VITEBSK, 17 May (BelTA) – Polotsk, which was declared the cultural capital of Belarus in 2010, opens a series of two-week celebrations dedicated to the 1148th anniversary of the town, BelTA learnt from the ideological department of the Polotsk Town Executive Committee. The celebrations will start on International Museum Day. This day will be dedicated to the National History and Culture Museum Reserve of Polotsk. All the 11 museums affiliated with the museum reserve will prepare special expositions and will work to a different schedule. The program titled Polotsk: Town of Museums will feature an exhibition of war newspapers and partisans’ leaflets, an open-air film show. The children’s museum will offer a computer game Operation Bagration to young visitors; an interactive exposition Military Hardware and Weapons will be arranged near the House of Officers. Apart from that, Polotsk will celebrate the anniversary of the pioneer movement. Distinguished Amateur Theatre of the Republic of Belarus Piligrim will stage Dostoevsky’s Uncle’s Dream. The highlight of the celebrations will be the unveiling of the reconstructed monument to the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812 on 21 May. The program of the festivities will feature a parade of the Polotsk garrison troops and the honor guard company of the Defense Ministry of Belarus and a concert of a military band. Apart from the monument to the Patriotic War heroes, a monument to the founder of the Belarusian cinema Yuri Tarich will be unveiled in Polotsk. The ancient Polotsk has a young face and athletic nature; this is why the youth and sportsmen living in the town will be directly involved in the celebrations. On Youth Day, 28 May, school graduates of Polotsk will march along the streets of the town. Classic music will be played near the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom on 28 May. On 29 May, the residents and guests of the town will see a solemn march of labor collectives, concerts of amateur and professional musicians, a pop song contest, exhibitions and fairs. The festivities will be concluded with fireworks.

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