In Photos: Scarlet Ships Sail Through St. Petersburg
Residents of Russia's second-largest city St. Petersburg flocked to the banks of the Neva River on Saturday for the city's annual Scarlet Sails celebration.
Thousands of spectators watched ships with red sails glide down the river as fireworks lit up the night sky above. On Palace Square, a number of musical acts staged live performances.
Saturday's armed rebellion by Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin — which ended just hours before the beginning of the event — did not prevent the annual tradition for new high-school graduates from going forward.
Meanwhile in Moscow, an anti-terrorism regime was declared and large events were called off.
Here is a look at this year's event:
Thousands of spectators watched ships with red sails glide down the river as fireworks lit up the night sky above. On Palace Square, a number of musical acts staged live performances.
Saturday's armed rebellion by Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin — which ended just hours before the beginning of the event — did not prevent the annual tradition for new high-school graduates from going forward.
Meanwhile in Moscow, an anti-terrorism regime was declared and large events were called off.
Here is a look at this year's event:
The Rossiya brig sails down the Neva River during the Scarlet Sails festival.
Valentin Yegorshin / TASS
A security check at the entrance to Palace Square ahead of the Scarlet Sails concert.
Valentina Pevtsova / TASS
A ship sails past the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Winter Palace.
St. Petersburg Administration
Law enforcement officers guard a street ahead of the Scarlet Sails festival.
Valentina Pevtsova/TASS
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov speaks during the concert on Palace Square.
St. Petersburg Administration
The crowd on Palace Square.
Peter Kovalev / TASS
Scarlet Sails has been an annual tradition since 1968, when several schools in Leningrad held a joint celebration for the end of the school year that drew on the symbolism of the popular 1922 children's book "Scarlet Sails" by Alexander Grin.
St. Petersburg Administration
Today, Scarlet Sails is the most popular event during St. Petersburg's White Nights, a period when the city enjoys near-constant daylight.
St. Petersburg Administration
The fireworks display over the Neva River.
St. Petersburg Administration
A couple stands by the Neva River after the Scarlet Sails festival.
Peter Kovalev / TASS
