Astana preparing for the New Year

On 20 December, at 11.00 Astana's Schoolchildren's Palace hosts a Presidential New-Year-party for orphans, top school students and children from needy and large families. The same facility, on 21 December, at 11.00 and 15.00 hosts New-Year parties arranged by Astana mayor for orphans and talented children.
Besides, festive events will be organized in other culture facilities of the city. Between 21 December and 12 January, a New-Year program "The keepers of wonders" will be shown in the city circus. New-Year children's parties will be held in the Congress Hall from 26 through 29 December and in "Zhastar" Palace from 25 through 29 December. A New-Year program "Save the New Year operation" will be presented in the Central Concert Hall "Kazakhstan" from 21 through 29 December. On 27 December, a Metropolitan New-Year ball will take place in "Korme" exposition center.
The culmination event will be a festive New-Year concert which is to be held on 31 December from 20.00 to 01.00 at the Central square in front of the city administration building. It will involve soloists of Astana State Philharmonic and Kazakh pop stars. Presenters of the concert will be popular KVN residents of Astana city. The concert will end with a youth disco for residents and guests of the capital.
As part of preparation to the New Year celebration, 11 skating rinks are equipped in Astana. The largest rink is traditionally open on the Akbulak river. Its area is 32 500 sq m. The territory around the rink is decorated with 13 figures made of fiberglass 2.5 meters high and LED screen. The rink administration works to provide safety and order .
One more skating rink is located at a square in front of "Sine Tempore" shopping mall. 9 more ice rinks are located in the premises of city schools: 2 rinks near gymnasium #5; 2 rinks near school #27 and other skating rinks are near school #28, school #30, school #31, #32 and school #53. One more skating rink is made in "Zheruyik" park. Behind the Schoolchildren's Palace, 2 slides have been made.
Besides, one can see hard landscaping in Astana: at the intersection of Saryarka av. and Irchenko st. - a Souvenir ball with Christmas trees; at the intersection of Abay av. and Zhenis av. - a Christmas tree of snowflakes; on the square in front of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Symbol of the year with a blizzard; near Abay monument one can see a Winter cherry; at the corner of Kenesary st. and Zhenis av. - a Winter lady; and in the Chess public garden - Snowflakes.