KaZantip, also known simply as "Z", is an electronic dance music festival that took place every year from 1992 to 2013 on the Crimean Peninsula; from 2002 to 2013, it was held in the village of Mysovoye, near Shchelkino. The entrance ticket is called a "viZa". It takes place for 2–3 weeks in August, and about 100,000 "paradiZers" visit each year. There is a cult of orange-coloured fashion and yellow suitcases associated with the festival. In 2014, the festival took place outside of Crimeafor the first time ever, in Anaklia, Georgia. In 2015, it was to be held 18–28 February on the Koh Puos Island in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, but was cancelled at the last minute by the local authorities.
History
The festival is named for the Kazantyp headland, near which it was held from 1995 to 1999. During that time, the festival took place inside the turbine hall of the unfinished Crimean Atomic Energy Station, near Shchelkino. The festival was moved to the Vesele settlement in 2000. Since 2001, the festival has been held in the Crimean town of Popivka. The president, creator, and initiator of Kazantip is Nikita I. In the beginning, the festival was very low-key and was nothing more than a bunch of windsurfers partying after a hard day's wave riding. But later, Nikita decided to include a techno and trance musicparty to celebrate the end of the season. This gave birth to the festival as it is today. The 2014 edition, called "Z22", took place in Anaklia, Georgia, due to the politically unstable situation in Crimea at the time. The Anaklia festival proved controversial from the start, as members of the Georgian Orthodox Church protested the event due to fears of drugs and nudity at the festival. The head of Georgia's National Tourism Administration also publicly claimed that he was fired over a dispute with the church about the 2014 festival's taking place in Anaklia.
Traditions
There is a special celebration called "Mayovka", or "Happiness Parade", which, as a rule, is held from the end of April to the beginning of May. This is the Z-national holiday, dedicated to spring, friendship, and happiness. During these days, Z-people dance, take part in a Happiness Parade, show their happiness to each other, and prepare for the big summer events.
Territory
KaZantip presents itself as a "virtual republic", with over 300 DJs on more than 14 dance floors, playing 21 hours per day. The republic is held on a piece of land covering 60,000 square metres.
