The 14th annual Tulip Festival is currently underway at the Kirov Central Park of Culture and Leisure on Yelagin Island in St. Petersburg. This year, the festival has set a new record with more than 226,000 tulips planted across the park. Seven large-scale flower beds have reached full bloom, offering visitors a spectacular visual experience with a vast array of colors and unique varieties.

The festival’s opening weekend, held on May 16 and 17, marked the beginning of the peak flowering season. Thousands of visitors attended the event to witness the vibrant landscape at its best. The celebration is set to continue through the upcoming weekend, May 23 and 24, providing another opportunity for the public to participate in the festivities.

In addition to the floral displays, the festival features a diverse cultural program, including live music, dance classes, artistic performances, workshops, and a watercolor exhibition. A highlight of this year's event is the "Art of Sugar Decoration" exhibition, which opened within the museum of the Yelaginoostrovsky Palace.

Located in the historic dining hall once used by the imperial family, the exhibition showcases intricate sculptures and delicate artificial flowers crafted entirely from sugar and caramel. According to the St. Petersburg Committee for Culture, the display highlights the exquisite craftsmanship of sugar artists. Access to the palace’s main exhibition is available through museum tickets.