December is here, the snow is knee-deep outside and you're already panicking about your Christmas shopping. Take some time to relax and enjoy the spirit of the season at one of the many festive events taking place in Moscow over the coming week.
Christmas Concert
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The weather outside might be frightful, but it’s helping to get us into a proper holiday mood. To really get into the spirit of the season, take in a holiday tradition — a concert by the Moscow International Choir. The choir, which is conducted by Sergei Sidorenko and made up of Russians and expats from all over the world, is presenting two concerts of Christmas music, including Gioachino Rossini's Petite “Messe solennelle” and a selection of Christmas carols, both traditional and contemporary favorites. There will be cookies and mulled wine to put you in a festive mood. Don’t miss it!
St. Andrews Church. 8 Voznesensky Pereulok. Metro Pushkinskaya. Tues. Dec. 6 and Fri. Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are 650 rubles and can be purchased at the door or reserved ahead of time through moscow.international.choir@gmail.com.
Christmas Fair at the Italian Embassy
Festive fun from the Mediterranean
Start — or finish — your christmas shopping this weekend at Moscow’s beautiful Italian embassy. On Sunday the gardens of the residence will host a fair dedicated to the food, goods and fashion of Italy. From fresh pasta, to fine olive oil and of course, festive Italian sweets, you can stock up on everything you’ll need to bring a little bit of sunshine to your kitchen this yuletide. If you don’t fancy buying anything you can still enjoy a wander around the grounds with a glass of wine. Proceeds from the event will go to the Dmitry Rogachev center, which supports children with cancer and immune deficiencies.
Embassy of Italy in Moscow. 5 Denezhy Pereulok. Metro Smolenskaya. Sun, Dec. 4 from 10:00 am to 7 p.m. Tickets cost 300 rubles and can be purchased on the door. See the event on Facebook here.
Christmas Farmers' Market
Food and festivities
Get a head start on your holiday food coma at Dubrava restaurant this Sunday, where Russian farmers will be out in force. At the day-long food festival and market you can try locally produced goods like honey, butter, cheese, and wine and get chatting to the people who made them You can also enjoy cookery masterclasses, prize draws and, of course, product tastings. Tickets cost 600 rubles on the door, but this include three glasses of wine and three appetizers once inside the fair.
31/3 Obraztsova Ulitsa. Metro Marina Roshcha. Sun, Dec. 4 from 12: 00 p.m. to 7 p.m. dubrava-cafe.ru
