Summer at VDNH: Must‑See

VDNH opened in 1939 and is now a sprawling public space with 49 cultural heritage sites, including Vera Mukhina’s Worker and Kolkhoz Woman statue. Its famous fountains — Friendship of Peoples, Stone Flower, and Golden Spike — sparkle by day and light up at night. For the best view, take the Sun of Moscow Ferris wheel (140 metres, Europe’s tallest) by the South Entrance arch.

The Museum City of VDNH includes over 30 museums. Don’t miss Moskvarium, one of the largest oceanariums in Europe, where you can watch shark and seal feedings. Other highlights include the Space and Aviation Centre, the Museum of Cinema, and the Transport Museum of Moscow. For a deeper dive into history, the Sheremetev Fest on 27–28 June recreates the aristocratic life of the late 18th – early 19th century with theatrical performances and music in Ostankino Park.

Throughout June, July, and August, VDNH hosts major festivals. The Friendship of Peoples Festival in July showcases traditions of Russia and CIS countries with folk dancing, crafts, and food. Inspiration, an arts festival (23–26 July), brings theatre, music, and puppet shows together under the open sky. Chess lovers can enjoy blitz tournaments and a live chess match in July, while the ProDvizhenie auto festival displays over 300 vehicles from vintage Russian cars to modern concept cars.

Music fills the air at the Moscow Jazz Festival in June and at the legendary Green Theatre. The VK Fest in July brings together pop stars, bloggers, lectures, and sports activities. Families will love the Science and Ice Cream Festival (5–7 and 12–14 June) with experiments and workshops, and the Orion thematic amusement park’s third birthday celebration.

For food lovers, the House of Russian Cuisine pavilion offers 15 stalls serving national dishes from across Russia — try Kamchatka scallops, Yakut stroganina (raw, frozen fish, shaved into long, paper-thin ribbons), Ural pelmeni (dumplings), and Tula kalach (twisted white bread) with Karelian lingonberry juice or Buryat green tea with milk. The Glavvino Fest gathers over 50 Russian winemakers for tastings, paired with live music.

Most festivals are free but require advance registration. Summer at VDNH is a journey through Russia’s past, present, and future — all in one extraordinary place.