Penza, 6 July 2018. PenzaNews. The two-day Lermontov poetry festival, which is held for the 47th time, started in Penza in the morning on Friday, July 6.

© PenzaNewsBuy the photo

During the official part of the event, head of the Penza administration Victor Kuvaytsev noted that admirers of the talent of Mikhail Lermontov should do their best to preserve his heritage for posterity.

"Time goes by and further separates us from the period when Mikhail Lermontov lived and worked. From year to year more and more of our fellow citizens adore his works, honour his memory, are grateful to him for what he did and even for his living in the region," he said.

Then, minister of culture and tourism of the Penza region Tatyana Kurdova added that on June 7 the festival in Tarkhany is expected to bring together at least 10,000 people.

"Lermontov is and will always be in our hearts, in our dreams, in the history of classical literature of Russia and the world", she said.

The official part of the event ended with laying flowers to the bust of the poet. After this, poems of Mikhail Lermontov as well as works dedicated to him were recited.

A fair of handicrafts, an exhibition of children's drawings and paintings as well as Literary Bivouac were organized in the public garden. A fashion show of costumes similar to those worn in the 19th century was held.

At 20.30 a concert of the ensemble of soloists Stargorod will take place there, and at 22.00 a film about the poet will be shown under the open sky.

The festival will continue on July 7 in the museum-reserve Tarkhany in the Belinsky area, which annually attracts admirers of the talent of Mikhail Lermontov.