Top Must-Attend Festivals in Kazakhstan: Embrace the Vibrant Traditions

Kazakhstan, a huge and varied nation in Central Asia, is known for its rich cultural legacy, which is honored annually through a number of festivals and events. Top Must-Attend Festivals in Kazakhstan.

 Kazakhstan’s festivals provide an insight into the country’s rich history, customs, and dynamic modern life, ranging from traditional nomadic practices to contemporary cultural expressions. 

Here, we examine a few of Kazakhstan’s greatest holidays, emphasizing their historical significance, distinctive features, and customs.

List of the top must-attend festivals in kazakhstan

Here is a list of the top must-attend festivals in kazakhstan:

• Nauryz
• Kazakhstan Eliy 
• Almaty Apple Festival
• Festival of Shabyt Art
• Day of Astana
• Kazakhstan International Film Festival “Eurasia”
• Kazakhstan Kokpar Championship
• The Opera Festival in Astana
• Kazakhstan International Jazz Festival
• Kazakhstan’s Independence Day

1. Nauryz 

Photo Credit: Advantour

Nauryz, sometimes referred to as Navruz or Nowruz, is one of the most important holidays observed in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

 It is also the Persian New Year’s first day of spring. Nauryz is a season of rebirth, revitalization, and life celebration. 

The festival usually takes place on March 21, which is the day of the vernal equinox.

Nauryz is celebrated with considerable intensity and enthusiasm in Kazakhstan. 

Horse racing, traditional music and dance performances, vibrant parades, and other cultural events are all part of the celebrations. 

Preparing and sharing Nauryz kozhe, a traditional soup made with seven ingredients that represents the seven components of life and the union of diverse civilizations, is one of the main customs of the Nauryz people.

Families and communities get together to visit relatives, trade gifts, and enjoy feasts as a group. 

In addition to being a time for exuberant celebration, Nauryz also serves as a platform for introspection, forgiveness, and solidarity as people bid farewell to the challenges of the previous year and anticipate fresh starts.

2. Kazakhstan Eliy 

Photo Credit: Google

On May 1st, Kazakhstan celebrates Kazakh Eliy, also known as Kazakh National Unity Day, which honors the diversity and unity of Kazakhstan’s people.

 Established in 1995 to foster national cohesion and harmony among Kazakhstan’s diverse ethnic groups, it is a relatively young holiday.

3. Almaty Apple Festival

Photo Credit: Astana times

Kazakhstan’s largest city and cultural center, Almaty, celebrates its origins as the apple’s birthplace and its link to the fabled Silk Road with an annual Apple Festival. 

The event honors the apple, which has symbolic meaning in Kazakh culture and mythology, and is usually held in September.

The wild progenitor of the domestic apple, Malus sieversii, is said to have arisen in the Kazakhstani mountains. 

Apple-themed activities are available during the festival, such as orchard tours, cooking demos, apple-based dish and dessert competitions, and tastings of regional apple varietals.

The festival offers exhibitions, concerts, and other cultural activities that highlight the customs, attire, music, and culinary traditions of Kazakhstan’s numerous ethnic groups.

 It acts as a reminder of the nation’s multicultural past and the value of cooperation in creating a powerful and affluent country.

Along with highlighting the common ideals that unite Kazakhstan, Kazakh Eliy also recognizes the contributions made by various ethnic groups to the nation’s growth. 

It’s a day to honor cultural variety, think back on the past, and reiterate.

The Almaty Apple Festival draws both residents and visitors, providing a chance to enjoy the variety of Kazakhstan’s gastronomic customs and agricultural products. 

It also provides a forum for the advancement of environmentally friendly farming methods and the protection of the nation’s natural resources.

4. Festival of Shabyt Art

Photo Credit: Okay-Africa

A yearly cultural event, the Shabyt Art Festival showcases the skills of young musicians, dancers, artists, and performers from Kazakhstan and beyond. 

It is hosted in Astana, currently known as Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. In addition to promoting modern art and culture, the festival—which is typically held in July—aims to give up-and-coming artists a stage on which to exhibit.

The word Shabyt, which translates to “creativity” or “imagination” in Kazakh, offers a varied schedule of events spanning numerous artistic disciplines, including concerts, theater productions, film screenings, and seminars. Artists, art aficionados, and cultural practitioners come together here to interact and collaborate, which promotes creativity and dialogue.

The festival is a reflection of Kazakhstan’s dedication to developing its creative talent and encouraging innovation and cross-cultural exchange. 

It embraces international artistic trends and influences while also showcasing the vitality of modern Kazakh culture.

5. Day of Astana

Photo Credit: Akipress

Every year on July 6, Astana Day is observed to mark the anniversary of Astana’s (now Nur-Sultan) establishment as Kazakhstan’s capital. 

The celebration pays tribute to the city’s quick growth and metamorphosis into a contemporary metropolis, highlighting its notable buildings, cultural institutions, and economic accomplishments.

Parades, concerts, fireworks, cultural performances, and exhibitions showcasing Astana’s history, urban design, and cultural diversity are all part of the celebrations. 

