The article is devoted to the issues of preserving the cultural heritage of the Lena area coachmen (yamshchiks) on the example of the republic’s festival of folk culture “Play the accordion. Live ditty!” The article covers the cultural traditions of the population of the former Irkutsk-Yakutsk tract, now mainly living on the territory of Khangalassky ulus (district). The festival has become traditional. It is a noticeable phenomenon in the cultural life of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The authors believe that such events today serve to strengthen the unity of the nation in its ethno-cultural diversity. The features of this culture, historically developed over the past three centuries, are considered. The coachmen of Prilenye are a rare subculture of the Russian old-timer population of Yakutia that has its own colour. In the course of contacts with the Yakut population, Russian coachmen, adapting to the harsh local conditions, managed to preserve their traditions, taken from the places where their ancestors came from. A variety of research material, including those collected by the authors themselves, is involved. The authors consider the accumulated experience in studying the culture of coachmen in the Soviet and post-Soviet times. The article analyses the measures to preserve the cultural traditions of the descendants of coachmen living in the villages of Khangalassky and Oyokminsky uluses of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The dynamics of the development of the process of revival and development of this unique tradition of Yakutia, which has more than three centuries, is traced.

 Proactive social and cultural activities in this direction contribute to the preservation of the continuity and identity of the Lena area coachmen. The authors of the article believe that the study and development of the traditions of the Lena area coachmen will serve as a cultural brand of the territory. The main conclusions of the article are concrete and practical.