Page 346 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

344 TRA VELLERS ’ NEEDS

ENTERTAINMENT IN ESTONIA

Estonia has a strikingly dynamic and eclectic part in their social lives. A vast array of rustic-
entertainment scene. The larger towns and style pubs can be found in major towns and
cities, especially Tartu and Pärnu, have a cities, offering a hearty meal, a friendly
crowded cultural calendar as well as a good environment and some times vibrant, toe-
nightlife scene. Classical music lovers are tapping folk music. Smaller towns, such as
spoiled for choice all through the year as a Haapsalu, Narva and Kuressaare, have
range of nationwide and local concerts takes numerous bustling nightclubs and bars.
place, given by a fine selection of national A major part of Estonia’s cultural life revolves
and international performers. Saaremaa around folk festivals, with almost every town
Island hosts many classical music festivals hosting some kind of celebration throughout
throughout the summer. Estonians are fond the year. For entertainment in Tallinn, refer
of wining and dining, which plays an integral to pages 346–7.

Classical Music Music Festival, held in June,
and Ballet
was established to explore the
Estonia has an outstanding connections between traditional
tradition of classical music and and world music. Other events
recitals are regularly hosted that draw large numbers of local
all over the country. Tartu’s and international musicians are
main concert venue, the the Viljandi Early Music Festival
Vanemuine, stages theatre, and the Saaremaa Opera Days.
classical music performances, For indie music fans, the
ballet, comedy, musicals highlight is the annual Plink
and special shows for Plonk festival in Tartu.
children. Pärnu Concert Eesti Muusika-
Hall (see p102) hosts a festivalid, available
wide range of concerts online, has the details of
A jam session in progress at the Viljandi and music events. all nationwide festivals.
Early Music Festival
Music Festivals Logo of Illusioon Nightlife
Information
A number of festivals nightclub, Tartu Tartu has an impressive
A good starting point for news are organized to range of pubs, clubs
about local concerts and promote modern and and bars to choose from. One
events is the nearest tourist traditional music. Vilandi’s of the best-known nightclubs
information office. The Baltic annual Suure-Jaani Music is Atlantis, while the most
Times also offers information Festival is held to comme- exclusive is Illusioon. Another
on arts and entertainment. All morate popular composers favourite is the Eduard Vilde
Estonian towns have their own Mart Saar and Villem Kapp, Lokaal, which has consistently
websites, which usually carry while Muhu Island’s Juu Jääb attracted a huge clientele. For
listings of what is happening
when. The publi cation In Your
Pocket covers Tallinn, Tartu,
Pärnu and other major
Estonian cities.

Booking and Prices
Bookings for cultural events can
be made at the venue or
through ticket agencies.
Piletilevi, the biggest ticketing
agency, offers both online
booking and ticket purchase.
A number of retail outlets
throughout Estonia also offer
the same service, particularly at
the Selver supermarket chain
and Statoil petrol stations. Brightly illuminated exterior of Tartu’s favourite nightclub, Atlantis