Page 55 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

EST ONIA THROUGH THE Y EAR 53

Old Town Christmas Market
Autumn
(Dec–early Jan), Tallinn.
The festival season winds down Equally popular with tourists and
a bit in the autumn, though locals, the market has a variety of
most cities have a few annual goods on sale from the
events on offer. traditional to the novel.
September January
Credo International Festival Pärnu Contemporary Music
of Orthodox Sacred Music Days (mid-Jan). An outstanding
(early–late Sep), Tallinn. festival of classical music
Orthodox sac red music which also features lectures,
concerts held in churches workshops and theatre
and concert halls. performances.
Matsalu Nature Film
Festival (late Sep). An unusual
Audience watching performers on stage, festival screening the works
Viljandi Folk Festival of various natural history
film-makers.
Jul), Tallinn. This huge beer
festival also features major November
concerts, from jazz to rock, as Black Nights Film Festival
well as sideshows. (mid–late Nov), Tallinn.
Old Town Medieval Market A celebration of some of
(early Jul), Tallinn. An exci ting the best inde pendent and
series of concerts, work shops world cinema films, most
and costumed performances, of which are screened with
as well as traditional English subtitles. Tickets
market stalls. can be purchased from
Viljandi Folk Festival (late Jul). Piletilevi outlets. The festival
Folk music ensembles from also runs smaller events in
all over Estonia perform in the other towns.
castle grounds. Skiiers participating in the popular Tartu
Ski Marathon
Winter
August
Birgitta Festival (mid-Aug), Despite long and bitterly cold February
Tallinn. Operas, concerts and spells, winter also holds Baroque Music Festival (early–
recitals are held in the the promise of a wonderful mid-Feb), Tallinn. A festival
atmospheric ruins of Pirita snow-blanketed landscape and favourite offering a series of
Convent. Food is served on a season of festivity. Baroque music concerts in
the summer terrace. various venues around the
SAAL Biennial (late Aug), December Old Town.
Tallinn. A biennial celebration Christmas Jazz Festival Tartu Ski Marathon (mid–late
of the best in contemporary (early Dec). A series of jazz Feb). This hugely popular
dance, inclu ding guest concerts held in Tallinn and ski-fest features events and
performances by famous several other towns in the run-up competitions, but the high-
international troupes. to Christmas. light is the 63-km (39-mile)
ski marathon.
Public Holidays
New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
Independence Day (24 Feb)
Good Friday (Mar/Apr)
May Day (1 May)
Võidupüha Victory Day
(23 Jun)
St John’s Day (24 Jun)
Restoration of
Independence (20 Aug)
Christmas (24–26 Dec)
A brightly illuminated Christmas tree in the Old Town Christmas Market, Tallinn