Astana Day offers locals and guests a chance to commemorate the city’s achievements and look forward to seeing it develop into a thriving hub of creativity, innovation, and prosperity.

The holiday also highlights Kazakhstan’s commitment to creating inclusive, sustainable cities that offer chances for all citizens to prosper and its aim for balanced regional development.

6. Kazakhstan International Film Festival “Eurasia”

The greatest in both Kazakh and foreign film is exhibited at the esteemed “Eurasia” Kazakhstan International Film Festival. 

The festival was established in 1998 with the goal of fostering cooperation, communication, and cultural exchange both inside and outside of the Eurasian region.

A wide range of films, including documentaries, shorts, and feature films, are included in “Eurasia” and are up for honors and recognition in many categories. 

The festival provides a forum for networking, conversation, and exploration, drawing in filmmakers, industry professionals, critics, and movie enthusiasts from all over the world.

“Eurasia” features film screenings as well as masterclasses, panel discussions, and workshops on subjects including filmmaking, cross-cultural dialogue, and the function of cinema in society. 

As a center for creativity, innovation, and intercultural understanding, it draws attention to Kazakhstan’s expanding influence in the international cinema industry.

7. Kazakhstan Kokpar Championship

A exciting exhibition of ability, teamwork, and horsemanship, the Kazakhstan Kokpar Championship is held yearly to promote the historic equestrian sport of Kokpar in Kazakhstan. 

Kokpar fans from all over Kazakhstan gather for the event, which is hosted in different locales, to vie for the title of national champion.

Kokpar means “goat grabbing,” and it’s a game where two groups of people on horses compete to take control of a decapitated goat carcass. 

The goal is to repel opposing players while grabbing the cadaver and carrying it past the opponent’s goal line. 

Kokpar highlights the strength, dexterity, and camaraderie of both horse and rider in addition to the long-standing custom of nomadic sports in Kazakhstan.

The Kazakhstan Kokpar Championship is a cultural celebration including traditional food, dance, and music in addition to being an athletic event. 

It draws viewers from all throughout the nation, providing an insight into Kazakhstan’s rich equestrian history and the competitive spirit that binds its citizens.

8. The Opera Festival in Astana

Every year, the Astana Opera Festival showcases the skills of Kazakhstan’s top performing arts group, the Astana Opera, and is a celebration of opera and ballet. 

The festival was founded in 2013 and has since become a prominent cultural event that draws audiences and world-class performers from all over the world.

The festival’s varied schedule of chamber music, opera, ballet, and symphonic music performances take place in the cutting-edge Astana Opera House. 

In addition to modern artworks that showcase Kazakhstan’s creative creativity and cultural legacy, it features masterpieces from the past. 

Famous musicians, dancers, and singers dazzle the crowd with their skill and enthusiasm on stage.

The Astana Opera Festival nurtures creative brilliance and originality within Kazakhstan’s performing arts community by giving up-and-coming talent a chance to shine alongside established talents. 

Additionally, it fosters collaboration and cultural interaction with foreign artists and arts groups, thereby boosting the nation’s status as a center of artistic quality in Central Asia and enriching the country’s cultural landscape.

9. Kazakhstan International Jazz Festival

The Kazakhstan International Jazz Festival features world-class jazz musicians from Kazakhstan as well as other countries, celebrating one of the most popular musical genres worldwide.

 Since its founding in 2008, the festival has grown to become a highlight of Kazakhstan’s cultural calendar, drawing fans of all ages’ tastes in music as well as jazz enthusiasts.

A wide range of performances, including concerts, jam sessions, seminars, and educational initiatives, are scheduled for the festival. 

There is music for every taste and musical inclination at the Kazakhstan International Jazz Festival, ranging from classic jazz standards to avant-garde improvisations.

Apart from exhibiting well-known jazz performers, the festival offers a stage for up-and-coming artists to obtain visibility and acknowledgement. 

It promotes a deeper understanding and appreciation of jazz as a universal language that transcends boundaries and cultures by encouraging collaboration and cross-cultural exchange among performers.

10. Kazakhstan’s Independence Day

December 16th is Kazakhstan Independence Day, a holiday honoring the nation’s 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. 

It is an occasion for Kazakhstanis to consider their country’s path to independence and to commemorate the victories and advancements gained since then.

Across the nation, official ceremonies, parades, concerts, and cultural events are held to commemorate the holiday. 

As people unite to respect their common history, culture, and identity, it is a time for pride in the country and solidarity.

On this day of independence, Kazakhstan may also reaffirm its dedication to progress, stability, and peace. 

As Kazakhstan continues to work toward achieving its objectives of wealth, democracy, and social peace, now is the moment to look forward with hope and resolve.

These celebrations only scratch the surface of Kazakhstan’s vast array of cultural expressions. 

Every festival presents an opportunity to immerse oneself in the diversity, inventiveness, and hospitality of this intriguing nation, ranging from age-old customs to cutting-edge inventions.

 Kazakhstan’s festivals promise lifelong memories and amazing experiences, whether you’re drawn to the exuberant colors of Nauryz, the rhythmic beats of jazz, or the exhilarating excitement of Kokpar.