June 15: Song and Dance Festival flame lit in Tartu

The ceremonial flame for the XXVIII Song and XXI Dance Festival "Iseoma" ("Kinship") was lit in the park by the Estonian National Museum in Tartu, the city where the first ever Estonian Song Festival took place in July 1869.

The sunrise ceremony, featuring performances by several choirs, musicians and a dance troupe, marked the beginning of an 18-day flame relay through all 15 counties of Estonia. It will arrive in Tallinn on July 2.

Estonian Song and Dance Festival Foundation director Margus Toomla said the lighting of the ceremonial flame marked the symbolic beginning of this year's nationwide Song and Dance festival.

"The torch, with its legendary flame, brings the spirit of the festival close to everyone — wherever they may be," said Toomla.

June 17: Flame arrives in Põlva County

On Tuesday, the flame arrived in Põlva County, setting off from the Tartu County border along the historic Post Road.

Põlva County curator Nele Risttee explained that during their leg of the flame relay, locals wanted to showcase smaller cultural sites and devoted trailblazers at community centers and other cultural spaces.

Throughout the Southeastern Estonian county, onlookers were treated to sights ranging from folk dancers jumping on fitness trampolines at the community center in Krootuse to performances in the courtyard at Viluste School.

Daytime events included groups of children and toddlers as well as entire kindergarten classes. On Tuesday evening, the festival flame reached Taevapark, where folk dance troupes from Kanepi performed.

The Song and Dance Festival flame traveled approximately 200 kilometers through Põlva County on Tuesday, making 13 stops along the route.

It was carried and escorted by a motorcycle with a sidecar, a ride-on lawnmower, a Suzuki Carry, a retro Gaz bus and a Soviet-era military Jeep-style off-road vehicle popularly known in Estonia as the Villis.

Around 800 people took part in the Põlva County leg of the festival flame relay.

June 18: Flame reaches Võru County

On Wednesday morning, the flame arrived at the Võõpsu Bridge over the Võhandu River, which forms the border between Põlva and Võru counties.

Beginning its Võru County route in Setomaa, the flame was greeted throughout the day with a mix of Seto and Võro language, song and dance.

Along the way, it made stops in Värska, Obinitsa and Vastseliina, before climbing Estonia's highest peak, the Suur Munamägi, in the wind and rain. The flame then continued winding its way through the region, stopping in Rõuge and at Sänna Culture Manor before reaching the city of Võru.

Local kindergarteners were among those to come greet the Song and Dance Festival flame during several stops, from Värska to Võru.

The flame also visited Tigasõ Farm in Loosu, the historical home of legendary accordion maker August Teppo, before retiring for the night in a UNESCO-recognized traditional smoke sauna on the shore of Lake Tsooru.

The Song and Dance Festival flame traveled 306 kilometers through Võru County on Wednesday, making 32 stops along the route.

It was carried and escorted along the way by horse, a rally car and a parade formation of Young Eagles and Home Daughters.

June 19: Flame makes it to Valga County

On Thursday morning, the Song and Dance Festival flame reached Valga County, arriving at the Koigu village bus stop on the border of Võru and Valga counties.

The flame was escorted through Otepää Municipality by the Otepää Motorcycle Club (MCC) and an auxiliary police officer, carried by Otepää municipal mayor Jorma Riivald and writer Mart Juur.

Along the way, it stopped by the Otepää churchyard, Väike Munamägi and Lake Pühajärv, where dancers danced the "Pühajärv Waltz" in honor of Eha Ojavee, who was known as the "grandmother of dance." The flame also made stops at Sangaste Manor and the outdoor stage at Puka Cultural Center.

The festival flame was handed over to Valga Municipality at the birthplace of Estonia writer August Gailit, where it boarded the car of Gailit's legendary character Nipernaadi and was driven through the villages of Tsirguliina, Hargla and Lüllemäe. It also made a brief foray into Latvia as it swung on a village swing on the Valga–Valka border.

