City officials said they wanted to spare Nevsky Prospect from parades and marches like the one for Victory Day earlier this year.
"It takes too much from the city to clear off the street after these parades and keep it in good condition," said one senior official at the city's cultural department.
Those in charge of the budget said they would also set aside some funds to prepare for the city's birthday bash next May and the "even wilder" celebration of the 300th anniversary of Russia's naval fleet.
At any rate, no financial problems will spoil this year's festive activities.
A quarter of the holiday funds have been spent on the more than 220 spruce trees set up around the city and the colored lights used to decorate the streets.
As tradition dictates, the most beautiful tree goes to the Gostiny Dvor department store on Nevsky Prospect, whose staff graced the tree with colorful decorations and toys.
Buying and shipping the trees from a forest in the Leningrad Oblast cost two million roubles ($430) alone -- police patrols were told to watch attentively over the holiday cargo.
A Russian-style trading and entertainment fair will take place from early December 31 at Ostrovskovo Square, off Nevsky Prospect (The New Year became the chief family holiday after the Soviet Union declared itself an atheist state in 1917). But in the new Russia Christmas has not been forgotten. It will be celebrated on the night of January 6-7, according to the old Russian calendar still used by the Russian Orthodox Church.
Folk Christmas festivities will be held at the Peter and Paul Fortress on January 7. Six different Christmas performances will start at 1 pm, at five sites inside the fortress and one outside in nearby Alexandriisky Park.
Folk performers, circus groups and DJs from Radio Baltika will entertain visitors inside the Fortress. An authentic Russian fist fight (everyone is welcome to try) will be featured.
"The Star of Viflem," a colorful Christmas play with huge puppets representing Bible characters, will start at 1 pm in the park. Later, the cast will parade over into the fortress.
Fireworks at 4:30 pm will provide a grand finale to the festivities.
"It's a Christmas festival where every visitor will find something," said Tatyana Leshchinskaya, director of the Christmas program in the Peter and Paul Fortress. But she lamented the fact that her team could not raise the 30 million roubles ($6,600) needed to ensure good weather.
Buying the favors of airborne cloud-seeding scientists has been part of St Petersburg's events planning for several years. Maybe Santa has some pull in that area instead.