Scarlet Sails

origins and history

The celebration began in 1968 when several schools in Leningrad joined together to mark the conclusion of their academic year. Organisers drew inspiration from Alexander Grin's 1923 romantic book, Scarlet Sails, as well as a 1961 film adaptation that made the story widely loved. During that first gathering, a brigantine with crimson sails journeyed along English Embankment and Admiralty Embankment towards the Winter Palace. What started as a local school event grew over time into the city's largest public gathering.

music and performances

Live performances take place across multiple open stages at the same time. The programme spans diverse musical styles, featuring well-known rock stars alongside the Saint Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, classical ballet, and other traditional stage arts. Large international acts and performers, including the Mariinsky Ballet and Cirque du Soleil, have appeared during past celebrations. These open-air concerts entertain the gathered crowds throughout the evening before the aquatic spectacles begin on the river.

river spectacle

Much of the celebration unfolds directly on the waters of the Neva River. Audiences watch competitive motorboat and rowing races, followed by a dramatic staged battle against pirates. The climax of the night arrives with the entry of a tall ship rigged with bright red sails navigating the urban waterway. This nautical display forms the emotional focal point of the White Nights season, drawing massive crowds of graduates, residents, and visitors to the embankments.

How Scarlet Sails is kept

The festival takes place across central Saint Petersburg during the summer White Nights. Crowds assemble along the embankments of the Neva River while concerts run across several stages, featuring rock bands, symphony musicians, and ballet dancers. On the water, audiences watch rowing contests and motorboat races, followed by a theatrical pirate battle. The night concludes as a tall sailing ship with bright scarlet sails navigates past the historic embankments.

When and where

The celebration takes place every summer at the end of the academic year, serving as the central public event during the city's annual White Nights Festival.

The event is held in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Festivities take place along the Neva River, including the English Embankment and Admiralty Embankment near the Winter Palace.

What Scarlet Sails means

The event takes its central motif from Alexander Grin's 1923 romantic novel Scarlet Sails. Graduating students adopted the image of the crimson-sailed ship from the book and its 1961 film adaptation to celebrate completing their school years in Saint Petersburg.

Questions people ask about Scarlet Sails

See also

NowruzThe Iranian new year at the March equinox, kept with fire, greenery and picnicsMaslenitsaA seven-day Eastern Slavic festival of pancakes and bonfires marking the end of winter before Lent.SabantuyA summer festival of folk sports and feasting celebrated by Tatar, Bashkir, Chuvash, and Kazakh communities.NaadamA midsummer festival of wrestling, horse racing, and archery kept by Mongols in Mongolia and neighboring regions.

Good reading and sources

• Scarlet Sails (tradition) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.