. For the holidays, this architectural masterpiece shimmers with all colors due to the LEDs mounted inside the ice. A hill with a marvelous name " Milky Way”attracts the eyes of not only children, but also adults. Children and even seemingly serious uncles and aunts with great pleasure roll down from this unique structure, some on the “cheesecake”, and some just on the “fifth point”. Here, the joyful cries of kids and the squeal of adult daredevils never fade away.
holiday performances
Every year, during the New Year holidays, a large number of of people. After all, here you can find entertainment for everyone. For the little ones, all kinds of children's New Year's performances are held with cartoon characters or characters from Russians. folk tales. Adults can take part in numerous master classes or watch a concert of pop stars. They can also visit the fair, where they can buy an antique toy or an exclusive watch as a gift. If you are tired of the bustle and large crowds of people, you can go to the Alexander Park, which is located very close. There you can enjoy nature, the grandeur of the Kremlin walls and dream about the future. If you are cold and hungry, you can visit one of the restaurants, of which there are several in the Manezhnaya Square area. Sitting comfortably near the window, you can safely watch the idle crowd and spectacular fireworks, which will certainly be from the chimes of the Spasskaya Tower.
Restaurants on Manezhnaya
There are enough places for a pleasant pastime on Manezhnaya Square and nearby. Here you can relax as a large youth company, and with your loved one in a secluded setting. Here is a list of the most visited cafes and restaurants in the center of the capital, which are located a few hundred meters from Manezhka:
| "Osteria Mario", Manezhnaya sq., 1/2 | Excellent Italian restaurant. Here you can taste several types of pizza, spaghetti, seafood salads, Italian wine, etc. The average price tag is 1.5 thousand per person. |
| Menza, Manezhnaya sq., 1/2 | The cafe is located in the Okhotny Ryad shopping center and specializes in Pan-Asian cuisine. Here you can try twelve types of noodles with different sauces, as well as a variety of soups, sushi, rolls, sets and other dishes from Japan, China, Thailand, etc. |
| "Quadrum", st. Okhotny Ryad, 2, Four Seasons Hotel, | Excellent restaurant with Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Suitable for a secluded holiday with a loved one. The windows of the restaurant offer a beautiful view of the center of Moscow. |
In recent years, the capital has clearly "surpassed" European cities in terms of New Year's and Christmas decorations. Fair towns, elegant Christmas trees, bright illumination, slides and skating rinks, ice sculptures - a huge festive platform. The Journey to Christmas festival is transforming the capital. Manezhnaya Square for the New Year 2019 will become the center of the festival.
Events on Manezhnaya Square: things to see
The grandiose fair on Manezhka is visited by about a million guests during the New Year holidays. The theme changes every year:
- Fair of European Cities.
- An island where dreams come true.
- Magic time.
- Visiting a fairy tale.
A tall Christmas tree, colorful chalets, pavilions where they give master classes. Last year, during the festival, the square became an incredible stage for open sky, where the interactive play "12 Months" was shown every day. Coniferous thicket, the most big slide, intricately decorated fountains, a giant ball - according to reviews of past years, the Manezhka is impressive. There are a lot of trees in the square. There are enough of them for everyone. It's nice to celebrate the New Year here. The organizers have thought. And nearby is the Tverskaya NG, a pedestrian one for a while, a huge hill that stretches to the square. Revolutions, and even Red Square with chimes and grandiose salutes are within easy reach. That is why more and more Muscovites like to meet New Year's Eve in the city center.
Hill on Manezhnaya
It stretched from Manezhka to Revolution Square. Special flights deliver blocks of ice to the capital, which turn into a luminous slide. It is a pleasure even for adults to slide down from this design on an "ice" or "cheesecake". Entertainment is free. The kids are delighted. Real winter fun!
How to get to Manezhnaya
Okhotny Ryad station, and then about 100 meters on foot. Decided to come by car? Navigator help. The main thing here is to find parking closer, otherwise convenience will turn into a problem. Suitable options are the Okhotny Ryad underground parking (entrance from Revolution Square), parking on Ilyinka, GUM parking.
Excursion into history
Once Okhotny Ryad Square was known as the most cheerful place in the capital. From young to old, they gathered to celebrate the holidays: fisticuffs, funny booths and other entertainments. The area had a bad reputation. A dubious public ruled here, drinking establishments were enough, spontaneous trade flourished.
