The Scarlet Sails

St. Petersburg, Russia, the most massive and famous public event

during the White Nights Festival every summer. The tradition is highly popular for its enchanting fireworks, diversity of music concerts and a massive water show.

wide variety of free entertainment provided by the city of

St. Petersburg.
Entertainment also includes appearances of popular rock-stars, as well as the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, ballet and other classical acts, performing on several stages at the same time during the event.
The show also includes a series of events on the waters of the Neva River, such as rowing and motorboat races and a massive battle with pirates culminating with the appearance of a tall ship scarlet sails.

to celebrate the end of the school year in connection

with the symbolism of the popular 1922 children's book Scarlet Sails by Alexander Grin.

During the first celebration, a brigantine with scarlet sails sailed along the English Embankment and the Admiralty Embankment towards the Winter Palace. The 1961 release of the film Scarlet Sails boosted the popularity both of the book and of the tradition.

Nights celebration. More than one million people attended the Scarlet

Sails show celebrating the end of the 2007 school year. In 2010 public attendance grew to 3 million, with entertainers including such stars as the Cirque du Soleil, Mariinsky Ballet and Antonio Banderas.