Mir Castle to resume Christmas balls

      Mir Castle will play host to the first costume Christmas balls in its modern history. The costume balls will be held in the 17th century halls of the castle on 4, 5 and 6 January 2013. The Portrait Hall of the castle will become the venue for a real Viennese ball with 120-year old traditions. The ball will feature live instrumental music, Neapolitan songs, performances by opera divas, games, an extensive dance program with waltz, polonaise, etc. On 5 January a retro salon – exactly the same as in the 1920-1930s - will open in the Ivory Hall. Visitors to the salon will be able to watch silent movies, dance swing, jazz and etc.
On 6 January the castle will open its doors for little ladies and gentlemen. Children aged 6-14 will be entertained by the Father Frost and Snow Maiden.
      Mir Castle has a long-standing tradition of holding balls. The castle used to be the property of the Radziwill and Svyatopolk-Mirsky princely families for whom grand and splendid balls were an integral part of social life.
      In 2000 the Mir Castle complex was added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. From January to August 2012, the museum welcomed 190,000 visitors, up 55,000 as against the same period last year.