International Winter Festival “Hyperborea” is held annually in February in Petrozavodsk. The presentation of the bright side of life in the North and the development of cultural exchange between cities where winter is a predominant season are the key concepts of the festival.

The origin of the word “Hyperborea” dates back to the ancient Greek mythology where Boreas is the god of the cold north wind and Hyperborea is the “the land of people, living in the possessions of Northern wind”. Hyperborea was regarded by ancient Greeks as the country of happy people protected by Apollo. That is why these people were incredibly talented. According to some historians, the mysterious northern civilization was located in what is now Karelia and was stretching further to the Kola Peninsula.

The most spectacular and beloved by the audience event within “Hyperborea” is The International Contest of Snow and Ice Sculptures. During five days of festival the professional and amateur teams from Russia and abroad turn the embankment of Lake Onega into the snow and ice sculptures avenue.

On Saturday, which is the main day of the festival, the unique for Russian north-west Winter Carnival is conducted. Its participants wearing extraordinary dresses go down the main streets of the city regardless of intensely cold weather.

The race of Petrozavodsk`s winter swimmers when the audience of more than one hundred watches people swimming in the ice-hole, causes a considerable public stir, especially among foreigners.

The “Miracles in ice” contest is held on the Lake Onega embankment on Petrozavodsk`s residents initiative. Here the spectators have a chance to see small compositions made by townspeople from water, flowers and decorative items.

The contest “Snowman.com” is also carried out on the embankment of Lake Onega. During three hours the participators create more than twenty snowmen, colour and dress them up in funny clothes.

The “Onega Trophy” competition, in its turn, attracts people fond of ice-fishing. One who catches the maximum number of fish for two hours becomes the winner.

Besides, everyone can ride Husky dogs, ski-scooter, eat fish-soup and see competition on bicycles Durt-Jumping.

The laser show and colourful firework mark the end of the festival.

It is also worth noting that the idea to organize Winter Festival `Hyperborea` was first suggested in 2001 during the Forum of cities of 60-parallel in Surgut. Afterwards the concept of the festival as a holiday of northerners` unity and international cultural exchange appeared.