Midsummer's Eve "When the village folk came together"
Midsummer.
23 June 2025 from 7 pm to midnight
This year in the Open Air Museum, we will travel in time to Midsummer’s Eve celebrations of different time periods when special deeds were accomplished with joint efforts. The performers to set the mood for dancing include Kukerpillid, Leigarid, Tabasalu Brass and others.
The evening will traditionally begin at 7 pm with a festive parade starting from the museum’s main gate. Together with the Leigarid folk group, participants will walk while singing to the seaside swing ground, where a large bonfire will be lit. At 19:45, the Norwegian youth brass band Voksen Skoles Musikkorps will perform there.
The band Kukerpillid will perform at 9 pm, 10 pm, and 11 pm.
The Village Ground is where Leigarid are the life of the celebration with their songs, dancing, games and spectacular folk costumes representing various parishes of Estonia.
Buildings that do not have a Midsummer Eve programm will be open until 10:30 pm. Buildings that have a Midsummer Eve program will be open until 11 pm.
At 8:30 pm in the Sassi-Jaani farmyard, the chamber choir Singers of New and Ancient Music (SONAM) from the United States will perform under the direction of Dr. Allan Friedman.
Köstriaseme farm. It is
the year 1896, and the farmer is getting ready to go to Tallinn for the song
festival, which celebrates the coronation day of Nicholas II. He hasn’t had
much time to practice because early summer means plenty of work on the farm,
but one must go to this big celebration! His wife would also like to go, but
who would then stay and look after the household? The whole family sits down
for a meal together before he leaves for the capital. Kaido Kallikorm plays the melodeon and the accordion.
Härjapea farm. It is 1933,
and the tenth, jubilee song festival is held in Tallinn. The hostess, who sings
in Mäetaguse choir, is excited about going to the festival. She has prepared
her handmade folk costume and is now packing some snacks for the road and talking
about how one can get to Tallinn by train.
Kuie school: It is 1935, and you can see the first celebration of the
Year of Estonian Book. The villagers have gathered for a festive assembly.
There will be speeches a quiz, a play
performance and a writer.
You can even dance to the music of Tabasalu
Brass.
Kolkhoz apartment
building. It is the year 1988, and the idea of the
independence of Estonia has found its way to Sookuru collective farm. There was
a meeting in Hirvepark in Tallinn a year earlier, the concept of self-managing
Estonia is in the air, and five national patriotic songs by Alo Mattiisen are
becoming more and more popular. All of it happened so fast and is hard to
believe! The dwellers of the building have hung out the Estonian tricolour
flag; they are singing new and old songs about homeland and planning to
organise a support group for the Popular Front of Estonia. Shashlik will be served.
The members of the Muhu student summer work brigade, led by Jaagup Kippar, gather at the Jüri-Jaagu farm.
They
recall the brigade’s song festival of 1991, when the Muhu section proved to be
on of the star performers. There are old brigade songs and fun
stories from the summer when the sovereignty of Estonia was restored.
At Jüri-Jaagu farm' sauna, the midsummer sauna will be heated, birch whisks will be made, and traditional braided ribbons (kaaruspael) will be woven.
At Roosta farm, you can hear about Midsummer Night beliefs and omens.
In the yard of Kolga farm, traditional Midsummer games will be played.
Near the net sheds, we will draw our emotions on paper.
As tradition dictates, the meeting of Koit and Hämarik will take place at midnight.
Midsummer the Food Academy/Toiduakadeemia way!
Grill, chill and rodeo! From 6 pm to midnight, Toiduakadeemia Grilllounge awaits you at the Estonian Open Air Museum – a summer hideaway where great taste meets a relaxing atmosphere.
The menu includes smoked salmon, wraps, sausages, sweet potato fries, rhubarb muffins, and delicious drinks for both kids and adults.
From 7 pm to 10 pm, you can test your courage and balance on the rodeo bull. The person who stays on the longest will win a €100 prize. Grab the bull by the horns and come enjoy a true midsummer experience with your friends!
Since the museum's parking lots cannot accommodate all cars, we recommend using public transportation or bicycles.
- Buses number 21 and 21B from Balti jaam and the city center bring you to the main gate of the museum (stop: Rocca al Mare).
- Driving back to the city (stop Rocca al Mare) bus No. 41.
- Bus number 21A from Väike-Õismäe also takes you to the main gate of the museum.
- From the city center, you can also take buses number 42, and 8 to the Zoo stop, and then take a 15-minute walk along the seaside road to the open-air museum.
- The front park near the main gate, the Tehasemaja parking lot, and the rear parking lot (approximately 800m towards Kakumäe) are open.
- You can bring your own bicycle to the museum or leave it in the bicycle parking lot in front of the ticket office.
Ticket offices are open on Midsummer's Eve:
- Main gate and ticket office until 11 pm.
- Rear ticket office (approximately 800m towards Kakumäe) until 6 pm-10 pm.
The museum's farms and buildings are closed to visitors from 6 pm to 7 pm on that day.
NB! With the Museum Card, entry on June 23rd is only from 10 pm to 4 pm. On the evening of Midsummer's Day, the Museum Card is not valid for entry!
