For many years, folklore festival Sodruzhestvo has been an integral part of City Day celebrations. The 13th international folklore festival Sodruzhestvo (Commonwealth) was held in Rostov Oblast and Taganrog, September 11-16, 2013. It was organized by International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (a non-government organization of UNESCO), Rostov Oblast Government, Rostov Regional House of Folk Arts, Taganrog Local Government.


The "Commonwealth" is aimed at popularization and development of national creativity and original culture of nations living in Russia and in its neighboring countries, promoting and strengthening artistic contacts, friendship and mutual understanding between the Commonwealth of Independent States and Baltic States; improvement of the performance technique; exchange of experience in study and use of native forms and national arts and culture traditions in modern practice.

The festival kicked off with the grand opening on September 11, 2013 at the Taganrog City House of Culture. Folk groups from Latvia, Moldova, Belarus, Estonia, Ukraine and Russian regions - Vladimir Oblast, Rostov Oblast and Adygea gave several concerts in Taganrog and Rostov Oblast.