The fire of 1812 completely destroyed all the buildings. The building of the Manezh was erected in 1817, and the territory of the square was again occupied by various buildings. In the 19th century exhibitions were organized in the Manezh, balls and folk festivals were held. Circus performances were held here, gypsy ensembles performed, Cossacks showed the art of horse riding. After the revolution, the building was used as a barracks, and then a government car garage was placed in it. Manege became the central exhibition hall in 1967.
The complete reconstruction of the Manezhka has transformed the center of the capital. An underground shopping center, a walking area with benches, fountains, and original lighting appeared. In 1996, the Kilometer Zero sign appeared. The Resurrection Gates with the chapel of the Iberian Mother of God were rebuilt on the square, a monument to Marshal Zhukov was erected.
It is pleasant to relax here in summer, fun and cozy in winter. During the holidays Manezhka turns into a separate world, fairy tale, in which everyone can plunge. Numerous photos in social networks confirm this.
Milestones in the history of Manezhnaya Square.
The New Year mood in the capital is already felt: Moscow is preparing for the Journey to Christmas festival and is turning into winter fairy tale, despite the dull weather, despite the gloomy sky, despite the rain and sleet, in spite of this, not at all winter December. On Friday evening, millions of lights, colorful and bright, will be lit throughout the city.
Twisting, effective rotation, sheepskin coat. Feel the partner and the whole team. Ice theater actors rehearse New Year's performances. The repertoire includes "Swan Lake", "The Nutcracker", "Snow White", "Cipollino". This year, Cinderella was also added to the list of fabulous productions, reports.
"We chose this fairy tale because Cinderella is one of the kindest and most famous fairy tales in the world, we wanted to deviate a little from the previous concepts of all our productions, introduce a little more interesting props, interesting transformations in costumes, we have a horse that does not speak, but dances on ice," said Pyotr Chernyshev, artistic director of the ice theatre.
Rehearsals are held at the indoor ice rink while the main stage is being prepared. The ice theater in Novopushkinsky square is almost ready. Workers check the LEDs, every centimeter of ice will shine. The stands are decorated with bas-reliefs.
“We plan to open at 12 noon, there will be mass skating, after that there will be two performances, then again mass skating, then again a performance. There will be a rich evening program after the last performance,” said Galina Egorova, technical director of the rink.
Sergei was demobilized on Friday, Anna met him at the gates of the military unit. Both are from Tambov. We decided to stay in Moscow for a few days. We realized that going around all the festive venues and a week would not be enough. At the Manezhnaya labyrinth of Christmas trees. A little further, a hundred-meter hill is being completed. This year it has doubled in size. A place for master classes is being prepared on Theater Square.
"If in previous years we used about 40 locations throughout the city where this holiday was held, then this year it is 83 locations. City streets, squares, we will use the garden ring. 22 parks will participate. This year we are making district districts more saturated venues. We hope that more than 12 million people will visit our festival venues," said Alexei Nemeryuk, Head of the Department of Trade and Services of the City of Moscow.
The city is changing every hour. Bridge lights have already been turned on. Squares and parks shone with millions of lights. On Poklonnaya Hill, where a festive concert will take place on New Year's Eve, which will be broadcast live by our channel, a huge luminous ball and New Year's arches are being tested. And this is just the beginning.
The holiday is coming to us, there are only a few days left before the New Year, which means that it's time to arm yourself with a camera and go for a walk around Moscow. Over the past few years, the New Year's capital has been dressing up for the holiday in full, its streets and parks are lit up with millions of lights, and in addition to the traditional luminous tunnels, ice slides, fair chalets and giant luminous balls, the organizers responsible for the New Year mood of Muscovites and guests of the city are preparing something anything new.
Journey to Christmas: itinerary with site map
By the upcoming 2018, festive Moscow again gives everyone a bright festive festival "Journey to Christmas". This season, New Year's venues will be united by the theme of the theater, the announced program promises a lot of surprises that can infect with a festive mood even in such autumn-rainy weather as this year. Officially, "Journey to Christmas" starts on December 22 and will last until January 14, but now you can already see a lot of beautiful installations, Christmas trees.
Here is a map with a route for New Year's Moscow, or rather, for the most popular sites.
From Tverskaya to Pushkinskaya
You can start your walk around New Year's Moscow from Tverskoy Boulevard, at the beginning of which a light tunnel, beloved by many, was installed this year.
A novelty of the season on Tverskoy Boulevard will be the Alley of Winter Games from snowboarding lessons to snowball fights. And for rest and recuperation, chalets with dishes from different peoples of the world will be installed here ... I can already smell the aroma of manti and pilaf, chestnuts and gingerbread.
