Here Are Some Cool Things To Do In Astana This Summer

More than one million residents of Kazakhstan’s capital city are ready to welcome travelers and tourists, as the city readies to celebrate its twentieth anniversary as the seat of government, on July 6.

Astana became the capital in 1998, seven years after the country gained independence following the downfall of the Soviet Union and after relocating it from Almaty, which is situated in the far southeast and close to the border with Kyrgyzstan.

Over the past 20 years, Astana – located in the north, relatively close to Russia – has changed beyond recognition, as new, ultra-modern buildings dot the left bank of the Ishim River, which divides the city into two parts.

If you happen to be visiting Kazakhstan this summer, be ready for a grandiose celebration featuring more than 600 events, including music festivals, art exhibitions, forums, dance marathons and plenty of sports competitions.

Caspian News put together some of the best activities Astana has to offer during June and July, which will help you dip into the historical and cultural legacy of what is Central Asia’s largest country.

Enjoy Music

Attending a traditional music concert featuring sounds from the Turkic world, of which Kazakhstan is a part, is a ‘must do’ when traveling in this Caspian and Central Asia regions country of nearly 19 million. A festival called “Astana-Arkau” is scheduled in the capital for July 4-6 at the Astana Opera. Performances will feature spellbinding sacred songs and shamanic music, compositions for the khomus, a mouth harp; as well as traditional throat singing and songs from the repertoire of Turkic music found in Central Asia, Transcaucasia, Anatolia and the Volga region and Siberia.

A festival called “Astana-Arkau” is scheduled in the capital for July 4-6 at the Astana Opera.

Also worth checking out are the following events:

Hip-Hop Fest 2018, June 29 at Alau Ice Palace
Rock-Fest 2018, June 30 at Alau Ice Palace
DJ Fest 2018, July 1 at Alau Ice Palace
International Festival of Brass Orchestras, July 4 at City Square (Free entry!)
Gala-concert, July 5 at Independence Square (Free entry!)
“Spirit of Astana” International Festival, July 5-6 at Bayterek Tower (Free entry!)

Dip Into Art and Dance

From June 24-30, the Astana Opera will host the Eurasian Dance Festival, which will bring together leading performers from around the world, including those from the national ballets of China and Portugal; performers from Netherlands and Slovenia; and representatives from Russia’s legendary Bolshoi Theater. The list of performers also includes an iconic Spanish troupe, Castro Romero, which is one of the most renowned flamenco dancers and choreographers.

From June 24-30, the Astana Opera will host the Eurasian Dance Festival, which will bring together leading performers from around the world.

If dance is your thing, you may also want to check out the following events:

World Theater Festival, June 16-29 at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, EXPO Hall International Festival of Traditional Dance, June 29-30 at City Square (Free entry!)
Photo Festival “ASTANAAROUNDUS,” July 1-31 at Nurzhol Boulevard (Free entry!)
International Circus Festival “Echo of Asia,” July 4-8 at Astana Circus
International Street Dance Session, July 5-6 at City Square (Free entry!)

Be Sporty

If you are planning your visit for sometime between July and September, don’t miss the Festival of National Sports, known as Uli Dala Ruhi, which means “the spirit of the Great Steppe” in Kazakh. The event will be held at the Hippodrome Kazanat.

Kazakhstan is bringing together hundreds of athletes competing in athletic disciplines including as kokpar, audaryspak, tenge ilu, zhamby atu, Kazakhsha kuresi, and other traditional sports. Zhamby atu, for example, is normally a competition amongst men where the goal is to knock down a heavy silver disc, called a zhamby, hanging from a thin rope, with a bow and arrow. The winner is the person who succeeds with the fewest attempts by his arrow, which is shot while riding on horseback.

Here are some other sporting events worth attending: