TALLINN & CULTURAL EVENTS 2013

Tallinn Documentary Film Festival (DocPoint Tallinn) 24-27th of January (Tallinn, ) http://tallinn.docpoint.info/en/

Tallinn Fire and Ice Festival 4-10th of February (Tallinn, Estonia) Description: Burning fir trees is an old pagan Estonian folk custom. People believed that mid-winter fires, lit in the spirit of celebration, would guarantee the return of the sun in spring. Figures made out of fir trees left over from Christmas season will be set alight as entertainment and to encourage economic frugality. The Fire and Ice Party will dazzle with a spectacle of fire sculptures, using art to express the spiritual and magical power of fire. http://www.tallinnfireandice.ee/2013en/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tallinna-Valgusfestival/249839051800

Pärnu Ice Festival 16-24th of February (Pärnu, Estonia) Description: The event combines ICE architecture workshop held before the main event on 4-10 February (during where young architects, artists, designers and engineers from , Åland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia and Latvia will create big ice city, snow park and lots of ice sculptures). During the main event from 16-24th the ice and snow park will be open to visitart, offering lots of winter activities and attractions in forms of slide paths, a concert hall, an adventure park, an ice labyrinth, skating rink, paintball, gallery, ice cinema, ice restaurant, ice bar and many more. http://www.icefest.eu/2013/en

42. Tartu Maraton 17th of February (South Estonia) Description: Tartu Marathon is Eastern Europe's largest ski marathon, being a part of international long- distance skiing Worldloppet series. The programmatic activities bring together approximately 10,000 participants each year. Tartu Marathon trail running in beautiful Southern Estonia offers the possibility to choose between 63 and 31 km distances. http://www.tartumaraton.ee/eng

Simple Session XIII 16-17th of March (Tallinn, Estonia) Description: Simple Session is World’s premier BMX and skateboarding contest happening annually in Tallinn, Estonia. The festival week includes an infamous 4-day sold out party program, a film festival, photo exhibitions and other cultural events around the skateboarding and BMX culture. http://www.session.ee/2013/ https://www.facebook.com/simplesession

Tallinn Music Week 4-6th of April (Tallinn, Estonia) Description: The festival offers three nights full of good music in Tallinn’s best venues for the most demanding tastes: from folk and jazz to punk and electro, from classical music to metal and anything in between. http://www.tallinnmusicweek.ee/ https://www.facebook.com/tallinnmusicweek

VIII Võhandu Maraton 20th of April (Võru, Võhandu river; South Estonia) Description: It is one of Europe's toughest and most beautiful canoeing marathon. During the event individuals and teams have to row 100km in the wild and virgin nature of Southern Estonia using kayak, canoe, rowing boat, raft or similar barge they wish. http://www.vohandumaraton.ee/?page=&ln=en

Jazzkaar International Jazz Festival 20-28th of April (Tallinn, Estonia) Description: Jazzkaar is the star event of Estonian jazz, bringing here the world’s best performers. It runs around 100 concert events annually. Most notable event is traditionally being held on the last week of april – the Jazzkaar festival. With around 50 concerts and 7-9 days of programme Jazzkaar festival is the biggest jazz event in the baltics. 23 years of festival-life has seen over 3000 musicians from 60 countries, and lots of happiness being shared. http://www.jazzkaar.ee/en/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jazzkaar/85310429107

IIX Haapsalu Horror & Fantasy Film Festival (HÕFF) 24-28th of April (Haapsalu, western Estonia) Description: The Haapsalu Horror & Fantasy Film Festival is a three day independent festival focusing of screening best films from the darker side of cinema from fantasy to horror, forgotten classics, filmmaker and country retrospectives, extreme films and celebrated guests in the unique setting of Estonia. The festival takes place usually coinciding with full moon. http://www.hoff.ee/en/ http://www.facebook.com/hoffestival

(Tartu) Student Spring Days 29th of April to 5th of May (Tartu, Estonia) A week full of lots of competitions, cultural actions, sports, workshops, concerts, legendary parties held in the most known student city of Estonia. http://www.studentdays.ee/en https://www.facebook.com/Studentdays

Tallinn Student Spring Days Spring (exact date to be announced) (Tallinn, Estonia) For four days all the students from all around Tallinn will get together to have some fun and gain more energy for the upcoming exam period. There are more then 60 different events including lots of competitions, cultural actions, sports, workshops, concerts, legendary parties. http://www.tudengipaevad.ee/ https://www.facebook.com/Tudengipaevad

