From April 1 to 5 St. Petersburg will host the XI-thInternational Funny Festival dedicated to the birthday ofNikolay Gogol. The Clown Parade on April 1, that has become the tradition in St. Petersburg, starting from Morskaya street, 17, and going by Nevsky Avenue to the writer monument on MalyKonyushenny street will be the most striking part of the festival.

Traditionally, the festival itinerary begins with the midday cannon fire at Peter and Paul fortress; then, from 13.30 to 14.30, the clown parade led by a clever donkey and accompanied by drummers and cheerful bystanders, who are welcome to join the event, will proceed.

At 15.00 the festive concert program "Sorochinskaya Fair"will start. By tradition, it is openedby solemn ceremony of laying flowers and clowns’ noses to the monument of  N. V.Gogol .

The fireworks show at 17:30 in the Artists Courtyard (Nevsky, 32) will crown the show.