City of West Hollywood Russian-Speaking Community Cultural Heritage Month Continues

The City of West Hollywood annually celebrates the rich traditions brought to the United States by Russian-speaking immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Each year, the City recognizes Russian-Speaking Community Cultural Heritage Month to embrace the diverse identities and cultural history of Russian-speaking community members whose origins span wide-ranging territories with varied religious and social traditions.

Events during the second half of the month will include the 25th Annual WeHo Mishka Festival on Sunday, May 17, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Plummer Park, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. Hosted by the City and its Russian-Speaking Advisory Board, this anniversary year celebrates the rich traditions, creativity, and lasting contributions of the Russian-speaking community through art, history, language, and performance.

This family-friendly outdoor event showcases the music, food, dance, and storytelling traditions of a community composed of more than 100 ethnic groups. This year promises an unforgettable evening of excitement and intrigue, featuring a special guest appearance by the legendary Rustam Shtar, a dazzling performance from the renowned Queen of Dance, Kristine W., and internationally acclaimed masters across multiple genres - along with many more surprises yet to be revealed.

This year's celebration also includes the Bridging Through Colors art exhibit that uses color as a universal language to bring people together across cultures, generations, and lived experiences. The project is designed to support West Hollywood's diverse community, especially immigrant and multicultural audiences, by creating a welcoming civic-space program where residents can connect through visual storytelling, shared values, and creative expression. The exhibit will run Thursdays through Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, May 17, 2026.

The WeHo Mishka Festival offers the opportunity to explore the cultural richness brought to the United States by Russian-speaking immigrants and celebrate community pride. Event details are available at www.weho.org/RSCweho.

Closing out the month's festivities is the 20th Annual Russian-Speaking Community Awards Ceremony and the 9th Annual Classical Night in May Concert, which will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the City's Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The event honors individuals, groups, and initiatives that have made meaningful contributions to the community. Following the awards, attendees will enjoy a variety of performances of world-class classical music. Admission is free. Donations will also be collected to directly benefit Casa De Luz shelter. For more information, please contact [email protected] or call (323) 848-6501.

The City of West Hollywood is home to a large community of people from regions of the former Soviet Union. Approximately 11% of City residents identify a former region of the Soviet Union as their primary ancestry. The former Soviet Union encompassed 15 republics - Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Belorussia, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Russian culture has withstood centuries, and the Russian language unites people and serves to connect and deepen a common culture.

Many Russian-speaking community members established roots in West Hollywood after fleeing from discrimination and antisemitism. In the early 1970s, the then-USSR experienced a wave of emigration due to the politics of the government. Many people chose to come to Los Angeles to embrace the future opportunities of a free world for themselves and their children. They came here by way of support provided by local programs and nonprofits to assist Jewish immigrants in what would become incorporated as the City of West Hollywood. The City remains a thriving hub for the Russian-speaking community in the region.

Since 2001, the City has recognized the Russian-Speaking Community Cultural Heritage Month to bring to life the cultural and creative traditions of Russian-speaking community members with programming highlighting rich visual arts, performing arts, language, and history.

For more information, please contact Tatyana Rodzinek, City of West Hollywood Russian-Speaking Community Programs Coordinator, at (323) 848-6826 or at [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City's calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. Receive text updates by texting "WeHo" to (323) 848-5000. Read feature articles about people, places, and City events at www.helloweho.com. City Hall programs and services information is available at www.weho.org.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood's Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or [email protected].