SEB 31. Tartu Jooksumaraton 12th of May (South Estonia) Description: SEB Tartu Running Marathon is the largest Baltic countryside maraton, where thousands of people take part each year. The race course runs along the beautiful southern Estonian countryside and participants are able to choose between 23 and 10 km race, by running or Nordic Walking (choise is yours:) http://www.tartumaraton.ee/seb-31st-tartu-jooksumaraton

RegiÖÖ XI Festival 15-19th of May (Tartu, Estonia) Description: RegiÖÖ is an international traditional festival of archaic creation, which acknowledges the common elements of heritage of different nations. The Festival performers are musicians, craftsmen, song-, dance- and instrument masters from Scandinavia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia. http://www.tartu.ee/regioo/festival/en/

Museum night „Öös on inimesi“ 18th of May (in different cities all over Estonia) Description: During the international day of museums nationwide, all Estonian local museum will open doors to hundreds visitors for free visit from 18:00 to 23:00, and beyond.

Fairytale Festival „The Power of Fairy Tale“ 24-25th of May (Haapsalu, Estonia) Description: A two days long festival including lots of fairitale tied in activities and actions, conference, workshops, exhibitions, performances, films, etc. http://muinasjutt.haapsalu.ee/?page_id=172

XXXII Days 1-8th of June (Tallinn Old Town, Estonia) Description: Tallinn Old Town Days have been organized since 1982. The essence of this event lies in the festivities for townsfolk to celebrate the beginning of the summer. During these days courtyards, squares, streets, coffee-shops and halls are filled with music, art, theatre and various other events, both big and small. http://vanalinnapaevad.ee/en/ https://www.facebook.com/TallinnOldTownDays

Õllesummer 3-6th of July Location: Tallinn Description: It is the largest Estonian festival, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in July 2013. http://www.ollesummer.ee/est/eng

Tallinn Medieval Days 4-7th of July (Tallinn, Estonia) Description: The Medieval Days are one of the most important annual events of the Estonian Folk Art and Craft Union since the year 2000 held in Tallinn’s Old Town. During the Medieval Days you are able to feel the atmosphere of the flourishing Hanseatic era. A large medieval market is set up in the Town Hall Square with merchants and workshops. Musicians and dancers from near and far take the stage. There will be various workshops, excursions and theatre performances, knight tournaments, carnival and other exciting activities. http://www.folkart.ee/eng/tallinn-medieval-days

XIX Võru Folklore Festival 11-14th of July (Võru, South-Estonia) Description: The Festival includes colorful concerts, performances, accordion competition, workshops, street dance, evening songs on the beach, young stages, arts and crafts fair, dance and food fair, local parties and many more cool activities related to folklore. http://www.vorufolkloor.ee/en/

Tallinn Maritime Days 12-14th of July (Tallinn, Estonia) Description: Maritime Days brings together a large number of sea and harbour related events, concerts, boat trips, water related attractions and performances. Expect unique sailing boats and sea related displays. http://www.tallinnamerepaevad.ee/uus/en/ https://www.facebook.com/tallinnamerepaevad

American Beauty Car Show 12-14th of July (Haapsalu, Estonia) Description: American Beauty Car Show is the biggest american car exhibition in Baltics, which consists of car show, reunion and drag race. For eleven years all american vehicle owners and major car fans have gathered to Haapsalu for one summer weekend. http://www.american.ee/index.php?page=117 http://www.facebook.com/AmericanBeautyCarShow

XXI Viljandi Folk Music Festival 25-28th of July (Viljandi, Estonia) Description: The Viljandi Folk Music Festival is a music festival in Estonia with a central focus on European folk music. It is traditionally held during the last weekend of July, when the otherwise quiet city of Viljandi is completely transformed as the small city center is suddenly flooded with people. The main attraction of the festival is the friendly atmosphere. Over 25,000 people attend the concerts every year, but many more just come to take part in the festivities. As such, it is the largest annual music festival in Estonia, and one of the largest folk music festivals in Europe. http://www.folk.ee/festival/en/viljandi-folk-music-festival https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viljandi-Folk-Music-Festival/143847845625751

