Breaking: Irkutsk Region Unveils 50+ Festive Programs Across Museums and Libraries for January Holidays
Regional museums and libraries in irkutsk have rolled out a packed calendar of more than 50 festive events for children and adults during the January holidays.Visitors can look forward to concerts, guided tours, interactive quests, workshops, performances and other family-friendly activities across multiple venues.
Key Attractions Across the Region
One of the season’s top draws is the Taltsy architectural and ethnographic museum, where the Residence of Father frost operates daily from January 2 through January 10. Alongside the Snow Maiden, the winter wizard greets young visitors, with two ice slides, snow games, and character-led activities from Kikimora and Baba Yaga. On January 7, the square near the Tavern hosts Christmas festivities and a candle-making master class with natural wax.
At the Irkutsk Regional Art Museum named after Sukachev, New Year programs start January 2 with a “Museum Treasures” tour and a “New Year and Christmas in Rus’” music salon. A standout event on January 7, “Christmas at the Museum,” features the puppet theater Balagantiers and a guided look at winter in the paintings of artists.
The Gallery of Siberian Art features lectures on religious iconography, book graphics and exhibitions including Dreams of Siberia and Angels—Messengers of christmas. Interactive offerings include a “visiting a Fairy tale” quiz and a “Riddles of stone Lions” quest for curious visitors.
The Estate of V.P. Sukachev hosts New Year’s master classes as part of the “Family Day Off” program, with sessions on pastel and watercolor drawing, ebru painting on water, decorating a New Year’s ball, and beadwork. A lecture-tour highlights exhibitions Blues over Paris and Christmas Ball.
On January 4, the Irkutsk Regional Historical and Memorial Museum of the Decembrists presents a Volkonsky Home Theater program that fuses Chekhov’s The Bear and The Proposal.
The Irkutsk Regional Museum of Local Lore named after N.N.Muravyov-Amursky opens January 2 with festive events and bus excursions. History department activities include a “New Year’s Cartoon” game, a “Museum Hide and Seek” quest in the Museum Studio, wax candle workshops, a traditional doll-making session, an author’s excursion by folk artist Svetlana Eremina tied to the exhibition Siberian silk, wild rosemary, and roast.The V. G.Rasputin Museum invites visitors to a creative workshop “Create your own Christmas tale” and a “Winter’s Tale” experience. The nature department offers a “Christmas Souvenir” master class and the New Year performance “Baikal Celebrates the New Year!” The “Window to Asia” exhibition wing will host a concert “Music for the Soul,” and the St. Innokentiya (Veniaminova) Cultural Centre provides a candle-making master class.
Regional libraries are also buzzing with activity, exceeding 25 events. The Irkutsk Regional Global Scientific Library will feature book exhibitions, concerts, lectures and master classes, plus community activities with the Shomysha creative group and the Paragraph book club. Attendees can enjoy fairy tales on vinyl, exhibitions of New Year costumes on mini-mannequins, Christmas tree decorations and the “Pages of Inspiration” book collection.
The Irkutsk Regional Youth Library plans “Christmas gatherings” with master classes from local art houses, a session by the almanac Primrose, a performance by the Stella theater company titled “Our Merry New Year,” and additional creative programs.
The Irkutsk Regional Children’s Library will host art hours exploring the history of New Year trees from various eras and countries, a dance competition, book exhibitions, literary and creative classes, quizzes and master classes. Younger guests will enjoy cartoons created by participants of the MultiPulti animation studio.
At-a-Glance: Quick Reference
| Institution | Key Highlight | Start Date | Special Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taltsy Museum | Residence of Father Frost; ice slides; family-friendly festivities | January 2–10 | Snow games; Kikimora and Baba Yaga interactions; candle-making on Jan 7 |
| Irkutsk regional Art Museum (Sukachev) | Museum Treasures; New Year in Rus’; Christmas at the Museum | Starting January 2 | Puppet theater; artist paintings tour |
| Gallery of Siberian Art | Icon and book-graphics lectures; themed exhibitions | Starting January 2 | Fairy Tale quiz; Stone Lions quest |
| Estate of V.P. Sukachev | Family Day Off workshops | Starting January 2 | Pastel/ watercolor/ ebru; New Year’s ball; beadwork |
| Decembrists Museum | Volkonsky Home Theater program | January 4 | Chekhov plays integrated program |
| Muravyov-Amursky Museum | Festive events and bus excursions | Starting January 2 | New Year’s Cartoon; wax candles; doll-making |
| rasputin Museum | creative workshops and stories | Starting January 2 | Winter tale; Christmas crafts |
| Regional Libraries | Extensive holiday programming | Starting January 2 | Vinyl fairy tales; costume models; inspiration pages |
Experts note that these cultural offerings provide families with valuable opportunities to learn, connect and enjoy regional artistry in a festive winter setting. The breadth of activities reflects a wider trend toward interactive, educational experiences during school breaks across many regions.
Reader question: which venue will you visit first with your family,and what activity do you crave most this January?
Reader question: do you favor hands-on workshops,live theater,or behind-the-scenes tours to enrich your winter holidays?
