Major Events in Summer/Autumn 2008

Visitors will be happy to know that there’s a lot going on in Tartu every summer and autumn, everything from Hanseatic Days to music festivals called Plink Plonk. Below are the largest and loudest events.
Antonius Guild Days May 30 - June 01, Antonius Guild Court Yard, Lutsu 5, www.antonius.ee. The St. Anthony’s Guild, an association of creative men and women skilled in everything from pottery to hat making, will hold this medieval-style festival in its downtown courtyard. You can expect medieval musicians and performers, food and drink, and of course more traditional handicrafts than you can shake a stick at, in fact, you can probably even buy a stick here. Entrance is free.
Maailmaküla - Real Music Festival June 05 – 06, Athena Cultural Centre, www.maailmakyla.ee. As it turns out the world is a village after all. At this year’s festival you’ll get the chance to check out some sweaty African rhythms, some not so sweaty accordions, some out of this world vocals and a little medieval wood instrument action. Tickets cost 100 - 400kr depending on the show, and can be purchased from Piletilevi.
SUGAR June 5 - 13, Vanemuine Theatre, www.vanemuine.ee. Based on the famous movie “Some Like it Hot”, this award-winning, cross-dressing musical is certainly no drag. It’s full of slapstick humor and bra jokes and as if those weren’t reasons enough to go, the Tartu performance will take place outdoors. The performance will be Estonian with English subtitles, so you don’t miss the subtleties. See concert listings from Events schedule. Tickets 175 – 250kr.
Buzz 2008 June 07, 18:00, Tartu Song Festival Grounds, www.buzz.ee. In Estonia, summer is the time for huge, outdoor rock concerts and Tartu certainly gets its share. This particular event involves musical styles from rock to jazzy hip-hop. The featured performer this year is an Estonian folk-metal band called Metsatöll. They perform deep, rich, guitar driven music that beckons for the return to Estonia’s pagan roots. Performances will also be given by Estonian acts TraFFic, Agent M, Mihkel Ratt and Ketaspidur. Tickets from 155 - 175kr.
Tartu Midsummer’s Eve Bonfire June 23, 16:00, Raadi Manor Park. For Estonians, Jaanipäev, or Midsummer, is the single most important holiday of the year barring Christmas. The day itself is on the 24th, but people traditionally celebrate on the night prior, with bonfires, beer and wildness. The idea to stay awake until sunrise, which this time of year is about 04:00. If you happen to be in Tartu at that time, you can also join in the activity by heading to this bonfire concert involving well-known Estonian rock bands.
Glasperlenspiel 2008 July 16 - 27, www.concert.ee. German for ‘marble game’ (a name borrowed from novelist Hermann Hesse), Glasperlenspiel is a series of concerts ranging from classical to alternative that brings in the nation’s top performers, as well as guests from around the world. Expect a wide range of styles, from didgeridoo-music to Russian ethnic baroque. Highlights of the festival include: the concert programmes Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Galilei and even music written by Turkish sultans of swing. Tickets 100 – 290kr.
13th Tartu Hanseatic Days July 18 - 20, Town Hall Square and town centre,www.tartu.ee/hansa. Tartu gets back in touch with its past by celebrating the period when it was part of the Hanseatic League. In this elaborate festival, the various parts of the downtown area will be transformed into thematic towns from different eras. The River Town (Jõelinn) will feature exhibits and activities from pagan times, the Fine Arts Town (Jaanilinn) will concentrate on the Middle Ages, and the Children’s Town (Lastelinn) will take visitors into the future. Küüni street and Town Hall Square will become a thriving marketplace, and the festivities will be punctuated by concerts, processions, fire shows and the like.
