Maslenitsa Russian Festival 2011

This year the annual festival moves from Potters Fields Park to a larger stage in Trafalgar Square. Organised by Ensemble Productions, the traditional Russian pre-Lenten festival features traditional Russian dance and a broad musical line-up including rock group Moral Codex, pop band Chelsea and folk diva Ludmila Rumina. The children's programme includes a show by Theatre Chudaki and an interactive presentation of Maslenitsa traditions. Stalls offer the chance to buy handicrafts and try a variety of Russian cuisines and regional delicacies including borscht (beetroot soup), pelmeni (Russian-style pasta), beef stroganoff, traditional bubliki and vatrushki pastries and the quintessential Maslenitsa delicacy, blinis (pancakes).