The tourist festival Antonovka Apples has taken place in the city of Elets, Lipetsk region, for the fourth time.

The name of the event refers to the short story by Ivan Bunin. Indeed, the festival itself is closely connected with the life and works of Bunin – its organizers make the efforts to recreate flavuor of that time when the would-be winner of the Nobel Prize was living in Elets as well as all that atmosphere that has influenced the main themes of Bunin works.

On the day of the event in the city streets one may see gentlemen and ladies dressed exactly like the writer's contemporaries, horse carriages instead of cars, numerous guests of the festival by their own hands could weave lace or paint a folk toy in the Town of Craftsmen. At the event one would come across the main character of the costumed celebration - Ivan Bunin himself, played by a student of EletsStateUniversity.
By tradition, the festivities took place in the old part of the city. “Trade street” and "Noble Garden” turned out into the main places of the festival. At “Trade street” (that’s how the city's central Lenin Square and leading to it Mir street is still called by the citizens of Elets) the Apple bazaar took place. People were standing in lines to buy the main symbol of the holiday – the apples of antonovka kind.

The farmers from all over region specially come to Elets at the festival day to trade their apples and seedlings.

By the way, one may buy apples at the festival for as low as only 20 roubles per 1 kilogram. Some of them were offered free of charge - carts and baskets with fragrant antonovka apples were placed everywhere.
Alongside, trade rows with kalatch (kind of fancy loaf) and samovars have welcome people.

The special feature about improvised outdoor cafes was dishes of Russian cuisine made from apples.
At the site nearby the competition - fashion show of folk and contemporary costumes "From  grandmother's chest" has drawn the attention.