On Saturday, August 9, the fifth anniversary “Itil” Festival was held in Gorky Park, Kazan, attracting thousands of visitors. On this day, the public space transformed into a vibrant mosaic of the cultures of the Volga region. Guests immersed themselves in an atmosphere of ethnic diversity — from enchanting melodies to unique handmade crafts.

Each year, the festival draws more and more people who care about preserving their ancestral heritage. This time, visitors enjoyed a rich program featuring a handmade goods fair, interactive workshops, a street performance, and, of course, music shows filled with national flavor.

“This is my first time being invited to such a large festival with my work, and I’m very happy to be here. It’s especially nice to see young people taking interest in Tatar themes and ethnic jewelry. It’s very inspiring!” shared Aniya, designer of the “Aibike” jewelry brand.

The main idea of the festival is to preserve and promote traditions among the younger generation.

The festival’s music stage became the real center of attraction. From noon until late evening, it hosted ensembles from different corners of the Volga region, as well as guests from Kazakhstan, Belarus, and St. Petersburg. Among the headliners were SAMRATTAMA (Kazakhstan), Settlers (St. Petersburg), and NEMIGA (Belarus).

Families attended in full, filling the park’s green field. The spirit of celebration and unity was felt everywhere.

“We saw a post on VKontakte about the festival today and decided to come with the whole family. We also came last year and were pleasantly amazed. It’s a very atmospheric place,” said Guzel Gafiyatovna, a festival guest.

Among the many activities, a special place was given to the promenade street performance Guests of the Alley. Its director was Ruslan Rimanass, a well-known clown, director, and multi-genre artist from Kazan.

“This is our first time performing at the ‘Itil’ Festival, especially by invitation from the Directorate of Parks and Squares. We created this show especially for the festival, and today is its premiere. We took characters from myths, legends, and fairy tales and brought them to life through our actors to introduce them to our audience. Bringing joy is a great joy for us!” he shared.

Spectators enthusiastically immersed themselves in the magical performance unfolding right among the park’s trees. They encountered mythical beings, water spirits, and kind eccentrics, becoming direct participants in the story.

Source: tatar-inform.ru