Maslenitsa in Sydney 2025: A Sunny Celebration of Unity and Tradition
Traditions by the Ocean
On February 16, 2025, the picturesque Depena Reserve park in Dolls Point, NSW, became the vibrant setting for Maslenitsa – Slavic Pancake Celebration 2025. Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavic festival symbolizing the farewell to winter and the welcoming of spring. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of friendship, unity, and family traditions.
In Sydney, the event gathered over 200 attendees from different nationalities, who came with their families and friends to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of folk traditions, music, dance, and, of course, the traditional treat – pancakes!
👌 Who Organized the Celebration?
Maslenitsa in Sydney was made possible through the efforts of Russian Events in Australia, Love Your Life Institute, Tatar Heritage Association NSW, Australia, led by Liliya Samigullina and Kalinka Home Academy
One of the main sponsors of the event was Australian Care Well Services PTY LTD, founded by Vrej Keshishian.
👏 Official Opening and Honored Guests
The ceremonial opening of the festival was led by:
• Zarina Gabieva, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Sydney
• Ruslan Arutyunov, Counselor at the Russian Embassy in Australia
Vrej Keshishian also delivered a congratulatory speech, expressing his support for cultural initiatives and emphasizing the importance of preserving traditions within the immigrant community.
Among the honored guests also were:
• Agafya Yin Lan Ge, Head of the Australian-Russian-Chinese Friendship Association
• Professor Chaiban Haykal, Representative of the Lebanese community
• Active members of Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Tatar, Uzbek, Armenian, African, Kazakh, Serbian, Croatian, Syrian, and Chinese communities
❤️ Fun for All: From Kids to Adults
The event’s program was packed with engaging activities for all ages:
🎉 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Free Time
• Guest welcome & socializing
• Children’s zone with games, masterclasses & a photo zone
• Pancake Brunch
🥞 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Main Celebration
• Concert performances
• Interactive games for kids & adults
• Folk songs & dances
• Traditional circle dance (khorovod)
• Burning of the Maslenitsa effigy
The hosts of the event, Alesya Solovey and Elena Kravchenko, kept the energy high throughout the celebration.
The stage was graced by talented musicians and performers, including:
• Olga Shepotkina, Leyla Soliman, Anjelita Obando, Tatiana Dik, Svetlana Smolyakova, Nailya Abdrashitova
❤️ Dance, Games & Culinary Traditions
The audience was captivated by the vibrant dance performances from Multicultural Seniors Association Inc. and Dance performance by Sofia Garipova
🔥 Elena Chistyakova led an energetic Zumba session for both kids and adults.
A stunning display of traditional Russian attire and scarves was presented, along with a beautifully decorated photo zone featuring kokoshniks and a Maslenitsa effigy, designed by Lyubov Belyaeva and her team.
And, of course, no Maslenitsa is complete without pancakes!
Guests were treated to freshly made blini with jam and delicious homemade pastries with various fillings.
👍 Kids’ Zone & Creative Workshops
Children enjoyed their own special area with:
• Interactive and sensory games
• Creative workshops, hosted by Kalinka Home Academy
❤️ The Grand Finale
The festival concluded with the traditional burning of the Maslenitsa effigy, a symbolic farewell to winter and hardships.
Children and adults joined hands in a khorovod, celebrating the arrival of spring with laughter and joy.
🙏 Special Thanks
This large-scale celebration would not have been possible without the dedication of volunteers and sponsors.
A heartfelt thank you goes to:
Lyubov Belyaeva, Sasha Ivanova, Alesya Solovey, Elena Kravchenko, Natalia Melnik & Vocal Studio Natalia Melnik, Galina Obraztsova, Rinat Nasibullin, Evgenia Shchadrina, Alex, Yura Rybiev, Anastasia, Daria & Viktoria Chernykh, Marina Aksenova, Tamara Mokhova, Viktor Kirichenko, Tatiana Dik, Rusana Khamidullina, Michael Herbut, Slava Fokin, Agafya Yin Lan Ge, Vrej Keshishian, all artists, concert participants, and everyone who helped organize the children’s zone, provided media support, and prepared delicious treats.
A huge thank you also to our honored guests and to everyone who joined the celebration!
Maslenitsa 2025 in Sydney was a Success!
Despite the unpredictable weather – strong winds and scorching sun – Maslenitsa in Sydney 2025 brought together people of all nationalities, creating an atmosphere of joy, warmth, and friendship.
This event was more than just a festival – it was an opportunity to feel connected to cultural heritage, meet new friends, and strengthen bonds between generations.
📌 More photos and updates on our Facebook page: Maslenitsa in Sydney 2025
✨ See you at Maslenitsa 2026! ☀️
Liliya Samigullina,
Founder of Love Your Life Institute and
Tatar Heritage Association NSW, Australia,