The 55th anniversary festival "Braslav Stars" has started in Braslav
Braslav was filled with music, songs, and the voices of people who came to the song festival from other regions of the country, as well as from the Russian Federation and Latvia. Among them were the Honored Folk Art Collective Choreographic Studio "Vasilkovaya Strana" and the Folk Song and Dance Theater from Smolensk, the exemplary choreographic collective "Zhemchuzhina" from Velikiye Luki, the ensemble "Praleski" from Daugavpils... Each had its own program, but all together, hosts and guests, merged into one combined choir, which sounded in many voices, performing the anthem "Zarnitsy" and "Katyusha."
The development and popularization of vocal and choral art has been and remains the constant focus of the festival for 55 years. It began with the regional review-competition of children's and adult choirs "Braslav Choral Assembly," which this year celebrates its anniversary – the 10th anniversary of its holding in Braslav.
One after another, creative groups from Glubokoye, Polotsk and Novopolotsk, Lepel and Senno, Vitebsk and Smolensk took turns on stage. Their repertoire and performance style varied. The jury selected the best. The Grand Prix went to the guests from Smolensk.
During the official opening of the festival, its participants were welcomed by the Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev, the consultant of the Department of Culture and Folk Art of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus Ivan Galaburda, and the Chairman of the District Executive Committee Vyacheslav Grishchenko.
Warm words addressed to the organizers and participants of "Braslav Zarnitsy" were heard in the welcome addresses of the Minister of Culture Anatoly Markevich and the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin. Words of gratitude were expressed to those who stood at the origins of "Zarnitsy", made the festival popular and continue to preserve the traditions laid down 55 years ago, and wishes to have a good time, feel the connection of times with their hearts, and be strengthened by the power of their native land.
A colorful part of the festival was the celebration of medieval culture. The rite of fire production, archery master classes, training in medieval dances, and other surprises from historical reconstruction clubs and artisans added a certain mystery and spectacle to the events. 
The second day of the festival is dedicated to the art of dance. At the open competition "Poizerskiye Topotki", 19 choreographic groups from Vitebsk and Gomel regions, Mogilev, Smolensk, and Velikiye Luki, holding the titles of People's, Honored, or Exemplary, competed for the main prize of the competition.
On this day, an exhibition of sacred textiles from the collections of the Museum of Ancient Belarusian Culture of the National Academy of Sciences was held, a gala concert took place, and local groups entertained people at interactive venues, offering fish soup, shashlik, sausages, pancakes, and draniki.
