Fort Ross Festival 2013
In partnership with:
Festival will take place at Fort Ross Historic State Park (map)
Exact coordinates of the park’s entrance for navigators are 38.51757,-123.24699
Saturday, July 27th – 10am to 7pm
Sunday, July 28th – 10am to 4:30pm
This year’s weekend-long celebration brings together artists & performers from around the world covering the breadth of historic Settlement Ross’s multicultural community, all performing in an outdoor amphitheater with the Pacific ocean as our backdrop. Here are a few highlights:
Sponsored by:
Saturday July 27, 2013
Inna Zhelannaya, Russian folk music with a psychedelic twist, brought to Fort Ross through a generous grant from Russia’s Ministry of Culture
Aleksander Liapin, master guitarist and musical innovator.
Slavyanka Men’s Chorus, folk and Orthodox liturgical music.
Northern Rainbow, a folkloric song and dance ensemble coming from Vologda, Russia, with generous support from the Vologda regional government.
Carlos Reyes – Brilliant Latin Jazz and Traditional Folkloric Music.
Members of the local Kashaya Pomo tribe performing traditional song and dance
Chapel Service: Join clergy and faithful of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of San Francisco and other parishes for hierarchical liturgy at our Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Chapel, blessing of baidarkas, and Commemoration of the Dead at the cemetery.
Sunday July 28, 2013
Inna Zhelannaya, Russian folk music with a psychedelic twist, brought to Fort Ross through a generous grant from Russia’s Ministry of Culture.
Northern Rainbow, a folkloric song and dance ensemble coming from Vologda, Russia, with generous support from the Vologda regional government.
Los Cenzontles/The Mockingbirds, a celebration of Mexico’s rural roots music
Kitka, exquisite harmonies from Eastern Europe and Beyond.
Cossacks presented by students of Stanislav Holodkov, world champion of mixed martial arts, Ataman of Cossack National Union, demonstrate hand-to-hand combat.
Both Saturday and Sunday:
A Day in the Life of Settlement Ross: Step into the shoes of those who lived and worked at Fort Ross in 1840. See the world through the eyes of the last commander Alexander Rotchev, his wife Yelena Rotcheva and family, Russian naturalist Ilya Voznesensky, visiting Naval Captain Voevodski and French diplomat Duflot de Mofras, promyshlenki, craftsmen, their wives and others. Our dedicated cast of volunteers will bring this history to life. Thanks go to Renova Fort Ross Foundation for underwriting the historic costumes and script writing.
Kedry: Russian House Kedry is made up of families who live in Silicon Valley with the goal to create a rich cultural and linguistic environment for the Russian community and beyond. Kedry organizes interactive seasonal celebrations based on Russian village traditions as well as smaller events including art and craft classes and workshops for children and parents, as well as participation in historical reenactments.
Interpretive Food: What’s Cooking? We will feature foods from three cultures that were prominent at Fort Ross – Alaskan Native, California Native, and Russian. We will cook all dishes over an open fire using techniques our foremothers would find familiar. Stop by – we look forward to your questions!
Craftspeople demonstrating hands-on crafts: Settlement Ross was one of the first industrial centers of California and many skilled craftspeople were hard at work here, building California’s first ships, windmill, clay bricks, barrels, and much more. Today you can watch a blacksmith, tinsmith, weaver, spinner, felt maker, laundress, soap maker, carpenter, broom maker and many others busily preparing their wares, perhaps to trade with the Spanish, Mexicans or Bostonians. Several of the crafts allow you to join the fun–learn to make your own rope, mini-basket, or candle.
Militia: Witness the militia run through their paces – and prepare yourself for the cannon firing!
Children’s Activities: Join in old-world games, listen to storytelling, watch a puppet show, or gather beads from each participating booth to make a special Fort Ross necklace.
Magasin/Warehouse: The Magasin, or fur warehouse, is the latest building to be reconstructed within the fort walls. Tour the new building and learn how warehouses at Ross served as the general company store for employees.
Fort Ross Festival underwritten by Chevron and the Russian companies Transneft and Sovcomflot.
Inna Zhelannaya performances are underwritten through a generous grant by Russia’s Ministry of Culture, with funding also provided by Russkiy Mir. “Northern Rainbow” is underwritten by Russia’s Vologda Regional government, with funding also provided by Russkiy Mir. Historic costumes generously donated by Renova Fort Ross Foundation.
California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact us at 707/847-3437.