Summer Gathering in Nizhny Novgorod unites more than 50,000 kids and grown-ups at a family event
The Summer Family Festival 2025, held in Nizhny Novgorod from June 1 to July 8, was a vibrant celebration of family, love, and traditional values, marking a significant event in Russia's broader youth and family cultural movement. The festival, organised by the NGO "Institute of Demographic Development," was part of the "Family" national project within the framework of the Five-Year Plan for the Family in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
The festival attracted over 50,000 visitors, catering to both children and adults with a diverse range of activities. The event included creative workshops, theatrical performances, concerts, volunteer activities, and more, all designed to promote and preserve traditional family values such as love, support, care, and mutual respect.
The festival was closely linked with the Movement of the First Ones, an organisation actively promoting patriotism, respect for cultural heritage, and civic engagement among youth. Events were spread across regional venues, combining educational formats with festive experiences, such as family-oriented masterclasses and presentations of youth initiatives.
One of the main objectives of the Summer Family Festival was to encourage active civic participation and patriotic pride by fostering an understanding of the country’s history and cultural heritage. The festival aimed to enable young people to share their achievements, present new ideas, and engage in constructive dialogue with experts.
By organizing nationwide events emphasizing family as a fundamental social institution, the festival reinforced the role of family in personal development and social cohesion. Through participatory and educational activities, it helped transmit core values such as love, care, and respect for traditions from parents to children, ensuring these values persist in modern society.
The inclusion of volunteerism and civic responsibility within the festival framework encouraged young people to actively contribute to preserving and enhancing national achievements and cultural memory. Testimonials from participants highlighted the festival as an opportunity to strengthen family bonds and share the importance of familial love and fidelity in everyday life.
The Summer Family Festival 2025 was held under the banner of the Day of Family, Love, and Fidelity. In addition to the interactive zones in Nizhny Novgorod, the festival also covered cities in the region, including Dzerzhinsk, Pavlov, Vyksa, and Semenov. The festival aimed to make every family feel part of a large, friendly community.
In the newly reopened May 1st Park in Nizhny Novgorod, families with children could enjoy stations offering face painting, aromatherapy bag making, and geometric painting using tape and paint. Adults could relax in special lounge zones with sun loungers and floor cushions, while couples and invited experts socialized in these areas.
On July 8, creative workshops, a family quest, and various training sessions were organized as part of the festival. The Summer Family Festival 2025 was the first project of this scale organized by the Institute of Demographic Development, and it served as a resounding success in promoting traditional values and fostering a sense of community in contemporary society.
The Summer Family Festival 2025, in its vast array of activities, extended beyond creative workshops and theatrical performances to include home-and-garden workshops as well, inviting families to share in nurturing their shared lifestyle through these experiences. Furthermore, the festival's efforts to promote traditional values weren't confined to the main event in Nizhny Novgorod, as it also reached cities like Dzerzhinsk, Pavlov, Vyksk, and Semenov, fostering a home-and-garden culture within their communities.
