In the run-up to the New Year, drivers from Novosibirsk are pulling out all the stops to celebrate their city as this year’s New Year capital of Russia. The festive mood is tangible on the streets where enthusiastic car clubs join forces to create a spectacular show of engineering and creativity. The centerpiece is a massive snowflake formed entirely from parked cars, a display that stands as the largest of its kind in the country. The crowd around it grows daily as residents and visitors alike marvel at the scale and precision of the arrangement, recognizing it as a bold visual declaration that the holiday season has truly arrived in the city.
Organizers explain that the snowflake symbol was chosen not only for its beauty and seasonal resonance but also for its resonance as a public symbol for the city’s festive identity. The effort was spearheaded by Lyudmila Kachesova and her fellow members of several automotive clubs who wanted to greet the public with something memorable while drawing attention to the New Year’s spirit that residents share. The snowflake has become a recognizable emblem of Novosibirsk’s holiday mood, a beacon that unites the community behind a single, sparkling image of celebration and togetherness.
But the spectacle did not stop with a single snowflake. The same group took the opportunity to reframe the crowd’s favorite letters, transforming the characters “NSK” and the number “2023” into three new configurations crafted from cars. Each formation is meant to be a playful nod to the city’s identity and its excitement for the season ahead. The entire display was captured from above using a quadcopter, offering a dramatic aerial perspective that reveals both the sheer scale of the installation and the precise artistry involved in aligning the vehicles into crisp, legible shapes. The resulting footage showcases a city proudly wearing its holiday spirit on street level and from the skies alike, a cinematic reminder of how local passion can turn ordinary streets into a stage for communal celebration.
As the New Year draws closer, the conversation around this event expands beyond spectacle. Residents discuss how such displays foster local pride, stimulate conversations about urban spaces used for public art, and demonstrate how small groups can mobilize to produce something that resonates with people far beyond car enthusiasts. The organizers emphasize that this is not merely a display of vehicles; it is a cooperative effort that brings together families, neighbors, and visitors in a shared moment of joy, reflection, and anticipation for what the new year may bring. The snowflake, the NSK letters, and the 2023 motif collectively tell a story of a city that embraces creativity as a communal language and invites everyone to participate in its festive narrative.
Vote – win Lada!
Participants are invited to take part in the Behind the Wheel Grand Prix vote to help decide the standout car innovations of the year. The process encourages residents and visitors to weigh in on which automotive concepts, designs, or features they believe best represent progress and style in the current market. The act of voting becomes a small but meaningful way for people to engage with the local car culture, express their preferences, and feel part of a larger community conversation about what makes a vehicle meaningful in daily life and in the context of celebration and year-end reflection.
As a token of appreciation for the time spent on the survey, three ferrets will be raffled off among all participants. The organizers emphasize that the prize is a fun, lighthearted bonus designed to increase participation and add an element of excitement to the event. Everyone who completes the questionnaire has a fair chance, and the chance remains open for entries submitted before the end of February this year, inviting steady participation and engagement from the community as the new year begins.
COMPLETE THE 2023 DRIVING GRAND PRIX QUESTIONNAIRE
Note: The event underscores how regional celebrations can blend creativity, community involvement, and a touch of playful competition to create memorable experiences during the holiday season. It also demonstrates how urban spaces can be repurposed for festive displays that inspire pride and shared joy across diverse groups in Novosibirsk and beyond.