Annual events
September
Peter the Great Gulf Cup – Championship of Russia
For over 10 years this is one of the biggest and most spectacular regattas on sailing yachts. The competition consists of five races through 500 miles of the Sea of Japan and the region’s natural beauty: two run along the coast of Vladivostok in the Amur Bay, the other three routes include the territory of the Maritime State Biosphere Reserve. Participants of the regatta are from different cities of the Far East, Siberia, the Urals and central parts of Russia.
Eastern Economic Forum
The Eastern Economic Forum is a platform where businessmen, experts and politicians of the Asia-Pacific Region discuss economic development opportunities, promising investment projects in business and main industries of the Russian Far East. The event involves about two thousand people from Russia, England, Singapore, Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, India and other countries. The forum also includes interesting cultural events, exhibitions and performances.
Pacific Meridian Film Festival
Since 2003 every year in September famous actors, producers and experts of world film industry come to Vladivostok for the International Film Festival of the Asian-Pacific Region. During the festival, directors from Russia, China, Japan, the US, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Colombia, Serbia and other countries show more than 150 films in cinemas and open venues. Professionals hold master classes, artistic meetings, and presentations for cinematic arts lovers. Over the years, famous movie stars such as Gerard Depardieu, Ornella Muti, Adrien Brody, Julia Ormond, Michelle Barton, Daryl Hannah, and Lisa Minnelli participated as honorable guests of the Pacific Meridian Festival as well as popular Russian actors of theater and cinema.
Tiger Day
Tiger Day in Vladivostok is celebrated the 4th Sunday in September to attract people’s attention to the problem of Amur tiger extinction and to reflect on the need to preserve the rare cat. The day begins with a festive carnival procession with children, students and adults dressed in all manner of tiger gear, from simple orange tee-shirts to full tiger costumes with colorful make-up. A theatrical musical performance, different attractions with environmental themes and competitions are the part of a program as well. The day ends with a concert by famous Vladivostok or Russian music bands.
November
International Jazz Festival
The International Jazz Festival is held in Vladivostok in mid November each year. It gathers musicians from Russia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the USA, France, Germany and other countries. The festival is held to develop musical culture, familiarize a wider audience with the best examples of world art, engage a unified international music media scene, promote jazz music of different styles, and strengthen friendly relations between participants of the festival.
April
The Pygmalion Young Designers Contest
The Pygmalion International Contest of Young Fashion Designers has been an annual event at Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service since 1993. About 100 young designers from Russia, China, Korea and Japan present their collections at the contest. There are several categories for contestants to demonstrate their creativity: Prêt-à-porter, Ecodesign, Avangard, Junior fashion, Performance, Debut. The winner of the contest is given the chance to participate in the contest finale, the Russian Silhouette Competition, held in Moscow.
May
Pacific Style Week
The Week of Fashion, Style, and Beauty Industry of Pacific Region countries, known as Pacific Style Week, is organized by Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service with the support of local and regional authorities every spring. Pacific Style Week creates a platform for promotion of well-established and young talents, art creativity and fashion innovations of the vibrant Asian Pacific Region with a program of fashion shows, photography workshops and exhibitions, creativity contests, live performances and more.
Each year this multi-arts event features over 200 fashion luminaries and young designers, celebrities, visual artist and performers from Russia, the USA, China, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore. World-known brands such as Frau Blau, Misun Yum, Frederick Lee Couture, Adam Saaks and others showcased their new collections during the Week. The event welcomes thousands of national and international guests, including buyers, the media, critics and all arts and fashion lovers.
Pacific Style Week obtain significant national and international media coverage by social networks, glossy magazines, popular TV and radio programs.
The key events of the Pacific Style Week 2015 will include.
Pacific International Tourism EXPO (PITE)
The exhibition is an important event in the tourism sector with business meetings, forums and conferences for industry professionals and people who want to learn about the opportunities of visiting other countries. The exhibition presents new projects in tourism industry, as well as a variety of opportunities for travelling in Russia and countries who annually participate: Vietnam, China, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, the USA and other countries. The program of exhibition includes entertainment program and contests for attendees.
Vladivostok Boat Show
The largest event in the Far East that brings together customers and companies specialized in goods and services for yachting and water activities, as well as sports and organizations in marine tourism. Annually about 100 companies from Russia and the Asia-Pacific region and more than 4,500 people attend the show events.
June
Youth Day
Youth Day is a festival of young people, celebrated June 27. On this day, activists throughout the city hold exhibitions and fairs, lectures, an open library, humor contest, extreme competitions, free activities in sports, master classes in dancing, bicycle trips, etc. The program of the day usually ends with a rock concert of talented Vladivostok rock groups.
July
City Day
The city’s birthday is celebrated July 2 and it is one of the largest and most beloved holidays in Vladivostok. The history of the holiday dates back to 1860 when the sailors of the military transport vessel Manchuria landed on the shores of the Zolotoy Rog Bay and founded a settlement. Several events dedicated to the holiday are usually held: sailing regattas, exhibitions, parades, contests, creative and charity festivals and performances by popular musicians. The holiday always closes with the fireworks.
Primorsky Kray Governor's Cup - Dragon Boat Races
Over 10 years this regatta gathers together rowers from Primorye and China. Participation is open not only to crews of professional athletes, but also to teams of schoolchildren, students, military and labor groups, diplomatic missions. The Dragon Boat Races are always spectacular and attract people who love rowing, sports, and a healthy lifestyle as well as guests of the city.
Navy Day
Navy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of July to show the pride of the Pacific Fleet sailors. On this day, the citizens and guests of Vladivostok wear blue and white striped sailor shirts known as telnyashkas. The holiday is usually celebrated with parades of war ships, theatrical performances, rescue operation and battle demonstrations, military marches, the Pacific Fleet Orchestra performance and colorful fireworks displays.
August
Music festival V-Rox
V-ROX is an international music festival where young Russian and foreign musicians and producers present their music to the audience and professionals. Every year about 100,000 people visit the festival events and come to listen to rock, hip-hop, indie, experimental jazz or electronic music performed by musicians from Russia, Japan, South Korea, China, the US, Great Britain, Vietnam and other countries.
The Holi Festival of colors
The Holi Festival is colorful summer festival that originated in Indian culture. Every year at the festival, thousands of people simultaneously sprinkle each other with bright, colorful powder. Children, adolescents, and even adults take part in the festival having fun together, listening to the performances of music bands, watching dance groups, flash mobs and participating in the contests. The festival ends with the launch of thousands of colorful balloons.