On the last Sunday of July Russia celebrates annual Navy Day  ; President Vladimir Putin  arrives to his native city to  congratulate Navy officers and sailors; after that they open all the bridges across the Neva  River  ( which they usually do after midnight), light Rostrum Colomnes on the Basil Iceland    and  the parade of warships starts. All locals know about the forthcoming event  and  get to the Neva River embankment  by crowds very well in advance to take the best places  in order to  enjoy magnificent view in full !