Hundreds of winter sports enthusiasts transformed the snowy slopes of Sheregesh resort in Siberia into a cosmic celebration this weekend, donning alien outfits, astronaut suits, and glowing neon costumes to mark Russia’s Cosmonautics Day in true out-of-this-world fashion.
The vibrant event was part of GrelkaFest, an annual high-altitude festival that blends skiing, live music, themed performances, and colorful costumes. This year’s theme paid tribute to Yuri Gagarin’s historic 1961 spaceflight — the first human voyage into space — with skiers turning the mountain into a scene from a sci-fi film.
Participants slid down the slopes in gravity-defying garb to the soundtrack of DJs and cheering crowds. The event, which runs from April 10 to 13, is a major highlight of the spring ski season, drawing visitors from across Russia and beyond.
“I’ve been dreaming about this for a whole year,” said Oksana, one of the costumed skiers. “It’s not just about skiing — it’s about living a fantasy.”
Another skier, Yevgenia, described the festival as a rare chance to reconnect with joy. “In times like these, it’s really valuable to give yourself a good mood,” she said.
Set against the majestic Kuznetsk Alatau mountains, GrelkaFest blends adventure, community, and culture — with Cosmonautics Day providing the perfect reason to launch into fun.
