The events included the XIII ethnic festival "land of Kalevala", an exhibition of Karelian artists, an exhibition and fair of arts and crafts and traditional crafts of Karelia, a business seminar on tourism. The official program from the region was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the government of the Republic of Karelia for social Affairs Larisa Podsadnik and Chairman of the public organization "Karelian Commonwealth" Mikhail Dovgalev.
February 28 at the site of the City tourist information office held a business seminar "Rest in Karelia 2019". The participants of the business meeting – representatives of the tourism industry of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region and their colleagues from Karelia-made presentations and exchanged information about the tourist opportunities of their regions. From Karelia were made by the representatives of the mining Park "Ruskeala", the living history Museum — historical Park "Bastion", Museum-reserve "Kizhi" and others. They told about the most popular places and routes, as well as the novelties of this tourist season.
The event was organized By the Department of tourism of the Republic of Karelia together with the Tourist information center of the Republic of Karelia and one of the tour operators of the region.
It was noted that the joint work of the relevant agencies creates favorable conditions for the growth of domestic tourism and fully meets the interests of the residents of our regions, who need to get the most complete information about the possibilities of recreation and accommodation in Karelia. A similar meeting, anticipating the summer season, has already been held in 2018. The work will continue to be built systematically.
The cultural program of the Days of Karelia was divided into several sites.
The Grand opening of the ethnic festival took place on March 1 in the concert hall "at Finland". At the opening ceremony, commemorative medals of the Karelian Commonwealth were awarded for their contribution to the preservation and enhancement of cultural values of the peoples living in Karelia.
In the evening, a gala concert of the leading performers and creative teams of Karelia was held at the concert and leisure center "Moskovsky". Guests were read a welcome speech on behalf of the acting Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov. "Karelia is a land with amazing nature and rich spiritual culture," the greeting says. "Our regions have strong ties of long-term friendship, mutually beneficial economic relations and joint projects in the humanitarian sphere."
In the course of the evening the audience saw a traditional Karelian dances, and met with the Karelian folk music. The performances were performed by well-known groups, including the national song and dance ensemble of Karelia "Kantele". An exhibition-fair of decorative and applied arts and traditional crafts of Karelia was held in the foyer for the guests of the concert.
On March 2, the main events of the ethnic festival were held at the site of the St. Petersburg house of nationalities. In the framework of days of culture of Karelia was held opening of the exhibition of Karelian artists Boris akbulatova (graphics) and Igor Gashkova (wood panels) on the great Northern epos "Kalevala". Then the participants of the ethnic festival took part in the conference "land of Kalevala. Tourism projects and development of territories". Reports were presented on the new prospects of the tourism potential of the region. At the end of the program for the guests performed folk music ensemble "Toive".