The Tikhvin Fair is an event that preserves and popularizes 18th-century traditions in the homeland of A.N. Radishchev. It is held in honor of the feast of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, regarded as the patroness of trade.
In 2024 the celebration will take place on July 6.
The starting point of the celebration, at 10:30, will be a prayer service in the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in honor of the holy couple Peter and Fevronia, which will be officiated by Bishop Nazariy of Kuznetsk and Nikolsk.
Then the fair festivities will begin. At 11:00 the festival will open with an outdoor concert program featuring creative ensembles. Bales of fragrant freshly cut hay in the shade of light tents will serve as an improvised audience area.
On the first lawn of the estate guests will be offered colorful installations of fair abundance, themed folk photo zones (a decorated haystack, a cart with hay, stand-up cutouts, figures of domestic animals). Guests will also be able to take a “noble” photo — try on quick-change costumes and have their picture taken in a “carriage”.
On the spacious square in front of the Manor House there will be lively trade in products from local producers and handmade items.
The large play area will be filled not only with games and amusements but will also give everyone the chance to show their artistic talent — to paint a section of a large canvas with a fair scene.
Those wishing to win a prize can take part in the already beloved photo contest “The Funny Days of My Family”. To do this you only need to bring a themed A4-sized photo and place it on the improvised photo clothesline.
Competition fans can participate in a chess tournament with prizes — at classic tables and on a large chess carpet. In the shade of the trees the municipal stage of the regional festival “Active Longevity in the Penza Region” in gorodki (traditional Russian game) will take place.
Anyone may ride horses and ponies, take part in the educational program “Open Window Day” from the model libraries of the Kuznetsk district, and join master classes on weaving flower wreaths, felting souvenir valenki, crocheting and many others.
Outdoors and in the hall of the Manor House guests will be presented with exhibitions — artworks from children's art schools of various districts of the region, as well as a collection of folk costume models by craftswoman Tatyana Pechenova from the Gorodishchensky district.
You can sample a variety of dishes at the gastronomic festival-competition “Skatert-Samobranka” (The Self-Setting Table) and at the traditional “Sytniye Ryady” (Hearty Rows).
The play “The Three Little Pigs” performed by actors of the creative studio “Foma da Yerema” will gather a family audience on the second floor of the Manor House. There guests will also be able to attend a concert by the Fair’s special guest — virtuoso garmon player Sergey Shalimov (Saratov). Sergey Yurievich will not only perform melodies on the legendary Saratov garmon, but also talk about the history and uniqueness of this instrument and others from his collection.
Fans of hands-on creativity on the first floor of the Manor House will try their hand at clay modeling, making a family talisman doll “Blagopoluchnitsa” (a family good-fortune doll), and working with bast fiber.
Workshops in the Refectory will be held from 11:00 by prior registration.
You can immerse yourself in the history of the Radishchev estate during a variety of excursions. In the A.N. Radishchev Museum building the tour “An Example of Love and Faith” will begin every 10 minutes; in the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord you can learn about unique 18th-century frescoes, and once a year climb into the Radishchev lords' church to see their family relic — the icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God.
For information and to register for excursions and workshops call the A.N. Radishchev Museum: 8 (84157) 5-16-25
