Take a look at what to do in Southern Estonia before the Tartu 2024 Summer Celebration
On Saturday, August 3, one of the highlights of this summer the Tartu 2024 Summer Celebration, will take place to celebrate the midpoint of the year when Tartu together with Southern Estonia is the European Capital of Culture. The event shall begin at 22 with a concert performance, and there is plenty of time to explore Tartu. Experience a relaxing boat trip, visit interesting exhibitions, or experience joyful music. There is also no shortage of culinary experiences, as Tartu has plenty to offer when it comes to quality restaurants and cafes.
On Saturday morning a wooden river boat will take you on an experience-filled boat trip along river Emajõgi to the beautiful Lake Peipus, to get to know the unique culture of the Old Believers and the pristine nature of Piirissaar.
Tartu City Museum’s exhibition “Washing Machine Made of Beetroot: Resourcefulness in the City” shows how the resourcefulness that Soviet urban citizens had to possess in order to live a better life. “Ingenuity on the Road” is displayed in the Estonian Road Museum and “Resourcefulness in the Countryside” can be seen in the Estonian Agricultural Museum. Entry requires a ticket.
The international technological art exhibition “Enter Woodland Spirits” explores how technology-driven art can revive the wisdom of folklore and make the essence of nature tangible and perceptible. The exhibition is free of charge.
The Estonian National Museum’s exhibition „Surrealism 100. Prague, Tartu and other stories…“ has been created in cooperation with the National Gallery Prague to celebrate the centenary of the Surrealist Manifesto. Entry is with an Estonian National Museum ticket.
Wild Bits provides a wonderful opportunity to lose oneself for a couple of hours in the domed landscape of Southern Estonia and reflect on how nature, man and man-made technologies influence each other. Entry requires a ticket.
At 17 the street organ concert “Capital of Culture Tartu 2024” will begin in front of the University of Tartu. The event is a part of the VII International Streetorgan SummerDays 2024 and is free of charge.
Theatre enthusiasts will have the opportunity to take part in a community-run theatre hike “Periphery” leading the audience on a 3-hour eventful walk along the ancient Piusa valley.
The Tartu 2024 concert performance“Arts of Survival at the Crossroads” will take place on Saturday, August 3 at 22.00 on the big stage at the Car-Free Avenue in Tartu. The event will be broadcast live by Estonian Television. Delfi will broadcast the concert from the venue. The event will finish with a concert by the metal-punk band Winny Puhh
There are a number of ways to fuel your body to get through a long, action-packed day. The Capital of Culture is home to long-established and cosy cafés such as Werner and Ülikooli. For a first-class dining experience, Michelin recommends a visit to Restaurant Joyce. There are plenty more quality restaurants in Tartu, which can be found in the Tartu 2024 hospitality network.
3 August activities in Tartu and Southern Estonia
- 9.00–21.00 | Tartu city River tour series ”Discover the river Emajõgi!” Seto Line Piirissaar river tour
- 10.00–17.00 | Tartu city Exhibition “Enter Woodland Spirits”
- 11.00–18.00 | Tartu city “Washing Machine Made of Beetroot: Resourcefulness in the City”
- 10.00–18.00 | Tartu city Exhibition “Who Claims the Night?”
- 10.00–18.00 | Tartu city Exhibition “Surrealism 100. Prague, Tartu and other stories…”
- 12.00–19.00 | Otepää parish “Wild Bits” / outdoor exhibition about technologial art
- 12.00–15.30 | Valga parishRoute Diverse Art Tour: Explore the Periphery!
- 13.00–19.00 | Tartu cityHide-and-Seek – street art exhibition in former yeast factory
- 17.00 | Tartu city VII International Streetorgan SummerDays 2024 – Concert in front of the University of Tartu, Ülikooli 18
- 17.00–20.00 | Võru parish Theatre hike “Periphery”
- 17.00–22.00 | Tartu city Summer Celebration Pre-Party: Estonian Funk Embassy
- 22.00–23.15 | Tartu city Tartu 2024 concert performance “Arts of Survival at the Crossroads”
- 23.15–00.00 | Tartu city Winny Puhh
- 23.30–03.00 | Tartu city Official Afterparty: DJ Mart Juur x DJ SailenceIga öö| Tartu city Toomemägi Revisited: The Lighting Artwork of the Tartu Cathedral ‘Dawn and Dusk’
Take a look at the entire Tartu 2024 programme