In the summer of 2024, as part of the implementation of the action plan for the Year of the Family in the Russian Federation, the project “Big Family Weekend” was implemented. The main goal of the project is to create a tradition of mass family weekends, strengthen traditional values, organize joint family leisure, as well as get acquainted with the history and culture of your region.
The Vologda Region actively supported this initiative, and at a meeting of the Regional Coordinating Council for the Protection of Family, Motherhood, Fatherhood and Childhood in May 2024, the regional marathon “Big Family Weekend in Vologda region” was launched for residents of the region.
“Family weekends are a great opportunity to form new traditions that strengthen the relationship between children and parents, to bring families together so that children and parents feel positive emotions from a weekend spent together. The best weekends are those spent with family and loved ones. And if they are also active, creative, and athletic, it is unforgettable,” said Deputy Governor of the region Alexander Ershov, announcing the start of the marathon.
The marathon events (both large-scale municipal festivals and fairs, and chamber family gatherings and celebrations in small towns) took place on weekends in all municipalities from May to September 2024, in total more than 600 events took place (about 400 were originally planned), which were attended by more than 60,000 people.
All municipalities, cultural institutions, youth policy, and social protection institutions took part in this family weekend, holding various interactive platforms, festivals, fairs, games, contests, master classes, competitions and much more for residents of the region.
All municipalities showed activity, but especially the Nyuksen, Ust-Kubensky, Velikoustyugsky, Vologda districts can be noted. Cherepovets delighted citizens almost every weekend with festive programs for families with children, many of which took place with the active participation of socially responsible businesses, such as PhosAgro, and unique projects such as the gemini parade festival “Like Two Drops of Water”.
A “Festival of family traditions” was held in Veliky Ustyug, and an interactive program for the whole family “The Merchant went to the fair” was held in Belozersk. The Kubenskiy Torzhok fair in the village of Kubenskoye in the Vologda District pleased with folk festivals, fish soup and pies.
An inter-municipal poster and research competition “Family Tree” was held in Chagoda, which became a great opportunity to gather the whole family, look through old family albums, and remember their beloved great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers. After all, “A tree is held by its roots, and a person is held by his family.”
An interactive platform was held in the Ustyuzhensky district – team sports competitions for families “If you want to be healthy, be” and a festive outdoor program “Family is the beginning of all beginnings” for couples.
In Kadui, children and their parents got acquainted with the ancient Russian folk games “Dudar”, “Radish”, “Golden Gate”, “Geese-Swans” and others. Imagine, these games have their roots in the 16th century!
Traditional games and spending time together bring children and adults together through generations. For kids, the meanings of family values become clear without excessive edification, in the most natural way.
Summing up, we can say that the “Big family weekend in Vologda region” was a success, the summer for families and children was bright and filled with spectacular and exciting events. Adults were distracted from the daily hustle and bustle, families spent more and better time together, thereby strengthening child-parent relations.
The Year of the Family continues, new events are being prepared for Vologda region families within the framework of the federal project “Family Autumn”, many of which will be dedicated to Mother’s Day.
