Call of Polesie festival

The Call of Polesie festival is hosted in the agrotown of Lyaskovichi, serving as a major showcase for the cultural heritage of the Gomel and Brest regions. Each participating district establishes a dedicated pavilion to present its unique customs, theatrical performances, and historical reenactments. The 2026 edition centers on the theme 'The Heart of Polesie in Women's Hands,' featuring a parade of living statues that celebrate prominent female figures from the 16th century to modern times.

The festival highlights traditional Belarusian craftsmanship through live demonstrations and interactive workshops. Visitors can observe the carving of oak dugout canoes—a craft recognized as intangible cultural heritage—as well as master classes in paper-cutting (vytinanka), lace-making, cooperage, and blacksmithing. The program also includes 'batleyka' (traditional nativity puppet theater), performances by wandering minstrel actors known as skomorokhi, and folk groups performing unique singing traditions from the Pripyat interfluve.

Culinary and ritual traditions are central to the experience, with the House of National Cuisine offering authentic regional recipes and traditional drinks such as birch kvass. The event also presents seasonal rites, including harvest celebrations like Bagach and evening gatherings known as Vecherki. By bringing together participants from across the Slavic region, the festival aims to safeguard the ancestral origins and distinctive worldview of the Poleshuk people within their historical homeland.