any time better in May , early June

We were in Moscow last May Day. My strongesr memory is that many roads and sidewalks had barriers due to the huge (peaceful) gathering in Red Square. We had difficuly getting across many streets to get to where we wanted to go. I know St. Petersburg has a big festival in June. How long is the tour and do they provide the accommodations?

The tour is one week and yes, they provide the accommodation. We haven't selected our dates yet

You should look up the festivals in St. Petersburg around the summer solstice. I'm sure st Petersburg would be more crowded then, but if you don't have to find accommodations that helps. Both cities are very interesting. We're going to St. Petersburg this April. I suspect it will still be chilly, but still beautiful.

May 9th is Victory Day - celebrating Hitler's defeat - and several days around that is considered a work holiday. History lessons in the US tend to leave out the Russians' main role in defeating Hitler, so being in Russia for Victory Day is actually a great history lesson (you can learn about how the Russians broke Hitler's army for the first time at the battle of Stalingrad, leading to the first time Hitler's army ever retreated from battle). There's a big military parade on the 9th, that goes down Nevsky Prospect to Palace Square that's definitely worth seeing if you're there (if you're in Moscow, the parade's the same day but it goes down Tverskaya to Red Square).

The other summer festival in St Pete is the Scarlet Sails festival - a festival celebrating students' graduation from high school. This one takes place June 23rd this year and as usual will have fireworks on the river Neva, a concert on Palace Square and lots of drunk high school grads wandering around the center.

Both are worth seeing if you're interested in local customs, but keep in mind that the May 9th festivities will be more historical, while the Scarlet Sails festivities will be more casual. Feel free to ask me more about these and others, or check out my blogs for more info!!!! ))))) Instagram @northsouthtrekker for photos, or Cube (cube.online/app) @davepeterson for stories and experiences!!!

Hi, Diane!
There will be Moscow spring festival till May 9, look last year photos here https://kudago.com/msk/event/festival-moskovskaya-vesna-2017/
Dave wrote about About Victory day above.

Considering St Petersburg the end of May and early June is the most beautiful period of time there. First, all fountains start to work and it is still not that hot or already not that cold.

I was definitely chilly in St. Petersburg in August (though that was in 1972...), so I have my doubts about the reliability of the weather in May, especially in early May.

Well.. you are right it is not that warm but the main point that fountains work. They make city looks amazing. I think it is better to visit St Petersburg when it is not that hot if you plan to visit a lot of historical places. My personal opinion :)

I would choose June because it might be a bit warmer. St Petersburg is very far north, and we honestly had to dress warmly last year in July when we visited.

Dave is right. Three quarters of German losses in WWII were suffered on the eastern front against Russia. I would just add: the first retreat of German Army did not happen at Stalingrad (now the city is called Volgograd) but at Moscow in December 1941. Actually at Stalingrad retreat did not happen. Hitler did not allow it. Germans were surrounded and forced to surrender. Out of three hundred thousand men army ninety thousand surrendered, the others were already dead. Captured German soldiers were marched into Siberia. Out of ninety thousand Germans five thousand returned back to Germany after ten years. The rest did not survive harsh conditions of Siberia.
Russians call WWII The Great Patriotic War. Impressive monuments and memorials are everywhere. The largest I saw is in Volgograd (former Stalingrad). Every year May 9th there is a huge celebration in Moscow with parades and fireworks.