Viru Folk Festival 9-11th of August (Käsmu, Estonia) Description: Viru Folk is a music festival which gives the beautiful beach village of Lahemaa a new atmosphere and spirit for three days. A diverse and comprehensive show ensures the enjoyment of everyone that comes to Käsmu during these days to experience all there is to offer. http://www.virufolk.ee/eng

Mütofest 16-18th of August (Kassinurme hills, Estonia) Description: Mütofest, it is the masters, who create beauty and teach; bards, who in ways wonderful, tell of the glory and the heroic deeds from times of old; the wise, who are dedicated to knowledge, long lost; songs, lit by campfire; tournaments and bloodsheds; the dance of elves in midnight; adventures; merchants; firedancing, spells and curses... Mütofest, it is a travel in time, going into the legend and and old times. http://mytofest.muinasmaa.ee

Robbie Williams contcert 20th of August (at Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, Estonia) http://www.facebook.com/events/526258357384590/

The Night of Ancient Bonfires (Muinastulede ÖÖ) 31st of August (in different places all over Estonia and closeby countries) Description: Every year, on the last Saturday in August people gather along the shores of the Baltic Sea to celebrate the Forneldarnas natt - Night of Bonfires - Muinastulede öö - Senovinės ugnies naktis - Senās uguns nakts. This annual celebration has become a tradition in several countries of the Baltic Sea region. At 9:30 pm / 21.30 o'clock a chain of hundreds of bonfires will be lit along the shores of the Baltic Sea in order to celebrate the summer, the Baltic Sea and most of all the connections between the people living in this region. http://www.muinastuled.ee/en

SEB Tallinna Maraton 7-8th of September (Tallinn, Estonia) Description: marathon, half marathon, 10 km run, 10 km walk and Nordic Walking event held in the capital of Estonia. http://www.tallinnamaraton.ee/?lang=EN

Viljandi Guitar Festival 17-22nd of September (Viljandi, Estonia) Description: It´s an international guitar music festival; lots of contcerts, workshops, performes and musicians from all over world. http://www.viljandiguitar.ee/?lang=en

Tallinn Architecture Biennale (TAB) 4-8th of September (Tallinn, Estonia) Description: International event, including openings, installations, tours, movies, discussions, workshops, presentations, parties, symposium, competitions and exhibitions related to architecture. http://www.tab.ee/ http://www.facebook.com/TallinnArchitectureBiennale

Tallinn Student Autumn Days September (exact date to be announced) (Tallinn, Estonia) Description: four days long event full of different competitions, cultural actions, sports, workshops, concerts, legendary parties. http://www.tudengipaevad.ee/ https://www.facebook.com/Tudengipaevad

Design Night Festival 26-29th of September (Tallinn, Estonia) http://www.disainioo.ee/en/ https://www.facebook.com/Design.Night.Festival

(Tartu) Student Autumn Days 14-20th of October (Tartu, Estonia) Description: A week full of lots of competitions, cultural actions, sports, workshops, concerts, legendary parties held in the most known student city of Estonia. http://www.studentdays.ee/en https://www.facebook.com/Studentdays

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) 11-27th of November (Tallinn, Estonia) Description: The 17th PÖFF is one of the Northern Europe's biggest and most important film festivals. PÖFF will present the year's best animations, student and short films, features and documentaries, children’s and youth films and will encourage people to make films themselves on mobile devices. https://www.facebook.com/festivalpoff http://www.poff.ee

Tallinn Christmas Market 23.11.2013 - 08.01.2014 (Tallinn´s Old Town, Estonia) Description: This holiday season, as always, the market is bound to get the city into festive mood. Visitors can browse through and buy wares by skilled artisans in merchant stalls surrounding the enormous Christmas tree. Sellers offer traditional and original gifts including felted wool hats and slippers, buckwheat pillows, wooden bowls, wickerwork, elaborate quilts, ceramic and glassware, little sea-grass animals, homemade candles, wreaths and other decorations. If you tire of shopping, you can relax and enjoy a glass of mulled wine, hot soup and the occasional gingerbread biscuit. You can also try Estonian traditional holiday food: pork, sauerkraut, black pudding. There will be live music on the market stage and the chance to meet Father Christmas. Activities for children include a mini zoo, a slide, and Santa's House with a post office and reindeer. http://www.christmasmarket.ee/eng/ https://www.facebook.com/jouluturg