August 28, 2017: birthday of the Taganrog-native actress Faina Ranevskaya was celebrated by the award-winning "The Umbrella Morning" festival. The festivities started on the morning of August 26 with the sailing regatta "Oggetto Open Cup 2017" dedicated to the actress, but the main events were held next day, August 27, on Faina Ranevskaya's birthday.

In the morning a ceremony was held in front of the artist's birth house on 10, Frunze Street. The building is now part of the Taganrog Group of Museums (Taganrog State Literary and Historical-Architectural Museum-Reserve) and is currently undergoing reconstruction to restore it to its original appearance. In 2019 the memorial museum will open its doors to the visitors.


Admirers of the actress laid flowers in front her monument and participated in a street performance called "Our Lady With An Umbrella", inspired by the her film roles, cameos and animation film characters voiced by Faina Ranevskaya.

Hundreds of people went for a march across Taganrog downtown area, many wore hats and carried umbrellas or parasols as a tribute to her most famous role of Lyalya in the 1940 film "The Foundling". Among the guests of the festival were participants of the Bridge of Arts festival, expert board members of the national Russian Event Awards.


"Allow me to extend my sincere congratulations on two occasions: The day of Russian Cinema and the birth day of the great actress Faina Ranevskaya" — told Mrs. Inna Titarenko, City Council Chairwoman and City Executive — "Today we're reminded again that Taganrog has given the world so many great people of arts. Faina Ranevskaya is another name that stands out in terms of what the future holds for this city: prospects of tourism development, new cultural and social initiatives. The presence of the leading national experts, Rostov Oblast Government officials and creative intellectuals at our celebration shapes great expectations.".

The participants of the improvised "march with umbrellas and parasols" went from Ranevskaya statue down Turgenevskiy Street and the Old Stone Steps to the beach and walked along the Pushkin Embankment to be photographed by the mass media.


A total of 20 other sites were used to celebrate the festival dedicated to the Russian actress: several art workshops and a fashion show in the Gorky Park, tasting session of traditional Swedish jam "Sylt", made following the recipe of Astrid Lindgren, several entertainment programs and contests for kids, etc. More than 5000 people participated in the festive events on August 26-27, 2017.