Viva Braslav organizer explained why festival tickets became so expensive
Oleg Labuts, the founder of the Viva Braslav music festival, told in an interview with "Minskaya Pravda" how preparations for this year's event are progressing, why ticket prices have significantly increased in recent years, what changes await visitors, and what difficulties organizers have to face.
According to him, the increase in ticket prices is primarily due to a significant rise in the costs of organizing performances. While many artists previously performed with a minimal team, now leading performers arrive with dozens of musicians, technical specialists, and accompanying personnel. For them, it is necessary to organize flights, accommodation, transport, food, and all conditions for concert preparation.
Organizers also allocate additional time for possible flight delays to avoid disrupting the performance schedule. As a result, the budget for inviting artists has significantly increased in recent years.
Oleg Labuts noted that new legislative requirements also affected the festival's operation. According to the new rules, only organizers included in a special state register can hold cultural and entertainment events. Due to these new requirements, many traditional festivals in various parts of Belarus have been canceled this year.
Oleg Labuts
Preparation for Viva Braslav begins long before the festival opens. One of the most complex tasks was organizing the venue on the shore of the Braslav Lakes. Several years ago, this required coordinating the temporary closure of a republican highway and organizing detours. Now, this scheme has been perfected and is used during the festival.
Natural conditions also create considerable problems. Last year, due to high water levels, part of the camping area was flooded, so organizers had to drain sections, level the ground, and reinforce pedestrian paths. Earlier, the possibility of holding the festival on a peninsula in the Braslav district, which resembles Swiss landscapes, was also considered, but this project is currently impossible to implement, as it would require the construction of a long pontoon bridge.
This year, the organizers have prepared several innovations. For the first time, a so-called "quiet camping" will operate, where silence rules will be in effect from 23:00 to 8:00. This is done for people who want to relax without loud music at night.
Another novelty will be a separate stage in the tent city. Additionally, a pre-festival party with DJs will take place already on Thursday, a day before the official opening of the festival. Thus, the festive program will effectively start earlier.
The organizers will also expand the sports zone, where it will be possible not only to participate in competitions but also to support teams. For those wishing to explore the region, excursion programs around the Braslav district have been prepared. Guests will be able to visit Mount Mayak, local churches, ancient estates, and other interesting places.
Separately, Oleg Labuts explained why showers in the camping remain paid. According to him, creating showers in field conditions requires significant financial costs and special equipment. In addition, payment helps avoid long queues: if the shower were free, many visitors would use it much longer, which would create inconveniences for others. The organizers hope that in the future, the culture of camping holidays in Belarus will develop, and visitors will increasingly arrive with their own equipment.
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