The Nashestviye outdoor rock festival will this year collaborate with the Russian military under the orders of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Kommersant reported Tuesday.
A military demonstration called "Together We Are Strong" will be incorporated into the festival in an attempt to promote patriotism among the country's youth and increase Russian citizens' knowledge about the activities of the armed forces, the ministry said.
It will include a parade of tanks and other military combat vehicles, and the stunt pilot group Falcons of Russia will also be putting on an aerial display in Sy-27s and MiG-29s.
This year, the festival will take place in Zavidovo, Tver region, from 5-7 July.
Started in 1999 under the patronage of the radio station founder Mikhail Kozyrev, now a presenter for Dozhd television station, the festival attracts tens of thousands visitors annually. The festival is often referred to as "Russian Woodstock," in honor of American rock festival, held in 1969.
In 2007 the Ryazan region governor, former paratroop commander Georgi Shpak, tried to cancel the festival in the region, citing organizational difficulties. Shpak previously supported the festival and even addressed the public from the stage.
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