On the other side of the street, on the site of the demolished Pyramid, there is a Christmas tree with a decorative mask. We jokingly interpreted this installation as: "Rejoice in the New Year and be sad about the passing old one."
We decided not to stay here for a long time, because we wanted to find something new, so we went along Tverskaya Street to the City Hall, which is located opposite Tverskaya Square.
In my opinion, Tverskaya Street has been decorated in a stylish way, the lanterns in the shape of champagne glasses will look especially great when the street becomes pedestrian. This will happen from December 31 to January 2, on New Year's Eve until 3-00 guests will be entertained here.
The theatrical theme of the festival is supported by giant light arches, the brightest of which you will find on Tverskaya Square.
This venue is preparing a lot of fabulous entertainment, including theatrical performances from international groups, a glass theater with the opportunity to take a master class from glassblowers. Stylish glass chalets will open next Friday. You can treat yourself to hot drinks and sweets or look for an original souvenir.
If you did not send a letter to Santa Claus, then this can be done on Tverskaya Square. By the way, it will be possible to write to any dear person - an original gift, or rather attention.
Pushkinskaya Square and Novopushkinsky Boulevard are another bright venue in the center of Moscow as part of the Journey to Christmas festival. A light arch, trees sparkling with LEDs are a win-win option in the pursuit of beautiful New Year's photos.
Christmas market opposite GUM
Speaking of fairs. If you want to plunge into the atmosphere of "candy - lamb" or, for example, walk a bright Pavlovsk scarf, then go to Red Square, where my favorite Christmas market is held every year, as well as a wonderful skating rink.
A carousel, music, dances and a sea of wooden houses with various handicrafts, sweet rolls, tea and other provisions - this is all a fair near GUM. It seems to me that once upon a time, when bears still walked along Tverskaya, our ancestors had fun.
You can warm up and relax in GUM, which every year features an original Christmas tree and a thematic exhibition.
In the 2017-2018 season, the main Moscow store has prepared a nostalgic exhibition about the Soviet New Year. You will see Christmas decorations of the 70s and 80s dear to your heart, handmade dolls, Santa Clauses from the past, which stood under the Christmas tree in almost every home.
Family New Year, which was prepared for several months. And even creepy plastic masks look touching here and you just want to try on the image of a bunny and a fox from childhood, tell a rhyme and get a gift.
Many families threw away the Soviet New Year paraphernalia, but here, in today's GUM, they understand that they did something stupid... Therefore, to feel a little sad, to admire such familiar and forgotten things, come to GUM.
Magic Christmas tree forest on Manezhnaya Square
We go to Manezhnaya Square and find ourselves in a labyrinth of fir trees, pines of all sizes, of which there are hundreds. This is the Magic Forest created by the organizers in the city center! The feature of this site will be an immersive theater and a fairy tale "12 Months" and all this is free.
In my ranking of Moscow decorations, the Magic Forest took first place. This is a novelty in the appearance of New Year's Moscow: a view of the Kremlin and the Historical Museum opens through the light arch. Further we find ourselves in a labyrinth of Christmas trees, dressed up with balls and theatrical masks. Here and there, organically inscribed tents appear, in which they will offer something tasty, as well as showcases with flowers and other compositions.
With every step, the panorama of the Kremlin changes, while it becomes unusual, unusual. Well, in our time there were no forests under the walls of the Kremlin! I can imagine how wonderful it will be here when the forest "comes to life".
The ice slide, the largest in the city, will traditionally be installed between Manezhnaya and Revolution Square. It will be free to ride and rent cheesecakes, and additional descents will help shorten the queues.
Nikolskaya and Lubyanskaya
Nikolskaya Street was especially brightly decorated, so feel free to include it in your New Year's Moscow itinerary.
An impromptu starfall creates a magical atmosphere. There are so many shooting stars here that I bet you don't have enough wishes to make a wish on each of them.
Another novelty of the season is a magnificent light tunnel with improvised chandeliers opposite the Polytechnical Museum ( New Square in the Kitay-gorod area). It is convenient to come here after a walk along Nikolskaya Street, if you leave it in the opposite direction from the Kremlin.
New arch opposite the Bolshoi Theater
The mask supports the theatrical theme. If you look closely, there are many masks of different sizes and designs on each site.
Designer Christmas trees will appear again on Kuznetsky Most. Leading Russian designers will again dress Christmas trees in an outfit that goes beyond sweets and balls, while supporting the main theme of the festival - theater and fairy tales.
