Events

In the shortest night of the year, bonfires are lit in gorgeous places and their light is gleaming all over the land. No one may miss the Midsummer Day’s bonfire, otherwise they’ll be haunted by laziness and drowsiness for the whole year; those who fail to show up by the swing in Midsummer Day will be fading away at home and moulding by the fence. Let’s come together and celebrate the most beautiful time of the northern summer with a great party, music, dancing, singing and games!

We invite everyone to take part in a Day of Wooden House. There is a handicraft log house builders competition, a tool fair and several exciting workshops and seminars. It is also possible to visit the newest exhibition house – a modern timber building – which will soon be open for the activities.

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 we can call the king of our food. At Estonian Bread Day we take a look at how bread is made starting from threshing and grinding grain to the way to eat the bread. Other old Estonian dishes are also introduced. Tasty Estonian food and authentic handicraft can be bought from 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.

Christmas is the most beloved holiday for the Estonians, eagerly awaited both by children and adults. It contains glitter and darkness, jolly bustle and solemn silence, joy and meditation. At the Estonian Open Air Museum you can experience all of that and let the Christmas spirit take hold of you. Step inside the old farmhouses, the schoolhouse and the village shop and take part in centuries-old Christmas preparations.