St. Petersburg’s “Fontanka SUP” carnival is celebrating its tenth anniversary, with participants marking the occasion with a flash mob and AI-enhanced photos from past events. The event, which has drawn 58,000 SUP surfers over the years, is known for its unique costumes, musical performances, and even animal participants.

The “Fontanka SUP” has evolved to be a notable event in St. Petersburg’s cultural scene, attracting attention globally from major news outlets. The festival has hosted charity events, set records, and become the country’s main river disco, complete with music from bridges and embankments.

Participants showcase their creativity with original costumes, turning the waterways into a vibrant display of characters from various fictional works. The event also features unique participants, including the “Daring Walruses” club who have organized Arctic-themed swims in collaboration with Gazprom Neft.

Beyond human participants, pets have become a fixture of the event, with dogs, parrots, turtles, rats, reptiles, and even snails joining the water parade. A walrus has even been a participant in past events, sitting on the bow of a SUP board and eventually embarking on his own independent journey.

The “Fontanka SUP” carnival has drawn participants from 64 countries and 850 cities, including students from Brazil and India who brought a vibrant carnival atmosphere to the event. Street musicians, jazz bands, and DJs contribute to the festive atmosphere, creating impromptu stages along the waterways and on the SUPs themselves.