© Sputnik / Mikhail Fomichev / Go to the mediabankThe Russian capital celebrated its City Day on a grand scale last weekend: about 3.5 million people took part in holiday events held around the city on Saturday, with some 500,000 revelers partying in downtown Moscow while the festivities continued into Sunday.
The Russian capital celebrated its City Day on a grand scale last weekend: about 3.5 million people took part in holiday events held around the city on Saturday, with some 500,000 revelers partying in downtown Moscow while the festivities continued into Sunday.
Concerts, theatrical performances, pageants and other events began Saturday morning across the capital.
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Concerts, theatrical performances, pageants and other events began Saturday morning across the capital.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankThe Russian President Dmitry Medvedev described the capital in his opening speech a "symbol of permanent renovation in the country" and pointed to the progress in social policy issues which have taken place in Moscow over last years.
The Russian President Dmitry Medvedev described the capital in his opening speech a "symbol of permanent renovation in the country" and pointed to the progress in social policy issues which have taken place in Moscow over last years.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankSeptember 5, 2009. Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia at the opening ceremony of City Day in Moscow's downtown Tverskaya Square.
September 5, 2009. Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia at the opening ceremony of City Day in Moscow's downtown Tverskaya Square.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Fedorenko / Go to the mediabankThe Russian Air Force ensured the weather was good for the celebrations.
The Russian Air Force ensured the weather was good for the celebrations.
© RIA Novosti . Mikhail Fomichev / Go to the mediabankThousands of people gathered in downtown Moscow at - Manezhnaya, Lubyanskaya, Teatralnaya and Pushkinskaya squares.
Thousands of people gathered in downtown Moscow at - Manezhnaya, Lubyanskaya, Teatralnaya and Pushkinskaya squares.
© RIA Novosti . Владимир ФедоренкоPeople sang Moscow songs, danced and waved Russian flags.
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© RIA Novosti . Владимир Федоренко
People sang Moscow songs, danced and waved Russian flags.
© RIA Novosti . Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankSome revelers wore colorful wigs and glasses being sold on the city's streets.
Some revelers wore colorful wigs and glasses being sold on the city's streets.
© RIA Novosti . Grigoriy Sisoev / Go to the mediabankMore than 2,000 couples got married in the capital on Moscow City Day.
More than 2,000 couples got married in the capital on Moscow City Day.
© RIA Novosti . Grigoriy Sisoev / Go to the mediabankForty couples held their wedding ceremonies at Moscow's historic locations, including the country estates of Ostankino (northeastern Moscow), Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki (southeastern Moscow), Kuskovo (eastern Moscow), Tsaritsino (southern Moscow) and Poklonnaya Gora, Moscow's main WWII memorial, and the Pushkin Apartment Museum on Moscow's Old Arbat.
Forty couples held their wedding ceremonies at Moscow's historic locations, including the country estates of Ostankino (northeastern Moscow), Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki (southeastern Moscow), Kuskovo (eastern Moscow), Tsaritsino (southern Moscow) and Poklonnaya Gora, Moscow's main WWII memorial, and the Pushkin Apartment Museum on Moscow's Old Arbat.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Fedorenko / Go to the mediabankThe traditional tray carrying competition for waiters took place on Teatralny Lane.
The traditional tray carrying competition for waiters took place on Teatralny Lane.
© RIA Novosti . Petr Chernov / Go to the mediabankVisitors in a park in Maryino, southeast Moscow, were able to watch - or even take part in - “Extreme Russian games”.
Visitors in a park in Maryino, southeast Moscow, were able to watch - or even take part in - “Extreme Russian games”.
© Petr Chernov / Go to the mediabankVisitors enjoyed a fireworks display, as well as motorbike, bicycle and car stunts.
Visitors enjoyed a fireworks display, as well as motorbike, bicycle and car stunts.