That afternoon, the Song and Dance Festival flame was passed on to Tõrva Municipality at Hummuli Manor, from where musicians accompanied it all the way to Tõrva. It was also carried by boat across Lake Veskijärv to visit the Tar Kiln monument before being retired at the city's fire training tower for the evening.

The Song and Dance Festival flame traveled approximately 200 kilometers through Valga County on Thursday, making 13 stops along the route.

It was carried and escorted along the way by horse, the Nipernaadi car, ATVs, an antique off-road vehicle and canoe.

Around 1,247 people took part in the Valga County leg of the festival flame relay.

June 20: Flame arrives in Viljandi County

On Friday morning, the Song and Dance Festival flame began its journey around Viljandi County at the Mulgi Experience Center.

In Karksi-Nuia, the flame was welcomed by Estonian composer Aleksander Saebelmann-Kunileid and poet Lydia Koidula, who sent it off to Abja Cultural Center with freedom-inspired messages and a lively concert.

Throughout the day, the ceremonial flame visited several cultural centers, community centers and municipal buildings, met by singers and dancers.

At Heimtali Museum, the flame was greeted by textile artist Anu Raud before being passed to the deputy mayor of Viljandi on Viiratsi Hill and rowed across Lake Viljandi.

The flame made several stops around the city, honoring various sites and figures important to Estonian history — particularly those connected to various song and dance festivals.

It also stopped by the village of Tääksi, named Viljandi County's Village of the Year 2024, before arriving at the Mart Saar Museum for the night.

The Song and Dance Festival flame traveled approximately 240 kilometers around Viljandi County on Friday, making 21 stops along the route.

It was carried and escorted along the way by cars, horse-drawn carriage, cyclists and cargo bikes, motorcyclists, a yellow vintage bus, an off-road vehicle, a traditional boat and a human chain.

Over 1,390 people took part in the Viljandi County leg of the festival flame relay.

June 21: Flame reaches Pärnu County

The seventh day of the flame's journey took place in Pärnu County. The flame was handed over by Viljandi County in Kõpu. The first stop was the Kilingi-Nõmme bus square. From there, the journey continued on toward the Lähkma-Saunametsa village center, accompanied by motorcyclists and a vintage red car.

At the village center, the women's choir Kirekeel, the Surju Sõbratarid women's folk dance group and the Lähkma Village Musicians welcomed the flame with beautiful music and dance. The flame then moved on to the birthplace of Mihkel Lüdig, where choirs greeted it with Lüdig's song "Koit" ("Dawn"), which has since become the traditional opening piece of the Song Festival. This year as well, the festival flame will be lit to the tune of "Koit" on the evening of July 5 at the Song Festival Grounds' lighthouse.

From Sindi, where locals held a grand welcome ceremony, the flame traveled to Pärnu to take part in the festivities for the opening of a new bridge. The flamebearers were hoping to meet the famous cat who was meant to be the first to cross the bridge. Unfortunately, by the time the flame arrived in Pärnu, the cat had already made its lap.

Nevertheless, waiting on the other side was Pärnu County's production team for the XXI Dance Festival, led by sector head Ingrid Jasmin, who ceremoniously carried the festival flame across the newly opened bridge accompanied by folk dancers and cultural figures. Folk dancers lined the more than 200-meter stretch of the bridge and a brass band provided a musical escort for the flame. The crowd marked three celebrations at once: the journey of the flame, the opening of the bridge and the arrival of summer.

In the afternoon, residents of Kihnu took the flame from Munalaid to Manija Island. When it returned to the mainland, the flamebearers were awaited at Tõstamaa Manor School, where the flame arrived in a golden festival vehicle, accompanied by horseback riders and a horse-drawn carriage. Onstage, local women were weaving and the value of handicrafts as a communal tradition was celebrated.

That night, the flame stayed at the Varbla marina, where a concert and village party were held in its honor. Hopefully, the flame had a chance to get used to the sea breeze overnight, as today it travels to Saaremaa, then on to Hiiumaa for Midsummer's Eve, and back to the mainland on Midsummer morning, when Lääne County will receive it at Haapsalu's Veskiviigi harbor.

