It is beautiful! I've twice attended the Festival of the Fountains (autumn closing ceremony) and it is truly a fantastic pyrotechnic (laser, light, water & fireworks) experience which also includes music & ballet . The closing ceremony takes place every year - usually during the middle of September (performances are held on Saturday and Sunday evenings - performances begin at 9 pm but we arrived when the park opened at 6 pm). It is open to the public and there were thousands in attendance both times that we went. Arrive early if you wish to secure a spot close to the Samson Fountain/Grand Cascade (which, IMHO, offers the best views). Ticket prices in 2019 were 1000 rubles per person. Each year, the festival is focused on a specific theme - the theme in 2019 was Empress 2019 (Catherine the Great).
There is also an opening ceremony held each spring but I find the closing ceremony much more spectacular.
You can read and ask questions about the festival on the Peterhof FB page here:
I have no idea of the 2020 Festival theme or if Covid 19 will impact the 2020 performances. You can email samson@peterhofmuseum.ru with questions if you are interested.
Note: The hydrofoils were operating from 6 till 8:30 pm. They were NOT operating after the show. From my info copied last year:
For the late evening after the Show the city minibus transfers will be increased. One may take the city minibuses № 224, 300 or 424 from the Upper Garden to "Avtovo" metro station in St. Petersburg, as well as city minibuses № 103 or 420 to "Leninsky Prospekt" metro station in St. Petersburg. The operating hours for the trains to St. Petersburg won't change either. One may take city bus № 356 or 351-A from the Upper Garden to the "New Peterhof" Station, from which it's 36 minutes till the Baltic Railway Station by train.
We have 3 year Russian Visas - it is for events such as the Ceremony of the Fountains that a visa really comes in handy!
Hi Dogs4fun,
how difficult is it to get a real visa for a US citizen? Lots of paperwork?
Master thread of St. Petersburg advice and recommendations from cruisers who've been!
in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea
Posted
Hi Dogs4fun,
how difficult is it to get a real visa for a US citizen? Lots of paperwork?