May Holidays 2026: how we relax, which day to have a picnic, and how to protect ourselves from ticks

      We tell you how to plan your vacation, what to expect from the weather, and why you should think about tick protection as early as the first weekend.

      May holiday calendar

      May 1-3 (Friday to Sunday) — weekends dedicated to the Spring and Labor Day.

      May 4-8 (Monday to Friday) — working week.

      May 9-11 (Saturday to Monday) — weekends in honor of Victory Day. Since May 9, 2026, falls on a Saturday, the holiday is moved to Monday, May 11. Thus, we have three consecutive days off.

      In total, residents of Russia will have 6 holiday weekends in May plus regular Saturdays and Sundays. But the main thing is two full three-day segments for barbecues, trips out of town, and meetings with loved ones.

      Which day to go for a barbecue

      According to meteorologists, the first decade of May in Kirov will be changeable: from night frosts to quite comfortable warmth.

      May 1-2

      Cool weather is expected, with light rain in places, and cloudy. During the day, the air will warm up to only +10…+12 degrees. At night, frosts down to -2…0 degrees are possible. These days are not the best for a barbecue — it’s cold and damp. It’s better to plan a cozy gathering at home or a trip to the bathhouse.

      May 3-4

      Gradual increase in temperature. During the day up to +14…+16 degrees, cloudy with clearings. Precipitation is unlikely. May 3 is the last day of the first weekend, and it’s already possible to go out into nature, but it’s better to dress warmly.

      May 5-6

      Relatively warm mid-decade. During the day up to +18…+20 degrees, brief rains are possible. These are working days, but after work, you can arrange an evening picnic. The temperature is comfortable, but an umbrella will come in handy.

      May 7-10

      A preliminary decrease in temperature is expected to +10…+12 degrees, mostly without precipitation. The second wave of May weekends (May 9-11) may be cooler than the days of May 5-6. But the absence of rain is a plus. At night, frosts down to -1…+2 degrees are again possible.

      Worrying statistics: ticks are already awake

      When heading out into nature during the May holidays, one must not forget about ticks. Their active season begins when the air temperature rises to +5…+7 degrees. In 2026, due to the warm spring, it started earlier than usual, and it is already clear that the season will be highly active.

      Kirov region is an endemic area for tick-borne infections. This means that the risk of encountering an infected tick exists in any area.

      The figures from last year make us especially cautious. By early June 2025, the region recorded 15,831 cases of tick bites, which is 40% more than the previous year. The increase in bites among children exceeded 39%.

      And this is only the official appeals to doctors. The most affected last season were in Kirovo-Chepetsk, Orichyovo, Slobodsky, Yuryan districts, and Kirov itself. The anti-leaders also included Kotelny, Kiknur, and Yaran districts. In Kirov, the treatment of green areas has already been planned: city parks, squares, and cemeteries with a total area of 196 hectares will begin spraying on April 20, but one should not rely solely on city treatment.

      Tick hotline numbers

      From April 27 to May 10, 2026, the Kirov region's Rospotrebnadzor organized a special hotline for questions about the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis and other infections. Specialists work daily from 10:00 to 12:00 (except weekends and holidays) at the phone number: +7 (8332) 40-67-24.

      How to protect yourself from ticks: a complete guide to means

      There are three types of chemical agents: some kill ticks, others only repel, and the third do both simultaneously.

      Acaricidal agents (kill)

      They contain special substances — pyrethroids. A tick that finds itself on clothing treated with acaricide becomes paralyzed. They kill ticks quickly — the neuro-paralytic effect occurs within 5 minutes.

      How to apply: ONLY on clothing. Apply in closed stripes, especially treating the ankles, knees, and thighs thoroughly. Never apply to the skin. The treated clothing should be worn and allowed to dry completely.

      Protection lasts up to 15 days.

      Repellent agents (repel)

      The effectiveness is slightly lower — up to 95%, but they are safer and can be applied to both clothing and exposed skin areas.

      How to apply: to protect against ticks, use repellents containing at least 30% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Apply in circular stripes on clothing and exposed skin areas.

      Important note: Repellents based on essential oils or with low concentrations of DEET (for example, children's mosquito repellents) do not protect against ticks. Acaricidal-repellent agents (kill + repel)

      A combined option that provides maximum protection. It contains both an acaricide to kill the tick on contact and a repellent to deter it from exposed areas. The risk of being bitten when using them is reduced to almost zero.

      What else can help not bring a tick home

      Clothing matters. When going to the forest, wear light solid-colored clothing — it’s easier to spot the parasite on it. Tuck your shirt into your pants, and your pants into your socks or boots. The cuffs of sleeves and collars should fit snugly against the body. It’s better to wear a hood on your head.

      Regularly conduct inspections. Every 10-15 minutes in nature, check yourself and your companions. A tick is a patient hunter; it can crawl on clothing for several hours in search of a bite site.

      What to do in case of a bite. Don’t panic. Go to the nearest trauma center or clinic — there they will professionally remove the tick. After that, the tick must be taken to a laboratory for analysis. You can clarify the addresses of laboratories by calling the hotline: +7 (8332) 40-67-24.

      Do not drink raw milk. The tick-borne encephalitis virus can be transmitted through raw goat and cow milk. Be sure to boil it for at least 2 minutes.

      The best protection is vaccination. Although the full course of vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis takes several months, if you plan to spend a lot of time in the forest in spring and summer, after the holidays is the best time to think about vaccination for the next season.

      What to do during the May holidays

      If the weather is cool

      Visit museums and exhibitions. For example, in Kirov, the Vyatka Art Museum, the K.E. Tsiolkovsky Museum, and the Dymkovo Toy Museum are open.

      Go to the cinema or theater. The schedule for the May holidays is usually abundant.

      Organize a home barbecue — bake meat in the oven or on an electric grill.

      Plan a trip to an indoor water park or spa center.

      If the weather is warm

      Go out into nature in the suburbs of Kirov: Boshary, Fileika, the surroundings of the Vyatka River. But don’t forget about tick protection!

      Make a barbecue on the grill — pork at 1664 rubles/kg (let’s recall our recent analysis) remains the most affordable option.

      Go for a bike ride or play volleyball outdoors.

      Visit Kirov Park of Culture and Recreation named after Kirov — rides are usually launched by the May holidays.

      What to take with you for a picnic

      Clothing and footwear, especially light: jacket, pants, boots, headgear.

      Tick spray — several types: for example, "Gardex-tick" for clothing and "Off. Extreme" for exposed areas.

      Windbreaker and warm jacket — the weather can be deceptive.

      Blanket and cushions — to protect against the cold from the ground.

      Matches, coals, lighter fluid.

      Meat and marinade.

      Thermos with hot tea or coffee.

      An umbrella in case of brief rain (especially May 5-6).