The XIII Youth Song and Dance Festival “Holy is the Land” is scheduled to take place in Tallinn from June 30 to July 2. The festival includes dance performances, concerts, a procession, and a free folk music concert. Rehearsals for the dance performers began on Tuesday, while singers and instrumentalists are expected to arrive on Friday.
During the festival week, there will be thousands of young adults and children moving around the city, traveling to rehearsals, accommodations, and celebration locations. It is advised to drive cautiously and slowly, as many of them are not familiar with traffic in large cities. The transportation in Tallinn will be affected, especially around Kalev Stadium, the Song Festival Grounds, and the procession route. Certain roads will be closed, speed limits will be imposed, and vehicles may be stopped. Public transportation will be free from Friday to Sunday during the festival, with adjusted schedules and special event transit services.
To ensure everyone’s safety, Tallinn will have a larger police presence during the festival. The police will collaborate with event organizers and security firms. If any valuable objects are found, the police will photograph them and post the pictures on the Police and Border Guard Board’s Facebook page. These items can be claimed at the Kalev Stadium police station until Saturday evening and the Song Festival Grounds police station until Sunday evening. Afterward, they will be brought to the police stations.
The festival will be broadcast live on ERR (Eesti Rahvusringhääling), and more information about the organization of the Song and Dance Festival can be found on the event’s website.
Here is a summary of the events during the festival:
- June 30: Presentation of the Dance Festival “Bridges”
- July 1: Free folk music concert entitled “Päriselt” on Freedom Square during the Folk Music Festival
- July 1: Continuation of the Dance Festival “Bridges”
- July 2: Procession and song festival “Holy is the Land”
Pärt Uusberg is the director of the XIII Youth Song Festival, Agne Kurrikoff-Herman is the director of the XIII Youth Dance Festival, and Juhan Uppin is the general manager of the Folk Music Festival. The exact dates and times of the performances can be found on page 6 of the event’s details.
