The tomato festival was held in Ivye for the second time. Ivye is by right considered the tomato capital of Grodno Oblast. Every year local farmers supply over 4,500 tonnes of these vitamin-rich vegetables all over Belarus and the near abroad. The festival was wholly dedicated to Ivye-grown tomatoes. According to a tradition launched last year, the first jar of fresh tomatoes was pickled on the main stage. Visitors were treated with a gigantic tomato sandwich that was 4.25 meters long. The contests for the biggest tomato and the best tomato dish were held during the festival. The festival wrapped up with flying a tomato air balloon.
The event was organized by the Ivye District Executive Committee.
Ivye Tomato Festival
Chairman of the Ivye District Executive Committee Alexander Bulak
Head of the culture department of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Yelena Klimovich (on the right) receives a basket of tomatoes
Opening ceremony
Visitors were treated with a gigantic tomato sandwich that was 4.25 meters long.
Grodno Oblast Deputy Governor Ivan Zhuk
According to a tradition launched last year, the first jar of fresh tomatoes was pickled on the main stage. Deputy Chair of the Ivye District Executive Committee Lidia Nosul, Chairman of the Ivye District Executive Committee Alexander Bulak and head of the ideology, culture and youth department at the Ivye District Executive Committee Svetlana Kishkel (left to right).
Photo by Leonid Shcheglov