"Karavon-2026" in the Laishevsky District: full festival program with 12 venues and a 17th-century round dance

      On May 23, 2026, the 34th Russian folk festival "Karavon" since its revival will take place in the village of Nikolskoye (Laishevsky District of Tatarstan). It is expected to attract up to 20,000 guests.

      Morning of May 23: Grand Opening

      The festive program will unfold in Nikolskoye from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Entrance to all venues is free.

      10:00 AM - Start of all interactive venues.

      11:00 AM - Grand opening of the festival with a theatrical prologue.

      11:20 AM - Welcome of honorary guests and award ceremony.

      Program on five stages (12:00 PM - 4:40 PM)

      The main concert program will start at noon. Five stages will be active simultaneously: Main, Fair, Children's, "Zavalinka," and "Green Glade." More than 200 folk groups from Tatarstan and other regions of Russia will perform. The special guest is folk singer Vlada Miravi. Her performance is scheduled on the main stage from 2:35 PM to 3:00 PM.

      photo: press service of the head of Tatarstan

      Interactive Venues (open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM)

      "City of Craftsmen"

      The main craft venue of the festival will feature presentations by masters of folk arts and crafts. Throughout the day, there will be workshops on wickerwork, weaving, pottery, wood carving, leatherworking, and spinning. Each guest will not only be able to watch how a product is created but also try their hand at being a craftsman.

      "Old Crafts Area"

      A separate zone where workshops will focus on specific, narrower crafts. Guests will learn the technique of creating Russian lubok (folk pictures), the basics of leatherworking and carpentry, and will also be taught the fundamentals of pottery. This space is for those who want to dive deeper into the process and learn the historical nuances of each craft.

      "Handmade Artistic Embroidery Area"

      A cozy exhibition where the best examples of embroidered handicrafts will be presented. The central exhibit is a display composition "Towel in the History of the Russian Family," which tells about the role of this item in rituals, everyday life, and traditions of different provinces. Guests will see authentic techniques and patterns, many of which are no longer found in everyday life.

      "Old and Modern Board Games Area"

      Here, a real club of board game enthusiasts will unfold. Visitors will be able to master the stone tower, balls in holes, brick wall, biryulki, tavleia, mill, ladya, and other games that develop memory, logical thinking, and fine motor skills. The rules will be explained by animators in historical costumes.

      "Traditional Active Russian Games Area"

      A space for active recreation. A tournament in traditional lapta will be organized here, along with the game "Kotel and Klyushkovanie" (the ancestor of modern hockey), as well as team games with balls: "Storozh," "Otymki," "Cats and Mice," "Kvas." Special attention will be given to rope games: "Shalga," "Mountains-Rivers," "Snake and Eagle." Both children and adults can participate.

      "Military-Historical Reconstruction Area"

      An interactive zone dedicated to the military history of Russia in the 17th century. A field military camp with tents, weapons, and the everyday life of that time will be set up in the field. Reenactors in authentic costumes will demonstrate elements of drill training, talk about the equipment of shooters, and even allow guests to try on individual armor.

      "Street Theater Area"

      Throughout the day, interactive theatrical performances without a stage and boundaries will take place in this area — the audience becomes part of the action. The plots are based on Russian folk tales, ritual scenes, and historical sketches from the life of Nikolskoye village.

      "Wood Carving Festival Area"

      Carvers from different regions will gather here. They will work right before the audience, creating sculptures, toys, and household utensils. Guests will be able to observe the process from block to finished product, as well as purchase a liked piece.

      "Old Russian Attractions Park 'Zakrutikha'"

      A whole park of wooden attractions recreated from 17th-century blueprints. Visitors will enjoy a theatrical performance, as well as the opportunity to ride on "Round Swings," "Boat Swings," "Swinging Swings," and "Row Swings." This is not just entertainment but a living history of Russian fair culture.

      "Blacksmith Yard"

      One of the most spectacular venues. Professional blacksmiths will conduct workshops on making forged metal products. Under their supervision, anyone can forge a souvenir — a horseshoe, flower, or keychain — and take it home.

      "Russian National Cuisine"

      Field kitchen and several food points where guests will be offered dishes prepared according to old Russian recipes. Pancakes, oven-baked cereals, sbiten, rasstegai, fish soup, and other traditional outdoor food — the snack will become part of the ethnographic experience.

      "Round Dance Glade"

      The heart of the entire festival. It is here that the ritual part begins on May 22 (the day of Nikolai the Wonderworker), and on May 23, the main event will take place — the mass round dance "Duck Step." The glade will also serve as a venue for performances by folk groups and tournaments in lapta and kile.

      photo: press service of the head of Tatarstan

      Main Ritual: Round Dance "Duck Step"

      The traditional round dance at "Karavon" has no analogs. The ritual part begins the day before, on May 22 (the day of Nikolai the Wonderworker), when folk ensembles come to the Round Dance Glade. And for all guests, the main round dance will be held on May 23.

      How the round dance proceeds:

      Participants connect their pinkies (not hands).

      They move in a special "duck step" — slowly, waddling.

      They rotate "with the sun," sometimes narrowing, sometimes widening the circle.

      They sing three traditional songs that cannot be found in sheet music. They were recorded by folklorists "voice by voice" (each voice separately), as their variable intonation cannot be conveyed by ordinary musical notation.

      Today, the recordings are kept in the community "Kazan Province. Russian Folklore," and every year, ensembles from Kazan rehearse them specifically for one single performance on the Round Dance Glade.

      Historical Note:

      The tradition was revived over 30 years ago by the efforts of the Trusov family, who gathered the last bearers of the ritual in Nikolskoye. Since 2003, the festival has been held at the republican level.

      How to Get There: Free Transfer from Kazan

      For the convenience of guests, the organizers are launching free buses from two departure points in Kazan. Transport will run from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM (departures as filled, a total of 8 trips planned). Buses will start returning from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM from the same stop in Nikolskoye where passengers were dropped off.

      Departure from TSUM (Central Department Store)

      Buses will wait for guests on Moskovskaya Street, near the exit from the "Kreml" metro station. Landmark — public transport stop "TSUM." Staff in vests will assist with orientation. Operating hours: from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM.

      Departure from "Victory Avenue" Stop

      The second gathering point is the public transport stop "Victory Avenue" (on the side of house No. 52, towards Laishevsky tract). Buses will be dispatched from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. Please note: this is the only stop on Victory Avenue from which the transfer is organized.

      How to Leave After the Festival (from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM)

      Boarding for return trips will be at the area near the central entrance to the festival (next to the Round Dance Glade, there will be signs). Buses follow the same route: to TSUM and to the "Victory Avenue" stop. The last bus departs exactly at 6:00 PM. It is recommended not to wait until the last minutes to leave, as there may be many wishing to depart.

      Important:

      The number of seats on the buses is limited (approximately 40-50 people per trip). In case of a large gathering of guests, additional trips may be possible, but the organizers advise arriving early for departure.

      Using personal transport is not recommended — traffic jams traditionally occur on the approaches to Nikolskoye, and parking for personal vehicles is not provided.

      For those who still decide to drive, they can leave their car on the outskirts of the village (follow the signs "Parking for Personal Transport") and walk 10-15 minutes.

      Online Broadcast

      If you cannot come, a live broadcast from the Round Dance Glade will be available throughout the day. The link will be published on the morning of May 23 in the official groups of "Karavon" and on the TSUM website.

      photo: press service of the head of Tatarstan

      Recommendations for Guests

      1. Dress according to the weather. The festival takes place in an open area, most of the time outdoors.

      2. Bring cash. At the "City of Craftsmen" and