Enchanting Winter Celebrations: A Guide to Moscow's Festive Exhibitions and Fairs
Christmas and New Year are almost here. This week, we offer you a selection of themed exhibitions and fairs where you can feel the festive mood, as well as buying various gifts and souvenirs, and partaking in a variety of activities.
LADYA. Winter Fairy Tale 2023
Open December 13–17
The 'LADYA. Winter Fairy Tale' exhibition at Expocentre Fairgrounds is Russia's largest showcase of folk arts and crafts. This event serves not just as a creative convention but also a professional platform, fostering dialogue, business growth, and partnerships. The 2023 instalment will cover over 25,000 m2 and unite traditional craft organisations, independent artisans, and creative associations from across the country.
Representatives from famous Russian craft centres like Khokhloma, Gorodets, Gzhel, and many more will display their works alongside individual craftsmen and educational institutions that specialise in training craft enterprise personnel. Over 50 Russian regions, including remote areas, will present their own exhibitions, spotlighting traditional crafts and promoting local tourist routes.
Address: 14 Krasnopresnenskaya Naberezhnaya, Vystavochnaya metro station, Expocentre Fairgrounds, Pavilion No. 2 (Halls 1–3), Pavilion No. 8 (Halls 1–3)
Open: Dec 13 12 pm–7 pm, Dec 14–16 10 am–7 pm, Dec 17 10 am–5 pm
Tickets: Free admission
ArtFlection
Open December 23–24
ArtFlection is an all-Russian festival that aims to highlight skilled artisans. The event brings together over 2000 artisans from Russia and neighbouring countries, presenting a selection of handmade creations—from culinary and interior pieces to attire, jewellery, accessories, toys, and more.
Beyond the main exhibition, the festival features many specialised workshops for both adults and children. ArtFlection seeks to preserve traditional crafts and promote small workshops in Russia.
Address: 71 Dubininskaya ulitsa, Tulskaya metro station, Danilovsky Event Hall
Open: Dec 23–24 11 am–8 pm
Tickets: 400 RUB for both days (any time), 300 RUB for an 11 am–4 pm ticket, 200 RUB for a 4 pm–8 pm ticket
A Journey to Christmas
Open Dec 23–Jan 8
The annual outdoor 'Journey to Christmas' festival spans 36 venues across Moscow, offering an exploration of both historical and modern New Year celebrations.
Its diverse programme includes historical reconstructions, fairs, ice shows, and over 4,000 workshops. These workshops cover crafting, culinary skills, and seasonal activities such as gift preparation and recipe competitions. Additionally, the festival offers an active holiday experience, with 22 ice rinks scattered across the city.
Fairs and shopping areas spread throughout Moscow offer themed souvenirs, culinary delights, and diverse gastronomic experiences. The festival also showcases special projects, featuring ice shows by renowned figure skaters, New Year quests, and exhibitions presenting designer Christmas trees.
Open: Dec 23–Jan 8 11 am–9 pm on weekdays, 10 am–10 pm on weekends
Tickets: Entrance to the fair is free
GUM Fair
Open Nov 29–Feb 29
The New Year's GUM fair in Moscow has transformed Red Square, adding numerous stalls and a skating rink. Embracing the theme of Zhostovo painting, a revered form of Russian folk art, the fair's design celebrates this artistic tradition, offering an assortment of themed souvenirs and gifts.
Muscovites and visitors to the city have a longstanding tradition of attending pre-holiday New Year's fairs, with the GUM Fair on Red Square remaining the prominent destination for sourcing festive gifts. Echoing Red Square’s history, the fair's location between Ilyinka and Nikolskaya streets upholds a trading legacy dating back 300 years.
Visitors can explore a variety of offerings, ranging from souvenirs, Christmas decorations, and handcrafted items like felt boots and knitted wearables to an assortment of international delicacies. Culinary delights include mulled wine, traditional Russian sbiten, pancakes, sausages, waffles, gingerbread, and more, priced between 350 and 500 rubles.
Within the fair, a circle of stalls features a diverse range of items, from Christmas baubles starting at 500 rubles to intricate figurines beginning at 1000 rubles. Special items like a Zmei Gorynych or a Cheburashka figurine are available at 4,200 rubles. Additionally, cotton wool toys vary in price, with smaller versions around 5,500 rubles and larger Santa Claus and Snow Maiden figures each at 12,600 rubles.
Address: Red Square
Open: Nov 29–Feb 29 Mon–Thu 11 am–10 pm; Fri 11 am–11 pm; Sat, Sun, Holidays 10 am–11 pm
Tickets: Entrance to the fair is free
Text by Maxim Lukianenko and Alexander Tkachenko, bachelor’s students of Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication, interns at the HSE University English website team