May 21, 2019: the fourth edition of "Defense of Taganrog in 1855" festival and a large-scale Crimean War reenactment were held in Taganrog on May 17-19, 2019. The event was initiated by two aldermen of Taganrog City Duma - Mrs. Yelena Sirota and Mr. Gennady Borodin. Its first edition was held in May 2016.

Reenactors and enthusiasts from Republic of Belarus, Czech Republic and several Russian cities came to Taganrog and were housed in historic buildings of the 18th century barracks. Among participants were also cossacks of Taganrog district, cadets of Georgy Sedov college in Rostov-on-Don and Tambov Cadet Corps, who tried to recreate historical realities of that time.


The morning of May 18 started with a public prayer in St. Nicholas the Wonderworker church that witnessed the bombardment of the allies. During numerous attacks in 1855 this building was shelled by British and French warships. The cannonballs that were stuck in its walls were discovered during one of the renovations and were purposely left for display. Representatives of Taganrog Local Government, reenactors, citizens and visitors of the city gathered in front of a monument to defenders of the city that was erected near the church 14 years ago.


The program of the festival also included grand opening of the exhibition "Dear Valued Pavel Fyodorovich..." at Taganrog Museum of City Planning and Household, conference "Historic and patriotic heritage of Russia in the modern theater", sailing regatta "The Golden Ring of the Bosporan Kingdom". The festival has improved its international status and was visited not only by foreign reenactors, but also by descendants of Pavel Yordanov from Lebanon and France, a delegation of the "Forum Russische Kultur Gütersloh" headed by its Chairman Thomas Fischer, art photographer Enzo Rosamilia from Italy.

The main event - rout of the allied landing was traditionally staged on Pushkin Embankment near the actual landing places of the British and French on June 3 (May 22 Old Style), 1855.

The reenactment program included a historical dance workshop, screening of historical and documentary films dedicated to the Crimean War and the city of Taganrog, an old-fashioned fair entitled "The Old Southern Town", a historical costume contest, a ball and a fireworks show.