Events

On Sundays of the summer months, once every two weeks, the ladies interested in national handicraft meet at the shop and cafe on Pikk Street 2. They do fancywork, share handicraft practices and knowledge and have a pleasant conversation about life over a cup of coffee and a delicious piece of cake.

On May 27, visitors will have a great opportunity to admire the national costumes from different regions of Ukraine and learn about their origins.

Granny's and Grandpa's Day has a merry programme for the guests – singers, dancers and musicians will be preforming, handicraft masters demonstrate their work. Everybody is welcome!

Several nationalities, including Estonians, celebrate the Midsummer’s Eve. However, among us there are also representatives of nationalities who do not celebrate Midsummer’s Eve, but who still have an important place for summer solstice in their folk calendar.

Our ancestors considered the Midsummer's Eve to be a mysterious and even a magical time, when the rules dominating in the earthly world are shaken up. For the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia there is an extraordinary opportunity to travel through time on this day of miracles. You can make time leaps into important breaking points in the formation of Estonian nation and country.

In the middle of the harvest time we welcome everybody interested in traditional Estonian food. The hero of the day is home-made rye bread which can be called the king of our food. On Estonian Bread Day we take a look at how bread is made starting from threshing and grinding grain and finishing with how the bread is eaten. Other older Estonian dishes are also introduced. Tasty Estonian food and authentic handicraft can be bought from the autumn fair.

September 29th is the day we finish our chores outside and start working indoors. We are celebrating Michaelmas Day with a sermon at Sutlepa chapel. It is also the first day of The Estonian Open Air Museum’s winter season and the entry is free for everyone!

When all the field labour and cattle chores are done, it is time to celebrate. In the beginning of October we invite Seto and Peipus-Russian communities to take a breath and enjoy the fruits of their hard work.

St. Martin’s Day is one of the merriest and most colourful holidays in the Estonian folk calendar. On this day children and adults dress in old shabby coats, smear their faces with soot and go door to door singing songs, asking riddles and wishing good luck and happiness to the families.

In the Estonian folk calendar St. Catherine’s Day marks the beginning of indoor activities. Women as well as men dressed in beautiful white clothes, with their cheeks painted red with beetroot go trick-or-treating, i.e. collecting gifts in return for songs and blessings.

The villagers of the Estonian Open Air Museum have opened the doors to their houses to introduce the diff erent days celebrated over the Christmas season and the accompanying customs and traditions and, to share the holidays with all visitors.