This year, several traditional summer events will be taking place in Tartu
This summer, several traditional events will be taking place in Tartu, which were postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. In June, you can celebrate City Day; in July, the heart of the city will be taken over by the Car-Free Avenue; and in August, a gourmet food and wine festival will provide reason to rejoice. However, the Tartu Hanseatic Days are being postponed until next year.
‘We are glad that city residents will be able to take part in many expected events in the summer, which were cancelled last year due to coronavirus restrictions. However, as the hugely popular Hanseatic Fair brings nearly ten thousand people to the heart of the city each year, it is not possible to organise the event due to the restrictions implemented to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Through the Tartu Market, we are trying to offer opportunities for trading at the open-air market and along Car-Free Avenue’, said Maris Peebo, Director of the Tiigi Community Centre.
At the end of the month, on 29 June, Tartu will celebrate City Day with a series of smaller-scale events, with it being possible to enjoy performances of opera symbioses, Tartu medals will be presented, and patrons of the arts will be honoured. This year, the Tartu City Day programme will continue until 10 August, when a book fair by Estonian authors and a gala concert at the Town Hall Square will take place, where, in addition to the premiere of a brand new short opera written by Tiit Kikas and Jaagup Kreem, beloved opera arias can be heard. On 28 June, a reception for couples celebrating their golden wedding anniversary will take place, and silver spoons will be distributed to the smallest residents of Tartu on 15 and 28 June.
From 9 July through 8 August, Car-Free Avenue will once again delight residents of and visitors to Tartu, offering an even more exciting cultural programme this year, along with design and handicraft markets and activities to enliven the urban space, both along Vabaduse Avenue and in the City Centre Park.
From 28 July through 25 August, you can enjoy Emajõgi summer concerts. The Tartu Food and Wine Festival will take place from 6–8 August, where food lovers will be offered the best selections from small producers, street caterers and local pop-up restaurants from South Estonia, as well as a unique gourmet dinner.
The organisers of the events will monitor the regional and national situation and, if necessary, make further changes to minimise the risk of infection due to the spread of the coronavirus.