December and January are the most magnificent, magical, and mysterious months in Russia’s capital. Right in this snowy season, Moscow will host the 7th "Christmas Journey" festival extravaganza. Europe's largest winter Christmas celebration will take place from December 14, 2018 to January 13, 2019. For a whole month during this period, from morning till night, over ten festive squares across the city will transport you into a real fairy-tale world, offering the most unique New Year gifts, the freshest and tastiest Christmas treats, and the most colorful New Year activities. Go on an impromptu trip to Moscow — pack your warm clothes, we’ll be waiting for you in Moscow.
This winter vacation, you can easily enjoy Russia’s Christmas even without speaking Russian. Open-air folk and pop concerts hosted by famous singers, brilliant plays brought by renowned theaters from Russia and abroad, novel and unique costume parades (everyone can join the traditional Snow Maiden parade — costumes will be provided on-site), and spectacular ice performances will all gather at Moscow’s "Christmas Journey" festival. Clearly, no translation is needed to take part in these events.
If you want to learn more about Russian culture and its festive traditions, you can join free guided tours (available in English) in Moscow, or participate in unique masterclasses designed for both adults and children (for example, where instructors teach you how to cook traditional Russian New Year dishes or make New Year decorations right on-site).
During the festival, residents and visitors of Moscow can also enjoy essential winter activities: ice skating, ice slides, and snowball fights.
After the activities, you can enjoy a warming cup of tea served on-site, and try traditional Russian treats such as blini, pancakes, and gingerbread. The festival will also feature signature dishes from Moscow’s top fashion restaurants, and these snacks are affordably priced, much cheaper than what you’d pay at the restaurants normally.
This carnival is also the best time to buy unique souvenirs. During the festival, you can purchase a variety of stylish New Year decorations (Christmas tree ornaments) and specialty items from various Russian cities at low prices: ethnic handicrafts, toys, accessories, sweets... To accommodate visitors who don’t speak Russian, all menus at the festival venues and price tags in souvenir shops come with English translations.
And under the beautifully decorated Christmas tree, in a fairytale-like world of lights, you’re sure to capture a bunch of the best winter photos of the year.
The "Christmas Journey" is the most popular street carnival among the series of large-scale events organized by "Moscow Seasons." Last year, a total of 14.5 million people joined the Christmas festivities. The celebration offered decorations, souvenirs, festive dishes, drinks, and more from 16 countries and 42 regions of Russia.
For more information about this event and Moscow Seasons, please follow: https://moscowseasons.com/en/