In Pärnu County, the flame covered a journey of about 208 kilometers, stopping in 11 different locations and meeting nearly 5,000 curious onlookers. The flame was carried by a wide variety of transport: ABCMotors' flame vehicle, an open-top car, a vintage Toyota Land Cruiser, a fire truck, walkers, a golden "spa-goers'" car, a boat, a horse-drawn carriage and two riders on horseback.

Over the past week, the flame has traveled a little more than 1,500 kilometers and has been greeted by nearly 15,000 people.

June 22: Flame makes it to Saare County

On Sunday morning, the Song and Dance Festival flame reached Saare County, handed over by Pärnu County before embarking on its sea journey toward the island from Varbla Marina.

The flame arrived on Estonia's largest island at Kõiguste Marina, met by folk dancers in Muhu folk dress and live accordion music. From there, it traveled under police escort to Laimjala Manor Park, where it was received by local leaders and more folk dancers before being loaded onto a large pickup truck filled with celebrating dancers and musicians to be taken to the island's Saare bus stop.

A sizable crowd had gathered to meet the flame at the newly revamped bus stop, now redesigned in tribute to beloved children's author and poet Henno Käo. The festivities featured performances of several of Käo's works, accompanied by more dancing, before the local Estonian Defense League (EDL) took the flame on board its SUV.

From there, it continued to several more stops across the island, each welcoming the flame with music and dance and honoring various local legends, before arriving at the symbolic border of the letters Ö and Õ — a striking installation celebrating Saaremaa's distinctive, õ-less dialect.

The Song and Dance Festival flame's final stop on the island of Saaremaa was at Sassimaja, a cafe in Leisi, where the evening came to a close with a festive concert featuring local musicians, dancers and an accordion player, before the flame was retired for the night.

The Song and Dance Festival flame traveled approximately 55 nautical miles to and 104 kilometers through Saare County on Sunday, making 11 stops along the route.

It was carried and escorted along the way by sailboat, police car, pickup truck, Defense League truck, firetruck, on foot in a parade and by maritime rescue boat.

Around 1,500 people took part in the Saare County leg of the festival flame relay.

June 23: Flame arrives in Hiiu County

On Midsummer's Eve morning, the Song and Dance Festival flame was passed from Saare County to Hiiu County at the midpoint of the Soela Strait, where Hiiumaa's sea rescue was waiting.

From there, the flame traveled by tractor to the island of Kassari, stopping along the way by a statue of the mythical Hiiu giant Leiger. The journey then continued by horse-drawn cart, greeted by locals along the roadside on its way to the island's former inn and school, now serving as a community center.

The ceremonial flame arrived on the island of Hiiumaa proper when it reached the Port of Sõru, where it was welcomed by live bagpipe music and paused at a memorial bench commemorating the wreck of the Finnish schooner Gullkrona.

The Song and Dance Festival flame was handed over to the local motorcycle club, Insula Deserta, which escorted it to Factory Square in Kärdla. There, it was welcomed by local craftspeople and passed from hand to hand before a live dance performance honoring the legacy of the town's former textile factory, followed by singalongs with local choirs.

After resting in Kärdla Church, the flame set off in a retro Jeep-type off-road vehicle known in Estonian as the Villis toward Soera Farm Museum. Along the way, it was handed over to auxiliary police officers, who escorted it on foot to the museum yard, where preparations were in full swing for the evening's Midsummer festivities.

Once everything was ready, the group — together with the flame — made its way to the Midsummer bonfire by the Hellamaa village swing. This year, the bonfire was lit by both the Song and Dance Festival flame and the traditional Victory Flame, which had been kindled that morning in Tallinn in honor of Victory Day.

The Song and Dance Festival flame traveled 15 kilometers around the island of Hiiumaa on Monday, making eight stops along the route.

