Practical Information for Tartu 2024 Opening Guests Programme
Programme
25th January
Arrivals
18:15 Transfers from hotels to the Estonian National Museum
19:00 Welcome Dinner hosted by the Mayor of Tartu, Urmas Klaas
- Dress code: business attire
- Venue: Estonian National Museum, A entrance
- Address: Muuseumi tee 2
22:00 Transport back to the city centre
- 21:00-… Optionally, the evening continues at winebar Vint (Ülikooli 7)
On the 25th and the 26th of January, we have reserved a special wine bar Vint (Ülikooli 7) just for you. This is the place to meet old and new friends, warm up and celebrate together! Access to this bar is granted by a wristband that will be waiting for you in your hotel room.
26th January
09:15 Joint walk from the hotel to Pirogovi Park
- Accompanied by volunteers
9:30 Greetings from Tartu 2024 CEO Kuldar Leis and Urmas Klaas, the Mayor of Tartu
- Address: Pirogov Park, Ülikooli Street, takes place outdoors
10:00-12:00 Site and Museum Visits in Tartu
12:30-14:00 Buffet Lunch
- Address: Humal Restaurant, Riia 4
15:00 Doors open at Vanemuise Concert Hall
- Address: Vanemuise 6
- To ensure a smooth entrance, please arrive at 15:30 the latest
16:00-18:00 Reception at Vanemuise Concert Hall
- Dress code: business attire
18:30 Joint Walk to the Public Opening Ceremony Venue (optional)
19:00-20:00 An Outdoor Opening Ceremony by Emajõgi
- Location: by Vabaduse puiestee
- Dress code: according to the weather
(15:00)-23:00 Official Tartu 2024 Warm-Up Party
- Location: Town Square
20:15 Buses to the Estonian National Museum
- Access only to people who are invited to the sneak peek of the exhibition “Who Claims the Night?”
*21:00-23:00 Exclusive Sneak Peek of Exhibition “Who Claims the Night?”
- Estonian National Museum, B-entrance, Muuseumi tee 2
- Special Access Only
*21:00- 02:00 ÖÖ24 at Estonian National Museum
- Special Access Only
21:00-03:00 Official Tartu 2024 Afterparty in front of Estonian National Museum A-entrance
- Free Access
21:00-… Alternatively, the evening continues at Winebar Vint (Ülikooli 7)
**23:00 Buses back from the Estonian National Museum to the city centre
*Due to space restrictions access to these events is limited. Please see more in your practical information email.
** Free city buses will run every hour from 22:00-02:00 from the Estonian National Museum to the city centre.
27th January
Departures
Optional side-programme:
*09:45 – 14:00 Winter Trails (NB! Participation is based on earlier registration that has now closed)
09:45 Meet-up with the volunteer at the hotel, going to the bus
10:00 Bus departures for Winter Trails
10:30-13:00 Hiking in the winter trails
- Please be ready for the cold weather, take winter boots and warm clothes with you
13:00 Lunch in the forest
14:00 Arrival back to Tartu
17:45 – 22:30 Regional opening in Põlva (NB! Participation is based on earlier registration that has now closed)
17:45 Meet-up with the volunteer at the hotel, going to the bus
18:00 Bus to the regional opening in Põlva
- Please be aware that there is no organised meal at the regional opening
22:30 Back in Tartu from Põlva
*Winter Trails in Emajõe-Suursoo Wetlands takes the seeker of a special natural experience to the frozen marsh trails to experience the heritage and soundscapes in three different places: Varnja, Ahunapalu and Emajõe-Suursoo Keskus. During three weeks in the middle of the darkest and coldest Estonian winter, guided hiking tours, movie nights, meetings with historians and writers, concerts, and an exhibition programme will be held. Winter is coming – it’s time to set off for the Winter Trails Festival!
There might be minor changes in the programme.
Side-programme
Besides the programme we have curated for you, there are plenty of other events happening in Tartu to celebrate the beginning of the title year. See here for all of the events.
If you wish, you can visit the following museums for free on the 26th and 27th of January: Tartu Art House, A Le Coq Museum, KOGO Gallery, Pallas Noorus Gallery, Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, Toy Museum, University of Tartu Museum, KGB Cells Museum.
Just use the password “Tartu 2024 Opening Ceremony” for free access.
Registration
Registration for the Opening Weekend has finished.
Please notify us of any changes you might have in your travel or participation plans at [email protected]
Accommodation
We have organised and will cover your accommodation for two nights. The pre-booking is for 25-27 January but we will modify it according to your registration information. We will contact you about the hotel before the event. Please be aware that going to the regional opening might mean you need to extend your stay in Tartu.
Reaching Tartu
Transport from the airport is organised for guests arriving in Tallinn and Riga. This will be arranged based on the information that you provided in the registration form. You will be contacted about this before your arrival. We will do our best to make your transport from either of those locations both convenient and environmentally friendly so we hope for your understanding if you have to wait a bit for the rest of the people to gather. The distance between Tartu and Tallinn is about 2-2.5 hours by car or bus. The distance between Tartu and Riga is about 4 hours.
