The celebration took place at Ded Moroz's Votchina, a few miles outside Veliky Ustyug. Festive performances, fireworks, sport events and concerts were part of the program. By the well-established tradition, many guests arrived in Veliky Ustyug, the most famous of the fairy-tale tourist attractions in the Vologda Region to congratulate Ded Moroz.
As usual, Ded Moroz's birthday gave the green light to the New Year festivals across Russia. As soon as darkness came, the New Year Fir Tree was lit by Ded Moroz on the central square of Veliky Ustyug, which means that the New Year is coming.
Just before Christmas holidays, on his birthday Russian Ded Moroz set off on a traditional pre-New Year trip across Russian regions and CIS states.