New festive venues will appear on the Garden Ring: on Lermontovskaya Square, on Zatsepsky Val, on Smolenskaya Square and Zemlyanoy Val. The theme of the theater will be dominant here too, in addition to the performances, the organizers promise magnificent photo zones, for example, a fireplace seat and a Viennese waltz will be installed in the Smolenskaya Square area.
Moomin trolls, to which many are not indifferent, will settle for the period of New Year and Christmas celebrations on Novy Arbat d.13. Fairy-tale characters will act out scenes, take pictures with passers-by. Something tells me that not children will lead their parents to this site, but everything will be exactly the opposite.
Theatrical facades in the form of intricate arches can be found at the following addresses: Tverskaya Square, the Bolshoi Theatre, Gazetny and Kamergersky lanes, Pushkinskaya Square and Novopushkinsky Square, so when you visit the most popular sites of Journey to Christmas, you will not miss the prepared beauty.
VDNKh, Sokolniki and Gorky Park are my three favorite parks, which have excellent skating rinks in winter, and decorate them from the heart.
Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill is preparing an exhibition for us ice figures, but not some fictional houses for the princess, but reduced copies of world attractions. Big Ben, the statue of Christ, the Eiffel Tower and other recognizable symbols of world capitals will be built of ice in honor of the countries participating in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Russia.
Outside the center there will also be many festive venues, Christmas trees and fairs, but there will not be enough time and effort to go around them all and tell you. So, welcome to the official website of Journey to Christmas, where you will find the schedule, opening hours of the venues and get more detailed information. I am very glad that I have already seen all this beauty. Eh, fresh beautiful snow would still fall, but everything is still ahead, because the holiday is coming to us.
Open a bottle of champagne on Red Square, light sparklers to the chiming clock and dance with friends, unfortunately, it will not be possible on New Year's Eve from December 31, 2017 to January 1, 2018. "KP" talks about the New Year 2018 on Red Square.
Closed, the Blue Light is coming
Red Square will be closed on December 31st. There will be filming of the "Blue Light" of the First Channel. This was reported in the Department of Culture of Moscow.
The city does not plan to hold any events there, the ministry said.
GUM will also not be able to peep what will happen on Red Square - the store will close at 20.00, and skating on the GUM ice rink and selling souvenirs at the GUM fair will end even earlier - at 17.00.
The entrance to Red Square, according to the police, will be before lunch. After the site will be prepared for the filming of the concert.
The subway will work all New Year's Eve. And even from the station "Okhotny Ryad" it will be possible to go to the city. Earlier it was reported that the exit will be limited and only those who have special passes (invitations to the Blue Light) will be able to use it.
An early announcement about plans to restrict exits from the Okhotny Ryad metro station was erroneous. The station will operate normally throughout the night, - the press service of the Moscow Metro explained to Komsomolskaya Pravda. - To exit, we recommend using the stations "Kitay-Gorod", "Alexandrovsky Sad", "Borovitskaya", "Novokuznetskaya".
Ride with the gnomes
Walks in the Alexander Garden and Manezhnaya Square can also limit the time of filming Blue Light. The decision on this has not yet been finalized.
The ice slide on the Revolution Square on December 31 will work all night. We are preparing a special entertainment program, dwarf animators will be able to ride with children, - said the Organizing Committee of the cycle of street city events "Moscow Seasons". - Free access will be to the carousel on Manezhnaya Square. And from January 1, they will work, as on ordinary days, from 11.00 to 20.00.
Tverskaya will become pedestrian
But Tverskaya Street will become pedestrian. And for three days - December 31, January 1 and 2. This will be the first time such a celebration has taken place.
The street will be blocked for cars and completely given to pedestrians. It was decided that a theatrical action, various installations would unfold on Tverskaya, an animation program was planned, - said Alexei Nemeryuk, head of the Moscow Department of Trade and Services.
Celebrations will also take place between Triumfalnaya and Manezhnaya squares, on Okhotny Ryad Street and on Teatralny Proezd to Lubyanka.
Don't bring champagne with you. All alcoholic drinks will have to be thrown away at the inspection zones anyway, the Metropolitan Police advised.
new tradition
It looks like Muscovites will form a new tradition of celebrating the New Year in Zaryadye Park overlooking the Kremlin. How the Chimes will beat - you can hear the fireworks - you can see.
The park will be open on New Year’s Eve without restrictions, and the “floating bridge” will also be available for photos,” the press service of Zaryadye Park commented.
