The event date is unique for each year. In 2024, this date is June 28. The festival got its name from the location - on the shore of Lake Ilmen in the Chelyabinsk region, in the area of the Ilmen tourist base near the town of Miass. The festival is also known by other names such as “Ilmeny,” “Ilmen,” “Ilmenka,” all derived from the name of the event location. Throughout its many years of history, the author song festival has gathered a large number of participants, among whom are many well-known authors and performers: Y. Vizbor, A. Gorodnitsky, V. Berkovsky, B. Vakhniuk, L. Sergeev, A. Ivashchenko, A. Dulov, G. Khomchik, and many others. Today, one of the organizers of the festival is the Oleg Mityaev Foundation – one of the most famous contemporary authors and performers. Among today’s festival participants are: O. Mityaev, A. Kireev, Y. Zykov, E. Shchibrikova, T. Fomenko, and many others. Only twice, from 1973 to 2014, was the festival location moved from the traditional area near the Ilmen tourist base to the shore of Lake Morskaly in the village of Leninsk. Since 2015, the new location for the Ilmen Author Song Festival has been the “Sunny Valley” ski center on the shore of the Syrostan River near Miass. The move was partly due to the falling pines in the former location area and the tragic events of June 2014. The Ilmen Festival started as a tourist song contest. Then it was called the amateur patriotic song contest and festival, and since 1989, it has become an author song festival. Initially, the number of participants was about 800-1000 people. The latest festivals have gathered over 20 thousand people, and with short-term visitors, the total exceeds 40 thousand people. The festival is held in competitive programs for different age groups (up to 14 years old, 14 to 18 years old, over 18 years old). Since 2017, the Oleg Mityaev Foundation has organized an online contest for authors and performers ahead of the festival. Winners get the opportunity to attend the festival at the host’s expense. Special medals, grants, and gifts are provided for the winners of the contests held at the festival. The festival’s two stages: the main and the forest stage, create an unparalleled atmosphere of kindness and hospitality, and the famous guests and songs they perform add to this wonderful atmosphere. Recent festivals have featured live internet broadcasts, which contribute to the festival’s popularity and allow many people who couldn’t attend to follow the events and listen to their favorite authors’ songs and discover new performers online. Being an outdoor event, “Ilmeny” takes care of its guests. The administration of the Chelyabinsk region and the town of Miass participates in organizing the venue, providing food points, medical assistance, public order, parking spaces, and a tent camp.