Plink-Plonk, Independent Music Festival July 19, 14:00, Tartu Song Festival Grounds, www.plinkplonk.ee. Already in its fourth year, Plink Plonk is a summer festival whose one and only mission is the promotion and introduction of new and upcoming alternative music to the Estonian scene. Whether it be indie, metal, hardcore or dance music, there is always something new to be discovered. Plink Plonk is also an eco-friendly event that would rather fly a little under the radar than become a huge advertising-driven consumer bordello – think Woodstock, but with a lot less people. Tickets 250kr.
15h Annual Diatonic Accordion Festival August 07 – 10, www.lootspill.ee. Now in its 15th season, the first national festival of melodeons in Tartu was organised in 1991 in order to promote and renew interest in this folk music instrument. In the first year there were 36 participants from all over the country, however, this time around they’ll have accordion players from all over the Baltics and Scandinavia along with plenty of Estonia’s top musicians and up-and-comers.
The Roaring Horn - Brass Music Festival Aug 20 - 23, throughout the city, www.potartu.ee. Brass orchestras from around the country and Europe will be participating in workshops and performances all over town, but the main concerts will be held at Town Hall Square on the 20th at 19:00, and the big gala concert at Jaani church on the 22nd at 18:00. It’s going to be a pretty windy festival and believe us the audience will appreciate that.
11th Tartu Bicycle Race Sept 19 - 21, Tartu Song Festival Grounds, www.tartumaraton.ee. On your mark, get set, go! Tartu will again be awash with wheels as this annual race revs up. The first few days will play host to opening events and qualifying rounds followed by the 89km main race on the 21st, which will start at the Otepää, Tehvandi Sports Centre. Last year’s main event, a 87km race, attracted over 3,000 participants. Check the website for course map and other details.
Autumn Student Days 2008 Oct 13 - 19, www.studentdays.ee. Every autumn students take over town for this week-long event, a scaled back version of the more famous Spring Student Days. Expect an event packed week and enough silly, cheeky fun to fill every corner of the city and its parking lots, parks, bars and clubs.
Other Events
Regiöö - Archaic music festival May 24 – 25 Genialistide Klubi Lutsu 2, St John’s Church, www.tartu.ee/regioo, www.genklubi.ee. Dedicated to an antiquated Estonian singing style, this event features talented musicians who want to breathe life into these valuable musical traditions. Tickets can be purchased onsite and cost 50-150kr.
Tartu City Day June 29, www.tartu.ee/linnapaev. The summer fun continues as Tartu celebrates its annual day with cultural programmes, folk music, dancing and other entertainment. Events happen in various locations throughout the city.
tARTuFF Aug 11 - 16 Town Hall Square and Athena Cultural Centre, www.tartuff.ee. What started as an outdoor art-film festival, tARTuFF has grown to the point where it also needs to move partially indoors.
3rd Emajõe Festival Aug 15 – 17, kultuuriaken.tartu.ee. A festival offering a rich cultural programme on the banks of the Emajõgi River. Expect events and activities related to life on the river.
Extreme Sports Festival „Extreme Battle” Aug 21 – 24, on the streets of Tartu, www.battle.ee. If you’re an extreme sports nut then you’ll want to check out this extreme festival devoted to all things dangerous... that you can do with a bike or other wheeled equipment that is.
Eclectica 2008 Sept 05 – 13, various locations, www.eclectica.ee. Interdisciplinary avant-garde culture festival has concerts, dance performances, film shows, workshops and much more of interest.
Maarjalaat Sept 13, Town Hall Square, www.tartu.ee. This fun filled fair includes a national culture programme, which focuses on handicrafts, folk dance and folk music.
International Break Dance Competition “Battle of Est 2008” Oct 03 – 05, Vanemuine Concert Hall, Vanemuise 6, www.dancinmachine.org. Fat beats, sweaty palms and the eventual need of a chiropractor… nuff said.
International Jazz Festival “Rainbow Jazz” Oct 09 - 12, Vanemuine Concert Hall, Vanemuise 6, www.dancinmachine.org. This is Tartu’s autumn answer to the Jazzkaar festival held in Tallinn in the spring.');
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