This event is also known as Alye Parusa (Алые паруса) and it is one of the most popular events of the city. It has been around since the ’60s at the end of every scholastic year. The tradition of celebrating the entry of childhood into adulthood was stopped in 1979 and revived 25 years later June 24, 2005.

What date is the The Scarlet Sails 2021 ?
The Scarlet Sails starts on Saturday, 26 Jun 2021 and ends on Sunday, 27 Jun 2021
St. Petersburg Bookings Book now and get the best price!

The Scarlet Sails is organized in their honor on the Neva banks in St. Petersburg.  However, it is not just a celebration for high school graduates. Hundreds of thousands of revelers of all ages gather annually along the embankments of the Neva River to enjoy this unique spectacle.

The tradition of celebrating the entry of childhood into adulthood was stopped in 1979 and revived 25 years later June 24, 2005.

Since then, the Scarlet Sails is one of the most spectacular events in St. Petersburg, and today it attracts tourists from all over the world. The event is recommended for attendance in 20 countries of the European Union.
The Swedish brig “The Kronor” is the main symbol of the Scalet Sails. This brig is awaited each year with bated breath by millions of people on the banks of the Neva River.

The Scarlet Sails

The ship with scarlet sails is drawn from a tale by Soviet fantasy author Alexander Grin. This tale was about a young girl with modest prospects for life who lives in a small fishing village, but dreams to see the world one day. She was told by a wizard that a ship with red sails will take her away one day – and she believes in that.

One day, a nobleman’s son and a big merchant ship passing through the village sees her from a distance and falls in love with her and get her to sail away with him.

The event ends with a spectacular fireworks show. Waterfalls and comets of all shapes and colors paint the sky over St. Petersburg. This spectacle usually lasts for about 15 – 20 minutes.
Hundreds of locals and tourists traditionally gather at the Palace Square – the center point of the St. Petersburg.

The festival also includes a range of free musical and theatrical performances on open-air stages on Palace Square and Nevsky Prospekt – the main street in the city. The Alye Parusa is the second (after the New Year’s celebration) in terms of public celebrations in this amazing and poetic city.

1.4 Million people attend Scarlet Sails celebration in 2020