It crossed the Soela Strait aboard a rescue vessel before being carried and escorted along the way by tractor, horse cart, motorcycle, human chain, auxiliary police officers, retro Soviet-era military Jeep-style vehicles known in Estonia as the Villis.

As evening fell, the ceremonial flame sailed off into the dusk of Midsummer night aboard the S/V HiiuIngel.

Over 2,100 people took part in the Hiiu County leg of the festival flame relay.

June 24: Flame reaches Lääne County

On the morning of Midsummer Day, Hiiu islanders handed over the Song and Dance Festival flame to Lääne County at Veskiviigi Marina in Haapsalu, where it was welcomed with folk dancing and live accordion music.

Dancers accompanied the flame to the windy beach to pay tribute at a monument to renowned composer Cyrillus Kreek.

At noon, nearly 300 people gathered at Haapsalu Cathedral for a concert featuring local choirs, where candles were lit from the festival flame in memory of cultural figures connected to the city.

Afterward, the flame was welcomed in the inner courtyard of Haapsalu Castle with an outdoor performance by folk dancers and gymnasts.

The torch was then picked up from the castle ruins by Haapsalu's famous sightseeing minitrain Peetrike, which transported it and its entourage to the harbor to be taken by boat across the bay to Noarootsi.

In Pürksi, the Song and Dance Festival flame was honored with the folk festival "My Home, My Roots, My Language," featuring several Estonian Swedish — or Coastal Swedish — dances, traditional singing games, dance troupes from Vormsi and Noarootsi and live talharpa (Hiiu kannel) music.

The flame then continued on to Oru School, where it was received by more choir singers and folk dancers, and later to Kullamaa, where onlookers braved downpours before the torch could arrive. At both stops, people formed long human chains to pass the flame from one person to the next.

That evening, the festival flame was retired to Kullamaa Church, where the doors remained open overnight as volunteers kept watch over the flame.

The Song and Dance Festival flame traveled 66 kilometers through Lääne County on Tuesday, making eight stops along the route.

After arriving on the mainland by sailing ship, it was carried and escorted along the way on foot, by the minitrain Peetrike, by boat, by car and by human chain.

Nearly 1,400 people took part in the Lääne County leg of the festival flame relay.

June 25: Flame makes it to Rapla County

On Wednesday morning, Lääne County handed over the Song and Dance Festival flame to Rapla County at St. John's Church in Kullamaa, before it hitched a ride on an old Soviet-era Villis off-road vehicle to its first stop of the day — Märjamaa town square.

There, the flame was welcomed with a concert featuring folk dancers and a choir performance, and was used to light memorial candles that were taken to Märjamaa Cemetery in honor of late conductors and folk dance instructors.

Next, the ceremonial flame stopped at the site of Varbola Stronghold — the largest circular rampart fortress built in Estonia — the Hageri Moravian prayer house and Hageri Community Center, greeted at each stop with more folk dance and choir music.

From there, members of a local running club carried the torch along a pedestrian and bike path to Kohila, where a folk dance performance featuring a brass ensemble was held.

A motorcycle with a sidecar escorted the flame into Rapla, guiding the relay team along a 20-kilometer stretch of highway before being met in town by folk dancers.

From there, a large Estonian Defense League (EDL) truck from the nearby Estonian Defense League School transported the ceremonial flame to Kehtna, where an oak grove with trees planted by each of Estonia's presidents grows. Folk dance instructors and choir conductors from Rapla County planted a red oak in the grove in honor of the Song and Dance Festival, followed by a folk dance and choir concert at Kehtna's open-air stage.

The Song and Dance Festival flame traveled 158 kilometers through Rapla County on Wednesday, making 11 stops along the route.

It was carried and escorted along the way by runners, by motorcycle with sidecar, Estonian Defense League (EDL) trucks and an old red Soviet Moskvitch car.

More than 1,000 people took part in the Rapla County leg of the festival flame relay.

June 26: Flame arrives in Järva County

On Thursday morning, Rapla County handed over the Song and Dance Festival flame to Järva County, where it began its journey around the Central Estonian county accompanied by the bells of Käru Church.

