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Tartu 2024 Final Celebration “Jää ja loo” brings the title year to a close with a spectacular light show at hillside of Toomemägi

The European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 Final Celebration “Jää ja loo” will take place on Saturday, 30th of November in the heart of Tartu. The final celebration will look back on the past culture-rich year, telling a story of the moments that filled Tartu and Southern Estonia. The celebration will be concluded with an open-air rave.

Tartu 2024 opening celebration at the Estonian National Museum attracted thousands of visitors. Photo: Mikk Otsar
27. Oct 2024

“We are nearing the end of the European Capital of Culture year. It has been an extraordinary journey that has given an impetus to Southern Estonia to make the necessary future-oriented changes,” said Kuldar Leis, CEO of Tartu 2024. “The title ‘Jää ja loo’ symbolises endurance and the continuous process of creation with a future oriented view. We invite everyone together to celebrate culture-rich experiences with family and friends.”

The Tartu 2024 Final Celebration will take place on Saturday, November 30 at Pirogov Park at the slope of Toomemägi with a light show at 19.00, 20.00, and 21.00. The 15-minute show looks back at the highlights of the European Capital of Culture year. The light show will be repeated on Sunday, 1 December, when the first Christmas light will be lit in Tartu Town Hall Square.

“The Grand Opening in January brought over 10 000 people to the bank of river Emajõgi,” recalled Leis. “Pirogov park is not made of rubber, so we will repeat the light show several times over two days,” he added.

The final celebration will continue with an open-air rave at 21.30. The lineup includes the legendary D&B and jungle artist Adam F, MC Harry Shotta, Estonian Minister of Culture DJ Heidy Purga, and Eero and Rene Oliver Muiste (Sound In Noise x Olivar). The rave will reflect the energy of the Grand Opening of Tartu 2024 and will last until 01.00.

Additionally, Tartu 2024 invites you during the last month of the title year to partake in events that look back on an abundant cultural programme and also aim towards the future.

In the regional centres, the theatre production “Perfect” in Viljandi, the new short film festival Valga Hot Shorts, the Võru children’s festival and stand-up performances about mental health in Tartu and Southern Estonia will entertain the audience once more. For the first time ever, Põlva will be the venue for the English Royal Ballet’s production of “UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey”.

In November, the Estonian National Museum will host a solo exhibition of the famous Japanese artist and composer Ryoji Ikeda, and the premiere of a work composed in collaboration with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. November will also see the screening of a brand new science fiction film by the internationally acclaimed British artists Blast Theory, depicting life in Tartu and South Estonia in 2074.

Tartu 2024 Final Celebration “Jää ja loo” is free. More information here.