August 27, 2019: birthday of the Taganrog-native actress Faina Ranevskaya was traditionally celebrated in Taganrog by the new edition award-winning "The Umbrella Morning" festival. The event has been held since 2008 and continues to attract and fascinate more and more tourists. The main events were held on August 24-25 in Taganrog's downtown area, in front of the artist's birth house and in the yacht club.


The historical building that belonged to Ranevskaya's parents 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. The memorial museum will open its doors to the visitors after the end of reconstruction.


Award-winning actress Faina Ranevskaya has been considered to be one of the greatest Russian and Soviet artists of all time, especially famous for numerous supporting roles. She is known to the Russian-speaking audience thanks to such famous phrases as "Beauty is a horrible power" (from Cinderella motion picture) and "He flew away, but promised to return" (from Karlsson-on-the-Roof). 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. For two days a part of Taganrog's historic downtown area was transformed into a pedestrian area for the march of people wearing hats and carrying umbrellas or parasols as a tribute to her most famous role of Lyalya in the 1940 film "The Foundling".


Show programs, theatricals, brass band orchestra performances, quizzes, movie screenings, photo areas, food courts, exhibition and sale of books and souvenirs dedicated to Ranevskaya. Taganrog Visitor Information Center was the festival's official partner and created several additional interactive areas - "Breakfast at Funny's" offering all kinds of sweets as in Astrid Lindgren's Karlsson-on-the-Roof. The book adaptation featuring Faina a.k.a. "Fanya" or "Funny" Ranevskaya as Fröken Hildur Bock has become an integral part of the Russian cartoon industry. Another popular photo area was "On a visit to Fanya".


The winner of the contest "The Character of Faina Ranevskaya" was awarded the main prize sponsored by Anyticket company and Taganrog Visitor Information Center - tickets to Mossovet Theater in Moscow, where the great actress worked till the end of her life.

The festival has turned into one of the leading Taganrog events.