In Kirov Square in Irkutsk, an ice town is being built, dedicated to literary plots. 2015 was declared the Year of Russian Literature. The main decoration will be six panels with works by artist Raisa Bardina-Shpirko, and nearby there will be ice figures of favorite fairy tale characters, from Ilya Muromets and Baba Yaga to the Frog Princess. The town will be completed by the opening of the main city Christmas tree on December 25, after which a photo contest for the most popular ice figure will start on Instagram.

A winter ice town is being built in Kirov Square. In developing its main concept, the organizers focused on literary plots, since the coming year of 2015 has been declared the Year of Russian Literature.
At the recommendation of the regional branch of the Union of Artists, the centerpiece of the design will be six panels featuring works by the outstanding graphic artist and illustrator of children’s books Raisa Bardina-Shpirko, framed in decorative ice borders. In 2015, Raisa Nikolayevna will celebrate her 85th birthday. The scenes from Russian folk tales depicted by her will be continued in the images of ice figures that will be installed in the square – Ilya Muromets, Baba Yaga, Zmey Gorynych, Grandfather and the Turnip, the Frog Princess, and other beloved characters. The fairy-tale ice figures will be small, up to one and a half meters tall, so that children can take photos at their level. Except, of course, for the large compositions of Father Frost and the Snow Maiden, the large and small ice slides, and the children’s ice labyrinth.
The construction of the ice town will be completed by the opening of the city’s main New Year tree, which will take place on December 25 at 18:30. Immediately after the opening, a photo contest for the most popular ice figure will be launched in the “Events of Irkutsk” account on the Instagram social network. Everyone who posts a photo with this figure with the hashtag #елкаиркутск will receive prizes with New Year symbols.
Based on materials from the press service of the administration of the city of Irkutsk.