Along the way, the ceremonial flame visited concerts at the song festival grounds in Paide and Türi, as well as on the grounds of Aruküla Manor. It also made a stop at the Järva County Senior Women's Dance Festival in Roosna-Alliku and was welcomed by Ukrainian folk dance troupes on Vallimägi Hill in Paide.

While in town, the flame also stopped by Väike-Aia tänav, where a memorial plaque was unveiled on the wall of one building in honor of Johannes Kappel — Estonia's first professional musician, who was a composer, choir conductor and organist closely involved in organizing several national Song and Dance Festivals.

Its final stop in Järva County was in Imavere, where the Song and Dance Festival flame spent the night in the granary at Eistvere Manor.

The Song and Dance Festival flame traveled 169 kilometers through Järva County on Thursday, making 12 stops along the route.

It was carried and escorted along the way by hand, along human chains and on festively decked out firetrucks.

Nearly 2,000 people took part in the Järva County leg of the festival flame relay.

June 27: Flame arrives in Jõgeva County

On Friday, the Song and Dance Celebration flame journeyed through Jõgeva County, passing through three municipalities: Põltsamaa, Jõgeva, and Mustvee. The route highlighted the county's historical parishes, with each stop offering a unique tribute to local roots and heritage.

Along the way, travelers encountered great figures and literary characters from Estonian culture Karl August Hermann, Carl Robert Jakobson, the colorful characters of Oskar Luts, and even Kalevipoeg.

The journey through Jõgeva County covered approximately 220 kilometers, with 23 stops made across the region. The flame was carried by a variety of means, including fire trucks, horse-drawn carriages, motorcycles, a massive agricultural machine, cyclists, a Rolls-Royce, and a Volga.

June 28: Flame arrives in Ida-Viru County

The flame arrived in Ida-Viru County at the Rannapungerja lighthouse by water from Lake Peipus.

The journey of the flame through Ida-Viru County covered approximately 150 kilometers, with 12 stops made at various locations across the region. The flame was carried forward by motorcycles, ATVs, and a truck. About 1,200 people participated in the procession.

The final flame ceremony took place in Jõhvi, where the 160th anniversary of the first inter-parish song festival, held on July 2 next to Jõhvi Mihkel Church, was commemorated. Performers included local folk culture groups from Jõhvi and young musicians Näppepildurid from Tapa.

At the end of the day, the celebration flame was placed to rest in Jõhvi Mihkel Church, ready to begin its journey toward Narva on Sunday, passing through Kohtla-Järve, Sillamäe, Laagna, and Narva-Jõesuu.

June 29: Flame arrives in Narva to open ESTO 2025

Before setting off toward Narva, the flame was blessed by Pastor Ulvar Kullerkupp of Jõhvi Mihkel Congregation. A separate lantern was also lit and carried by dancers to the Jõhvi cemetery, where memorial candles were placed for F. F. Meyer, organizer of the song celebration held 160 years ago, as well as for other choir conductors, dance leaders, and cultural figures from the Jõhvi area.

The flame then proceeded to Kohtla-Järve, Sillamäe, and Narva-Jõesuu. At Narva Castle, the flame was received by choirs, dancers, and musicians participating in the ESTO Song Day.

June 30: Flame arrives in Lääne-Viru County

The journey through Lääne-Viru County began in Viru-Nigula Municipality, where Pastor Aili Ilves of St. Nicholas Church lit a candle from the torch in a lantern, which was later taken into the church.

The flame traveled in an open Estonian Defense League vehicle to the village square in Uhtna, Rakvere Parish, where performances were given by the Uhtna Basic School's children's and junior choirs, the Uhtna Women's Choir, the Uhtna Mandolin Orchestra, and the senior folk dance group Kanarbiku Õied.

The flame then reached Rakvere, from where it continued on a bicycle with a sidecar into Vinni Municipality, making three stops in Pajusti, Roela, and Laekvere. In Väike-Maarja, the flame and its motorcade were greeted by a brass band, a folk ensemble, a women's choir, folk dancers, and preschool children with performances.

