Guests from China and Turkey, The Hatters and fireworks: how Nizhnekamsk will celebrate its 60th anniversary

      The budget for the anniversary celebration in Nizhnekamsk is estimated at 60-80 million rubles

      The anniversary will be marked by the memory of the first builders

      Nizhnekamsk will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year, with the festivities taking place on August 15. The main theme of the anniversary events will be preserving the memory of the first builders, who were responsible for the city's establishment, said the head of the district, Radmir Belyaev. "Nizhnekamsk was built in a clean field. It was a true all-Union construction project, where people came from all over the country. They began to build a city on the Kama River, and in a relatively short time, Nizhnekamsk became one of the leading petrochemical centers in Russia. This year we are celebrating 60 years since the city's founding – September 22, 1966," he said. In preparing for the anniversary, the organizers decided to focus on the history of Nizhnekamsk's creation and the people who were at its origins. According to Belyaev, there are still witnesses and participants from the early years of construction living in the city today, and their stories remain an important part of the municipality's history.

      The date December 25, 1960, holds special significance for many residents of Nizhnekamsk. On this day, the first sled-tractor train with builders of the future city arrived at the village of Akhtuba. This event marked the beginning of the development of the territory where Nizhnekamsk would later emerge.

      The concept of the anniversary is titled "Territory of the Brave." It is dedicated to the first builders who began constructing the new city under challenging conditions, as well as to the modern residents who continue to develop it.

      As Belyaev noted, the city's key enterprises have also joined in preparing for the celebration. The preliminary budget for the anniversary events is estimated to be between 60 and 80 million rubles. Three of the city's largest enterprises are providing support for this.

      One of the main tasks of the anniversary will be to preserve the historical memory of the first builders and to pass this history on to the younger generation. The organizers also intend to showcase modern Nizhnekamsk as a dynamically developing city and to involve as many residents as possible in the festive events.

      For the guests of the celebration, a parade, a time capsule, and a gastro-festival are being prepared

      To mark the 60th anniversary of Nizhnekamsk, the tradition of a festive parade has been revived. The procession, titled "From Spark to Shine," will be one of the central events of the anniversary. Participants will include the first builders and veterans, representatives from enterprises, educational and healthcare institutions, public organizations, as well as youth. The column will be opened by a runner with a torch – a symbol of the first spark that began the city's history, and it will conclude with schoolchildren, students, athletes, and young families.

      The festive events will take place at several venues. The "Sunny Glade" park will become a territory for sports and family recreation. Competitions and various activities will be held here, and a Glory Alley will be established to honor athletes who have brought fame to Nizhnekamsk at Russian and international tournaments.

      The "Family" park will transform into a space of childhood, technology, and the future. Thematic zones dedicated to science, creativity, sports, and various professions will be prepared for young guests. The area will be organized as a kind of model city where children can learn about different fields of activity and try out new roles.

      The program will include master classes, chemical and cryo shows, interactive activities, and sports events. Additionally, creative projects will be prepared for residents: the best works of graffiti artists will decorate urban spaces, and videos by local authors will be shown during the festive events and included in the city archive.

      A separate space will be dedicated to the history of Nizhnekamsk. A multimedia exhibition styled as a working settlement of the first builders will be prepared for residents. It will include archival materials, video chronicles, and interactive exhibits telling the story of the early years of the city's construction.

      Another part of the program will be a large gastronomic festival. The festival will showcase the cuisines of the peoples whose representatives live in Nizhnekamsk. Today, the city unites over 70 nationalities. Next to them, an art object in the form of an hourglass will be placed, where residents can leave letters for the future. The messages will be placed in a time capsule, which will be handed over to the museum and opened in a year.

      The anniversary celebration in Nizhnekamsk will feature The Hatters, and a visit from Pakhmutova is possible

      The main events of the evening program will take place in the square near the "Manzara" shopping center. Here, the audience will be presented with a theatrical performance consisting of several novellas. They will recount the key stages in the history of Nizhnekamsk – from the arrival of the first builders to the city's modern development.

      Following this, a festive concert will begin. Residents and guests of the city will enjoy performances by Elmira Kalimullina, Firdus Tyamaev, Rishat Tukhvatullin, Maria Dibrova, and the group "Volga-Volga." The headliner of the celebration will be the collective The Hatters.

      The organizers also hope to see the People's Artist of the USSR, composer Alexandra Pakhmutova, at the anniversary. According to Radmir Belyaev, they have already managed to get in touch with her.

      "We contacted her in advance, and if her health allows, we would certainly be very happy to see her in Nizhnekamsk. God willing, if it works out. Of course, she has the desire," said the head of the district.

      Pakhmutova's name is closely linked to the city's history. In 1965, she, along with poet Nikolai Dobronravov, wrote the song "Courage Takes the City," dedicated to the labor feat of the first builders and the youth who came in the 1960s to build Nizhnekamsk and the petrochemical complex.

      The festive program will conclude with a five-minute pyrotechnic show. The color scheme of the fireworks will be in the colors of the flags of Russia and Tatarstan.

      Delegations from four sister cities will be invited to the celebration

      The celebration of Nizhnekamsk's 60th anniversary aims to attract not only the city's residents but also numerous guests from Russia and abroad.

      Invitations will be sent to delegations from the Turkish city of Mersin and the Chinese city of Meishan. Additionally, representatives from Yakutsk, with which Nizhnekamsk also maintains fraternal ties, are expected at the celebration. This year, the city has established partnership relations with the Indian city of Bareilly, but Belyaev did not specify details about the participation of its delegation.

      "We will invite sister cities, some of which have already confirmed their participation. Here, one can say, there are no doubts; the path has already been trodden, so there will definitely be a large number of guests," noted Belyaev.

      Furthermore, it is expected that around 30 mayors from Russian cities will come to Nizhnekamsk. Leaders of major enterprises will also participate in the festive events.

      In Nizhnekamsk, the bus station is being modernized, and a fidgetal center will be built

      Preparations for Nizhnekamsk's 60th anniversary are not limited to the festive program. According to Radmir Belyaev, 26 major projects are currently being implemented in the fields of education, landscaping, transportation, and youth policy.

      Among the facilities being updated for the anniversary is the bus station, which was built almost simultaneously with Nizhnekamsk itself. Earlier, Belyaev told Tatar-inform that an additional 87 million rubles had been allocated for its reconstruction. After the work is completed, a modern transport hub with a hotel will be established here. The head of the district emphasized that it was important for the municipality to preserve this facility as part of its history and transport infrastructure.

      Additionally, the city is creating the "House of the First" – a center for additional education and youth initiatives based on the Children's Creativity Center.

      Another major project will be the fidgetal center, which will be located next to the "Sibur Arena NK" sports complex. More than 250 million rubles from budgetary and extrabudgetary sources are planned to be allocated for its creation. This center will combine digital technologies and traditional sports activities.

      In Nizhnekamsk, the reconstruction of Khimikov Avenue, the landscaping of the "Syuyumbike" park, the development of public spaces, and the creation of an IT park are also ongoing. Plans also include the renovation of the "Korableynaya Rosha" sanatorium.

      Moreover, at the instruction of the President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, the city is beginning to modernize its tram system in collaboration with Belarusian partners. According to Belyaev, the project plans to update ten trams.

      Photo: e-nkama.ru