The 42nd Tallinn Old Town Days once again attracted a large crowd. Nearly three hundred different events, countless cheerful performers and thousands of visitors were positively recharged and will carry it with them until next time.

A celebration of creativity from poetry to ethnobooks

This time, creativity was at the heart of the traditional and also completely new events that took place over the three days of the festival. Turning the Old Town into a "creativity sanctuary" was intended to draw attention to the Old Town as a place where creativity can grow and flourish in a safe environment. As well as showcasing precious forms of culture, the Old Town was enriched by the word and deed of newer forms of entertainment, including street dance, poetry readings and silent disco.

From concerts, dance performances and fairs to creative games, workshops and adventure adventures, there was something for the serious early music lover and the tiny trolley-traveller alike.

The depth of the festival was reflected in the different cultural programmes. For example, on the stage of cultural richness, all day long you could listen to authentic Tatar, Ingrian, Mordvian and many other minority-language folk songs and see dances and games beloved only in a small community. Ethnically colourful performances enriched the festival and offered a glimpse into cultures not seen in the mainstream.

As expected, the big concerts with Puuluubi, villemdrillem and Elina Born proved to be the audience's favourite. In spite of the rain that interrupted the party in the meantime, the organisers were delighted with the large number of visitors. On Sunday, a heartfelt thank-you was extended to all those who made the effort - the organisers themselves, the participants and the volunteers who worked so selflessly. Of course, thanks were also extended to the public, without whom the Old Town Days would not be possible.

Large cultural, small organisational footprint

In terms of setting an example for the environment, it is important to note that the festival's pink plastic outdoor billboards did not just go to waste, but to be recycled into bags that will last for years to come. This sustainable approach received a lot of positive feedback and showed that even large events can go green.

From the point of view of the Old Town and the surrounding traffic, the festival did not cause any significant inconvenience to local residents. According to the organisers, some parking and traffic restrictions in the Old Town were unavoidable, but every effort was made to keep them to a minimum.

All in all, the 42. The main aim of Tallinn Old Town Days is to inspire citizens and visitors to spend time in the Old Town, to discover enriching places and activities, and to inspire with the creativity that comes from the synergy of new and old culture.

The organisers would like to thank again everyone who helped to make the festival fun and memorable! See you next year, 6-8 March. Come and join us again on 6 June to experience the enriching spirit of Tallinn Old Town.

Summary by Marko Kodres

Photographer Arno Mikkor