In Tamsalu, about 50 people gathered to welcome the flame, and the Tapa City Orchestra performed. At the Tapa Cultural Center, the flame was welcomed by Ahto Abner's drum ensemble and the dance groups Eideratas and Riburadapidi. Also performing were the mixed choir Leetar, the folk group Näppepildurid, and the duo Kentsakad.

At the Kadrina song festival grounds, the NATO Estonia Battlegroup's Fiji Choir and the Kadrina Mixed Choir awaited the arrival of the flame. From Kadrina, the flame traveled in a Moskvitch car to Palmse, where nearly 800 people had gathered to greet it.

The final stop of the day was Palmse Manor, where performances were given by the Lahemaa Rahwamuusikud, local choirs and folk dancers, and the ensemble Põldsepp & Pojad. At the end of the day, the flame arrived at the Palmse Guesthouse.

July 2: Flame arrives in Harju County

The flame reached Harju County already on Tuesday, with the journey beginning in the yard of Seaküla Simson, where Harju County representatives and choirs from Kuusalu received the flame from Lääne-Viru County. From there, the festival flame moved to the Vihasoo community center, where a horse-drawn carriage awaited to join the torch procession heading toward Loksa.

From Loksa, the flame was transported by car convoy to the Viinistu harbor, where a bonfire was lit from the festival flame, and those who wished could take a flame with them in their lanterns. One such lit lantern reached Veljo Tormis's final resting place during the day.

At Viinistu harbor, the Police and Border Guard Board's patrol vessel Pikne was already waiting. With the help of Pikne's crew, the flame was taken to Prangli Island, where it was ceremoniously handed over from Kuusalu Municipality to Viimsi Municipality.

From Prangli, the flame continued toward Tilgu harbor. At sea, it was transferred from the patrol vessel Pikne to the sailing ship Runbjarn, which carried it to Tilgu harbor. The flame spent the night at the Arvo Pärt Centre. Along the northern coast of Harju County, the flame followed a journey of approximately 153 kilometers, making nine stops at various locations.

On Wednesday at noon, the flame arrived at Noblessner harbor, and its journey through Tallinn continues throughout the day: at 1:30 p.m., the flame will arrive at Kalma Square, where dancers from Sõleke will perform; at 3:00 p.m., a concert will take place at Town Hall Square featuring the ensemble RÜÜT; and at 7:00 p.m., a concert picnic will be held at Tuvi Park with the Tallinn Police Orchestra.

Time-honored traditions

Estonia's first Song Festival was held in Tartu in 1869. The first Dance Festival was held in 1934, and the first Youth Song and Dance Festival took place in 1962.

Estonia's all-ages and youth festivals have each typically taken place every five years, on a staggered schedule.

In November 2003, UNESCO added Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania's song and dance festival tradition to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The first ceremonial relay of the Song Festival flame was organized in 1969, making its way from Tartu — the site of the very first Estonian Song Festival exactly one century earlier — to the country's capital in time for the event.

Since 1990, the festival flame relay has been a regular part of Estonia's Song and Dance Festival tradition.

This year, the flame was once again lit in Tartu on Sunday before beginning its journey. It will travel through every county in Estonia before making its way to the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds.

Click here (link in Estonian) for a map of this year's Song and Dance Festival flame relay, including details about where shorter and longer stops are planned along the route.

Main festival July 3–6

The XXVIII Song and XXI Dance Festival, titled "Iseoma" ("Kinship"), will be held in Tallinn on July 3-6, 2025.

The XXI Dance Festival will include three performances at Kalev Stadium on July 3 and 4, and folk musicians will give a free concert at Tallinn's Freedom Square on Friday, July 4.

The Song and Dance Festival Parade and opening concert of the XXVIII Song Festival will take place on Saturday, July 5, with the main concert to follow on Sunday, July 6.

--

Follow ERR News on Facebook, Bluesky and X and never miss an update!