Climate/Weather
Estonia lies in the northern part of the temperate climate zone and the transition zone between maritime and continental climate. January is one of the coldest months and temperatures can vary widely depending on the week and the year. On average, the temperature falls between -10°C – -1°C. This year, we have had quite a cold January. Snow and snow storms can be expected along with windy weather. Please check here for more specific predictions as the time comes:
https://www.ilmateenistus.ee/?lang=en. We strongly urge you to dress appropriately for the weather as our opening ceremony, and parts of the afterparty will be outside. Layers, hats, gloves and warm boots are a must. Please bear this in mind especially if you plan on going to the winter hike or the regional opening.
Accessibility
Our goal is to ensure equal opportunities for all our participating guests.
Vanemuine Concert Hall and the Estonian National Museum are accessible to people with moving difficulties. The accessibility specification of each venue can be found below.
If you have any other access requirements that we should be aware of, please let us know and we will try our best to create equal opportunities for our guests. For additional questions, please contact [email protected] or call Karmen Juhkam at +37256353431. Please inform us as soon as possible.
The nearest accessible parking spaces for the Vanemuise Concert Hall are located next to the entrance and in the parking lot across the street (B90). More detailed information can be found on the parking areas map of Tartu city. Parking is subject to a fee on weekdays from 8:00 to 19:00, and in Zone A on Saturdays from 11:00 to 17:00. A valid blue badge for a person with a disability guarantees free parking in Tartu’s paid parking zones. Please follow the parking rules when using private parking lots. In private parking lots, it is necessary to adhere to the established rules. Be attentive when parking: there are streets near the concert hall where a 24-hour parking ban is in effect (Struve and Vanemuise streets).
The audience is expected to stand during the reception; if desired, seating is available.
Wheelchair access to the Vanemuise Concert Hall is available through the entrance on Vanemuise Street. From the parking lot to the external door, one can move along a ramp. A hall attendant awaits at the door, capable of providing assistance and guidance if needed. The cloakroom is located on the ground floor. The accessible restroom is on the first floor. It is possible to move between floors using an elevator. However, wheelchairs cannot access the balcony.
The opening ceremony of Tartu 2024 is taking place at the Town Hall Square and the banks of Emajõgi. There are limited seats, so you will be required to stand during the opening ceremony.
The accessible viewing platform for the opening ceremony will be located on the shore of Emajõgi, on the same side as the Town Hall Square, and can be accessed from the sidewalk of Vabaduse puiestee. Movement from the roadway to the sidewalk might be hindered by a high curbstone and a fence. The tribune has spots for wheelchairs and seating.
The nearest accessible toilets to the Town Hall Square are located at the Tartu Market Hall (Vabaduse puiestee 1) and on the third floor of Tartu Kaubamaja (Riia 1). The nearest toilets with a changing table are located at the Tartu Market Hall (Vabaduse puiestee 1) and on the third floor of Tartu Kaubamaja (Riia 1).
The nearest accessible parking spaces to the Town Hall Square are located behind the Town Hall and near the Tartu Market Hall (map of the parking areas).
As part of the procession from Vabaduse puiestee to the Estonian National Museum, celebrants can also ride the Släp! Sticker bus (a specially decorated Tartu city bus), starting at 20:30 from Vabaduse Puiestee and moving along with the procession towards the Estonian National Museum. On the 26th of January, between 21:00-02:00, a wheelchair-accessible city bus will run every hour between the Estonian National Museum (ERM stop) and the city centre.
More information can be found on the Estonian National Museum’s page for visitors with disabilities.
Depending on the weather, both driveways and sidewalks could be snowy and slippery. High sound levels and strobe lighting may be used.
– We recommend bringing personal assistance if needed.
– We recommend that children use hearing protection headphones.
Environmentally Friendly Guidelines
Environmentally friendly culture management is fundamental to us. Anyone also interested in this can familiarise themselves with it here. However, there are small things that all of us can do to try to be more mindful of our impact on the environment. Here are some easy suggestions for you!
- Please bring your reusable water bottle and drink tap water! The tap water in Estonia is potable and of high quality.
- For the opening celebrations, bring your cup to purchase a hot drink, if desired. There will be a Ringo reusable cup system available on-site. These cups can be returned to a designated tent or a yellow Ringo container.
- We will be sorting the waste which will be produced at the event – general waste, organic waste, packaging, and containers. Please help us in this effort by following the instructions and taking action.
- Thank you in advance if you will be coming to the event on foot, by cycling, using public transport, or carpooling with family and friends.
Public Transport and Moving in the City
Traffic and parking are limited in the city on the 26th of January. Many of you will use transport provided by us, however, whenever moving by yourself, we encourage you to either walk or use public transport. Tickets can be purchased from orange validation machines on the bus via contactless payment and Google Maps offers reliable routes and schedules. On the 26th of January, public transport within the city of Tartu is free for everyone. Please check here for more detailed information on public transport within Tartu.
Estonia has both Bolt and Uber.
Other options in Tartu: Forus Takso (+372 612 0000), Elektritakso (+372 588 588 00). In Tallinn: Tallink Takso (+372 640 8921), Forus Takso (+372 612 0000).
Other Practical Matters
- Estonia is generally well covered by different WiFi networks.
- Smoking is permitted only in a designated smoking room or outside.
- The currency of the Republic of Estonia is the euro.
- The emergency number is 112.
- The electricity supply in Estonia is 230 volts. Type F power sockets are in use.
- Visit Estonia
- Visit Tartu
CONTACT
Please direct all questions regarding practical matters to [email protected] or call Karmen Juhkam (International Relations Assistant) +372 5343 7911