80th anniversary, records and new displays: VDNKh sums up 2019 results

In 2019, VDNKh celebrated its 80th anniversary. Over 33 million people have visited the exhibition this year, as reported by Natalya Sergunina, Deputy Moscow Mayor. There have been over 100 VDNKh's jubilee events. Today VDNKh is a popular multifunctional urban space hosting educational, cultural, sporting and entertaining events for visitors of all ages.

'The exhibition welcomed over 33 million guests in the anniversary year. Muscovites and tourists strolled around, visited displays and festivals, went in for sports and participated in educational and entertaining projects. And, naturally, they could see the progress of the VDNKh's revival programme,' Natalya Sergunina said.

Year of bright events

1 through 4 August, VDNKh was celebrating its 80th anniversary. During the four days, 1.2 million visitors enjoyed 15 concerts, eight ballet productions, colourful performances, children's events, and sporting competitions. This year, City Day was centred around VDNKh's jubilee.

Also, the anniversary year boasted extensive museum, exhibition, educational and entertaining programs. The fourth season of the summer educational program Knowledge. VDNKh offered more than 160 events. Its winter season launched on 1 December.

Throughout the summer, the rooftop of the Worker and Collective Farm Woman Pavilion housed a concert and observation site.

For the fifth time, VDNKh hosted Vdokhnoveniye (Inspiration) International Festival of Arts dedicated to friendship of peoples. Also, the 5th Brass Band Festival took place in summer, with 20 bands from different cities and countries taking part. For the first time, VDNKh hosted the festival of urban romantics, as well as PRO Leto, Rhythm of My City festivals and other events offering free concerts.

Besides, VDNKh arranged a series of temporary anniversary-themed exhibitions, including 'Collection of the Ulyanovsk Art Museum: Polenov, Plastov, Picasso and Others' and 'Dream Story', which were implemented within the Resident project in the Worker and Collective Farm Woman Pavilion. Also, visitors saw a display 'Let's View the Exhibition! VDNKh's Cultural Code' in the Soviet Press Pavilion No.67. In December, the Doll Museum opened in Hydrometeorology Pavilion No.16 housing a temporary exhibition 'Russian Monarchs. History Pages'.

During the anniversary summer, VDNKh also hosted big events, including educational forums, international exhibitions and sporting competitions attended by over 1.3 million people.

Year of discoveries

Late in April, a branch of the State Museum of Oriental Art opened a permanent exhibition 'The Roerichs. Preserving Culture' in Healthcare Pavilion No.13. In May, the renovated Agriculture Pavilion No.58 opened Slovo Slavic Writing Centre, which was visited by over 105,000 people by the end of the year.

On 1 August, the VDNKh Museum located in the right wing of the central entrance arch opened its doors. It offers a unique collection of documents and artefacts telling about the 80-year history of the exhibition. Exhibits for the Museum have come from all over the world.

In September, VDNKh's one-of-a-kind landscape park offered an air ecology trail, unique for Moscow. All year round, guests can walk along the unusual route running 6.5 m high above ground.

On 30 April, the Friendship of Peoples and Stone Flower fountains started functioning again after a comprehensive restoration, the first in 65 years. In December, the Friendship of Peoples fountain won the 'Moscow Restoration 2019' award as the Best Restoration Object According to Active Citizens.

In autumn, Neft (Oil) Interactive Academic Centre opened in the restored Oil Pavilion No.25. It tells about the history of the Russian oil industry and the development of Russian science and technology.

In November, the official opening of the renovated Republic of Azerbaijan Pavilion took place. It will house the Trade and Exhibition Centre. The building has been restored back to its historical look, with its decorative elements, stained-glass windows and extant interiors of 1939 renovated.

VDNKh as seen by its first visitors in 1939Floriculture and Landscaping Pavilion's overhaul at VDNKh to complete in November

Record-breaking year

In April, VDNKh had its first direct communication session with the International Space Station crew. Visitors could watch it at the Cosmonautics and Aviation Centre. On 5 July, a satellite named after VDNKh was launched into space. Its launch was timed to the 80th anniversary of VDNKh. On 1 August, the spacecraft, moving in orbit, transmitted a signal to radio amateurs from all over the world informing about the anniversary of Russia‘s chief exhibition. 

Early in summer, exhibition hosted the first World Ballet Holidays festival. The longest ballet bar in the world (1.3 km) was mounted at VDNKh. More than one thousand people took part in a free master class by ballet dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze. The lesson was included in the Russian Book of Records as the biggest ballet lesson.

On 3 August, the exhibition guests were the first to see a drone show, unique for Russia. 500 drones with LEDs launched in the sky to make various shapes, symbols and inscriptions at an altitude of up to 300 m.

On 4 September, the VDNKh Is 80 themed train dedicated to Russia’s chief exhibition started running along the Moscow Circle Line. 

On 7 September, VDNKh set two records: the Guinness World Records adjudicators witnessed the biggest dance lesson attended by 3,570 people, and the biggest coffee sampling joined by 2,133 people.

On 22 November, the largest ice rink in Europe opened at VDNKh once again. Muscovites and Moscow guests can skate along the Central Alley from the Friendship of Peoples to the Stone Flower fountain. You are welcome to skate through 1 March. On 31 December, the site hosted New Year festivities.

In December, major competitions took place in the climbing centre located in Fruit and Vegetable Growing Pavilion No.22. The participants were the first to test the highest stand in Moscow (13 m).

In 2020, the work to revive VDNKh is to continue, with national pavilions of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan expected to open. The Landscape Park will be further developed, too. Visitors are in for new museum and exhibition displays held in the Worker and Collective Farm Woman Pavilion, Slovo Slavic Writing Centre, Cosmonautics and Aviation Centre and the VDNKh Museum.