Russia80th Anniversary of the All-Russia Exhibition Centre: Endless Fun at the "Land of Rebirth"

2019 marks the 80th anniversary of VDNH, the large exhibition park in the Russian capital — the All-Russia Exhibition Centre. The establishment of VDNH has been of great significance to Moscow’s cultural life and tourism development.

Today, the fully restored VDNH is a far cry from what it once was. If visitors spend just five minutes in each pavilion, it would take at least 16 hours to see the entire museum park. VDNH is not only a massive museum but also a treasure trove of architectural art, a paradise for crafts, an educational and entertaining park, and a venue for large-scale urban festivals. Moreover, it is an “island of greenery” in the heart of the metropolis, covering a total area of 325 hectares, and is playfully referred to as a “city within a city.” In 2018, over 30 million people visited the VDNH Museum Park.

Five years ago, VDNH was neglected, with most of its pavilions in disrepair and closed for renovation. Today, it has risen from the ruins to become a popular destination once again. Through this guide, you will learn about the past of the All-Russia Exhibition Centre, interesting historical facts related to it, fun spots after its reconstruction, and exciting events in the coming months.

Timeless Classics

The exhibition park was first built and opened to the public in 1939. In the three months before its opening, over 3.5 million people visited this magnificent art park. Today, in just May 2019 alone, the same number of visitors came to the All-Russia Exhibition Centre. Whether in the 1930s or today, it continues to amaze and captivate visitors.

For decades, the exhibition center hosted thousands of visitors from around the world. But over time, many of VDNH’s pavilions gradually aged. In the 1990s, it underwent significant changes and hardships along with Russia — many invaluable exhibits were destroyed or discarded, and the buildings fell into disrepair. By 1994, it had ultimately become a marketplace for cheap goods.

Fortunately, VDNH was eventually restored and rebuilt, rising again from the ashes. Following the presidential decree for reconstruction, it emerged like a phoenix reborn from the ashes. In addition to renovating the old buildings, modern museums, educational and cultural centers, and leisure spaces were added. Today, it has become one of Russia’s premier exhibition destinations.

Now, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the All-Russia Exhibition Centre, VDNH has undergone a perfect transformation. Here, there are magnificent arches and fountains, classical-style pavilions, unique Eastern and Western architecture, and lush floral spaces. Visitors can not only relax and have fun here but also learn and discover new knowledge. The museum exhibits are rich and diverse, ranging from ancient writing history to modern robotics, from beekeeping to trendy dance. We can’t cover all the endless fun of VDNH in a short guide, but we hope our selected highlights will help readers appreciate its classics.

Must-Visit Attractions at VDNH

Central Avenue

Upon arriving at VDNH, the first thing you’ll see is the grand Roman-style arch at the main entrance of the park. Behind the arch lies the 1.8-kilometer-long Central Avenue, lined with a variety of pavilions: the circular, lattice-like “Soviet Culture” pavilion, the wooden art-wall style “Soviet Stamp” pavilion, the uniquely designed “box” style “Agriculture” pavilion, and more. Most of these pavilions are considered irreplaceable national historical and cultural heritage sites.

The famous neoclassical “Fountain of International Friendship” and “Stone Flower Fountain” are also stunning sights along Central Avenue. The 16 gilded female statues of the “Fountain of International Friendship” are always eye-catching. They not only represent united nations but also embody the image of Demeter, the Greek goddess of fertility. The “Stone Flower Fountain” is centered around a “flower-shaped bowl” and is named and designed after the fairy tale flower of the same name.

“Cosmos” Pavilion

On April 12, 2018 (International Day of Human Space Flight), the All-Russia Exhibition Centre opened Russia’s largest aerospace museum. The pavilion features a novel and unique design, with a beautiful 36-meter-long glass dome. The Cosmos Museum boasts a wealth of exhibits, ranging from realistic spacecraft models to spacesuits from various eras, from stunning satellites to high-tech modern multimedia spaces, from space exploration simulation games to 5D movies.

“Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” Pavilion

The “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” monument is a masterpiece of modern art, known as a “symbol and icon of the Soviet era.” The sculpture was created by architect Boris Iofan and sculptor Vera Mukhina specifically for the Paris World Expo. The monument caused a sensation in Paris. Now, the base of the monument houses VDNH’s main cultural and educational center. In summer, visitors can enjoy delightful “rooftop concerts” at the top of the 24-meter-high monument.

Europe’s Largest Ice Rink

Located near the wooden-roofed “Soviet Stamp” pavilion, the VDNH ice rink is the capital’s premier ice-skating venue and the largest artificial ice rink in Europe, covering an area of 57,000 square meters. The ice rink is not only vast but also features a unique design. Each year, its design is changed according to new themes. Many Russians often choose to spend their joyful New Year’s Eve here.

Landscape Art Park

The VDNH Botanical Garden is a natural beauty within the museum complex. It is home to over 2 million flowers, 65,000 trees, and other shrubs. The park boasts countless ancient and rare trees, such as 200-year-old oaks and rare ancient varieties of ginkgo. Just in the Central Avenue section of the landscape park, there are over 4,000 roses and more than 50 different colors and varieties of tulips. Additionally, there is a spectacular small landscape park designed by French architect Michel Pen. This mini-park, like a garden within a garden, spans 87 hectares and is filled with a variety of plants, making it a natural paradise in the metropolis.

What Activities Will the VDNH Anniversary Bring?

The All-Russia Exhibition Centre will offer over 100 major events for Moscow residents and visitors to celebrate its anniversary. The anniversary events are scheduled to kick off in April. In May, the large international ballet festival “World Ballet Holiday” was held. Over the course of three days, VDNH hosted over 30 dance master classes, with more than 1,000 ballet dancers from around the world performing.

After the ballet festival, the “Inspiration” Carnival grandly opened. From July 5 to 21, a variety of theatrical and musical performances lit up the summer in Moscow.

From August 1 to 4, VDNH will hold a major anniversary event — the Central Avenue Music and Food Festival.

Of course, the most anticipated event is the 2019/2020 Winter Event at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre. With the arrival of winter, a series of winter entertainment areas will be set up. Visitors can not only ice skate and go down ice slides but also attend ice balls and view creatively designed winter artworks.

For more detailed information and event updates about VDNH, please visit the official website: http://vdnh.ru/ch/