November 17 celebrations promise Pussy Riot, Hong Kong activist and letter from Dalai Lama
This year’s celebrations of November 17, the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, will see the centre of Prague and many other cities across Czechia fill up with events and festivities. The organisers of one of the largest annual events, the Festival of Freedom, opened up about their programme earlier this week. It includes the annual Concert for the Future on Prague’s Wenceslas Square, where there will be a performance by the famous Russian music group Pussy Riot, says spokesman Marek Cieslar.
“One of the main guests at the Concert for the Future are the Russian activist and punk band Pussy Riot. I can say for sure that they will be playing music, but let’s see what exactly they will be doing. One can never know what exactly is going to happen when it comes to Pussy Riot.
“However, the whole five hour programme will be full of inspiring guests and gigs. Personally, I cannot wait the speech of Hong Kong activist Samuel Chu, or the letter sent by his holiness the Dalai Lama.”
Are there any new additions to the festival this year that you would like to mention? I understand that, for example, the regular Sametové posvícení carnival procession is getting some input from Ukrainian children.
“Yes, the masks and all of the other costumes and artefacts that people will be wearing were created in cooperation with Ukrainian children and artists. The procession will set off from Prague’s Kampa park on November 17 at around 3pm.
“As far as new features are concerned, we will also be connecting all of our festival’s venues across Czechia via an online call. This call will also be broadcast on Wenceslas Square in Prague.”
What exactly do you mean by online call?
“It will basically be a Zoom call which anyone will be able to join. It will connect all of the venues across Czechia at a single moment in time, connecting all of the people and supporting their persistence for freedom and democracy.”
Festival of Freedom is taking place in 30 municipalities spread across Czechia this year. Among them is of course also the Moravian metropolis of Brno. What’s happening there?
“Yes, people in Brno will be able to visit multiple events spread across the city, but the centre of action will be on Freedom Square in the very centre of Brno. There will be speeches, debates as well as a traditional cimbalom music gig performed at the end.”
Is there something particular that you would perhaps recommend to foreigners and expats living in Czechia who want to check out the festival?
“The procession that we talked about before is, I think, one of the tips to go to and check out for expats. However, I would also recommend attending the Concert for the Future.
“For those in Brno I would recommend going to Freedom Square for the main event and listen to the cimbalom music at the end of it.”
