A ceremonial line-up, Ildar Abdrazakov’s concert and the "Victory Rays" campaign: how the RUSSIA EXPO will celebrate May 9

On May 9, the International RUSSIA EXPO will celebrate the 79th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. On this day, a rich program awaits the guests of the Exposition: a ceremonial line-up, a procession of brass bands and children's creative groups, as well as a performance by the Merited Artist of the Russian Federation Ildar Abdrazakov.

At 14:30, RCYM "Movement of the First" together with the RUSSIA EXPO will hold a ceremonial line-up on the street, which is held annually in schools, colleges and universities across the country. This year it will also take place at the Exposition venue. The participants of the "Movement of the First" will tell about the feats that their family members performed in the name of the Great Victory and about those who spent days and nights fighting on the front lines, carrying the wounded out of shelling, bringing Victory closer at the open-hearth furnaces and helping the country on the home front. Warriors of SMO will also take part in the rally. Among them there will be medical worker Maria Miroshnichenko, who, despite being wounded, did not leave other soldiers without medical help, and Eduard Kazymov, who was awarded the title of Hero of Russia for courage on the battlefield.

At 15:00, the procession of brass bands and children's creative groups from Moscow, Kaluga, Vladimir, Yaroslavl and Ryazan will start at the Exposition. Hundreds of young artists will march from the "Stone Flower" fountain to the Main Street Stage of the Exposition, where the festival "Fanfare of Victory 2024" will start at 15:30. The event will be attended by the Exposition's volunteers and guides, employees of the Exposition's Directorate and its participants, representatives of all regions of Russia, RCYM "Movement of the First", the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), and the All-Russian Public Movement "Volunteers of Victory". The concert will also include a flash mob "Victory Waltz" to the composition "Blue Handkerchief" and a mass performance of the song "Victory Day".

The festive concert of the State Vocal and ChoreographicEnsemble "Rus" named after Mikhail Firsov "From Moscow to Brest" will start at 16:00. The program combines two main motifs: the general joy of the Victory and the awareness of the price of the Victory. Each number will become a separate detail in a unified image of the great spirit of the Russian warrior.

At 17:30, Ildar Abdrazakov, opera singer, Merited Artist ofthe Russian Federation, People's Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan, People's Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan, winner of the Golden Mask National Theater Award and two Grammy Awards, will perform for the guests of the Exposition on the stage in front of the Arch of the main entrance of VDNH. He will take the stage together with the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra.

In the evening, Pavilion 1 "First in Russia — Land of Opportunity" will host the All-Russian campaign "Victory Rays". In memory of the defenders of our Motherland, fire paintings will be lit and historical monuments, memorials and buildings dedicated to Heroes will be illuminated with spotlights in different parts of Russia.

Special attention will be paid to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Crimea and Sevastopol from the German fascist invaders. The Sevastopol stand will host a masterclass on coloring postcards, a masterclass on deciphering messages using Morse code, and a historical quiz.

In addition, in Pavilion No. 75 you will be able to take part in the "Red Carnations" campaign, and in the House of Russian Cuisine all veterans of the Great Patriotic War will be offered festive treats.