Winter Festival Frenzy: What Left Me Feeling Let Down

Christmas in Moscow is a real spectacle – millions of lights, decorations, fireworks, and a sea of people! The city transforms into a winter wonderland, full of music, laughter, and excitement. Everywhere you look, it's so beautiful, shiny, and magical. I wish I could stroll through the festively decorated squares of the 'Winter in Moscow' festival in the evening, when everything is lit up and sparkling in the darkness. But, of course, that's when the crowds show up, and it's like trying to navigate a 'Tetris' puzzle – you need to find the right shape and move quickly to get through. That's why we've been visiting all the New Year's events and festivals in the morning – it's still possible to walk around the famous spots and take in the decorations without the crowds. On December 31st, we headed to Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill to see what all the fuss was about. For me, this place is more associated with Victory Day celebrations than New Year's festivities. But, like everywhere else in Moscow, there are some interesting events happening here as part of the 'Winter in Moscow' festival. Right now, from December 30th to January 11th, the XI 'Ice Moscow. In the Circle of the Family' festival is underway. It's an event designed for family and children's entertainment during the winter months, and to create an atmosphere of an ice fairy tale, they've built some amazing ice sculptures on the site. It sounds tempting, but is it really worth it? The magic of the winter wonderland is palpable from the moment you step out of the 'Victory Park' metro station. Just next to Poklonnaya Hill is the Triumphal Arch, where they've set up a sledge with Father Frost and the Snow Maiden. To be honest, there aren't any particularly impressive decorations on Poklonnaya Hill – it's better to head to the city center for that. You'll find a massive LED ball here (they claim it's the biggest in the world, but I'm not convinced) and the countdown to the New Year. In the evening, of course, it'll all be much more vibrant and colorful. But don't forget about the crowds. A bit further along from the ball, the area is cordoned off – that's where the 'Ice Moscow. In the Circle of the Family' festival is taking place. The entrance to this festival is PAID, and unfortunately, you can't buy tickets online – only at the cash desks located to the left of the festival entrance. The festival grounds are open from 11:30 to 22:00. We arrived early, and 10 minutes before opening time, people were already gathering at the cash desks. I was surprised to find that only 2 out of 16 cash machines were working, so I had to wait in line for a bit. How much does it cost? The adult ticket (for anyone 14 and over) costs 1000 rubles, while the discounted ticket is 700 rubles. Children under 5 years old, veterans of the Great Patriotic War, and people with group I disabilities can enter for free, provided they show the relevant ID. Who's eligible for discounted tickets? Children between 6 and 14 years old, large families, seniors, veterans of combat operations, participants of the SVO and their relatives, people with group II and III disabilities, and students. You'll need to show the relevant ID to get the discount. After buying the ticket, you go through a metal detector. The security guards didn't bother checking my purse, but they thoroughly searched the bags of people entering. What's cool about the festival? When I was researching this festival online, I read that there would be a multitude of interactive ice sculptures for unforgettable photos. I'm still not sure what these interactive sculptures are or where they are, even though I walked around the entire territory. The festival grounds are a small patch of land with a hill, a couple of carousels, food stalls, and ice sculptures – maybe around 10 of them, if not more. This year's festival is dedicated to the classic tale of 'Buratino' that we all know and love. So, the ice sculptures are mostly themed around the characters from this tale. There's even Papa Carlo's workshop and the fireplace and Buratino himself with his golden key. The ice sculptures are set up both outdoors and in the ice pavilion. I think the sculptures in the pavilion are more interesting, though. Maybe it's just the lighting that makes them look better. Unfortunately, all the sculptures in the ice pavilion are fenced off, so it's not possible to get up close and take a photo. There's also a sand pavilion besides the ice one. I have to say, the sand sculptures impressed me more than the ice ones. There were fewer of them, but they were more impressive. The most interesting thing for kids at this festival is the ice Kremlin with six slides. The structure isn't that impressive – it's about the height of a regular slide in any backyard. Kids and adults can slide down the slides, but only on the ice. And, by the way, you can buy an ice slide here for 500 rubles. I'm not sure if you can come here with your own ice slide. I wouldn't be surprised if not. There are also a couple of ice art objects on the site. The background music was lively, and they were showing some cartoons on stage. If you arrive at the start of the musical and dance show (at 15:00, 17:00, or 19:00), when there's a theatrical performance of 'Buratino' on stage, you might see something interesting. But if you arrive at the opening time, like we did at 11:30, you won't have a chance to wait until 15:00, as there are no benches. And sitting for a long time in the cold isn't an option either. Warming up is possible in the pavilions, as well as with something hot from the food court (which, by the way, is super pricey). But, to reiterate, you'll be twiddling your thumbs for three and a half hours on this festival. And if you leave the festival zone to, say, take a stroll somewhere nearby while waiting for the interactive stuff, you'll have to buy a new entrance ticket (as this announcement warns you). They have ice discos with DJs and masterclasses in the evenings, so it's a good idea to check out what's on offer beforehand and decide what floats your boat. And that's it – my impressions. Honestly, the advertising for the festival grounds in Victory Park led us astray. In my opinion, it doesn't live up to its price tag. For a family with two or three kids, it's a pretty penny. Is it worth it? I don't think so. Especially in Moscow, there are plenty of free alternatives and cool spots with great decorations and fun activities. I wouldn't recommend it – I just didn't enjoy it.