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Marching with the brass band.

In the middle of June Sevastopol celebrates its anniversary. This year it will be 229^th city’s birthday! It is quite natural, that for its long history the city gains a lot of different customs and traditions. But we are not going to stop at these achievements! We will continue to expand our habits and good practices. For example, this year at third time we have a very special festival for our citizens and guests, which arrived at the city’s birthday: "Sevastopol Military Tattoo" fest. This is a number of performances of the military bands from different countries.

 

Just imagine the picture: sea, lines of ships at the roadstead, and on the landing stage plays the military brass band. Handsome military men in the neat uniform, the winds, shining with golden light, and military marches, rhythmic and bravura - something inside hit you to spread your shoulders and go marching!

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Today we have perfect opportunity to do this. Three-day festival “Sevastopol Military Tattoo” starts with the ceremonial march of all participants at the main streets of the city. We were visited by the military bands from Kiev and Russia, Poland and Germany, France and Turkey and even from Algeria!

Music rumbling, spectators applauding in tact, some of them are joining to the columns at the streets and marching along together. At the pavements there are gathering a lot of people, with the sounds of music opens shops’ and offices’ doors, people stands on the balconies and looks throw the windows. Everyone wants to see Hymn of Sevastopol, boisterous potpourri from soviet songs and real exotic like bagpipes playing or jazz, played by colorful Algerians. And just have a look at the Ukrainian drum major – two meter-high slim young man with charming white smile. His operation with the conductor’s baton is something amazing, acrobatic feats and juggling. It is seems, that he as alone conducting all the pageant: the bands’ plays, the people’ applauds and even the city traffic.

Merry procession rounds the main city circle and entering the Ushakov square. Button gesture - and the rows of cars moving from opposite side stop, providing free way for us. Really, when I’ll have the possibility to walking along the main street with such a great pomp?!

The parade is over, but fiesta performance is in full play. One hour later all these bands will play at the open-air stages around the city, at all places from summer concert stage “Rakuska” to national park Chersoneses. And on week-end two big gala-concerts will take place at St. Michael’s artillery battery and on the square at Cape Khrustalny. You are welcome! It will be interesting, spectacular and madly stirring!