Held every year at the end of June in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Scarlet Sails is a grandiose musical, pyrotechnic, and water extravaganza devoted to school leavers.
Scarlet Sails is not merely a massive outdoor graduation party taking place on the Saturday preceding the lightest white night in St. Petersburg. It is a spectacular celebration in honor of young, talented, and ambitious people who will, without doubt, revolutionize this world and make it better.
The government of Saint Petersburg arranges this public occasion absolutely for free. Over one million school graduators together with their teachers, families, and friends will come to the Palace Square and the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island to celebrate the beginning of a new, adult life. Entertainment for citizens and metropolitan visitors strikes with its swing and glitter. Cult rock musicians, stars of the ballet, theater, and cinema, popular singers, and even the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra are invited to the Scarlet Sails mega-event to congratulate graduates on leaving school and perform their best compositions.
It is not only a grand-scale musical concert that makes Scarlet Sails one of the most prominent events in Russia, but truly astonishing water shows on the Neva River, including the passage of large ships with ruby-colored sails, epic boat races, and even breath-taking pirate ship battles!
How is the Scarlet Sails event organized?
There are two main stages in the Scarlet Sails graduation feast: a great live concert involving famous Russian and foreign show-business and theatrical stars. The concert is held on the Palace Square, and the entrance is allowed only by invitation tickets.
Then the spectacle moves to the embankment of the Neva River and continues with an unparalleled fireworks display, music show, and the parade of majestic sailing ships – the entrance is free, and it is worth visiting!
How did Scarlet Sails tradition appear?
A tradition to arrange a pompous celebration in honor of school graduators in Saint Petersburg appeared in remote 1968 when the heads of several Leningrad schools got inspired by the popular in those days novel called “Scarlet Sails” written by Alexander Grin. So they decided to join their efforts and celebrate the end of an academic year and the beginning of a new, wonderful life by the water and with crimson sails.
Red sails symbolize the fulfillment of a child’s dream to become an adult and break free from the rules imposed by the school institute. Red sails are an embodiment of transition to a new and happy adult life where no one can command you but yourself.
During the Soviet period, the Scarlet Sails tradition was discontinued, but it re-emerged in 2005 when the government of Saint Petersburg reconsidered a big potential of this social event to attract even more foreign tourists to the North Russian Capital.
Today, the Scarlet Sails celebration is the most important part of the White Night festival attracting millions of people who want to share the joy of embarking on a new chapter in life with yester pupils.