Saturday brings two celebrations to Tartu’s Christmas City Winter Folk Dance Day
Tartu City Government Press Release
/ On Saturday, 13 December, 1,600 participants from Tartu and Tartu County will gather at Town Hall Square to perform 15 traditional dances. Due to the large number of participants, Tartu’s Winter Folk Dance Day will be split into two parts.
Winter Folk Dance Day is bringing a record number of dancers to Town Hall Square. ‘We are delighted that the number of participants grows each year. As the places filled up quickly this time, we adjusted the format of the event so that as many local groups as possible would have the opportunity to participate,’ said Winter Folk Dance Day producer Ave Rosenberg.
The Children’s Winter Dance Festival begins at Town Hall Square at 11:00, followed by the Adults’ Winter Dance Festival at 13:00. Traditional dances will be accompanied by musicians from the Emajõgi Dance Club, and the day will be hosted by Jalmar Vabarna. Winter Folk Dance Day will be followed by a party at Püssirohukelder, where the Nedsaja Küla Band will play dance music.
The whole week in Tartu’s Christmas City will be eventful. Today, 9 December, from 16:00-21:00, you can take part in the Tartu Observatory’s orienteering game ‘Adventure in Space’. Before Saint Lucy’s Day, students from the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Tartu will perform traditional Swedish Christmas songs in the Christmas Town at 17:30.
On Wednesday, 10 December, from 16:00-19:00, Abakhan invites you to attend a Christmas workshop at the stage pavilion, where you can craft Christmas angels. From 18:00–19:00, there will be a free skating lesson.
On Thursday, 11 December, from 18:00-20:30, Tartu vocal studios Tähe Viis, Fa-Diees, Laulupesa, E STuudio, and Tartu WAF singing school will perform a memorable holiday concert on Town Hall Square.
On Friday, 12 December, from 18:00-19:00, Dance School Tango invites you to learn the rumba in Christmas City. The classes will be led by Veiko Ratas, head coach of the dance school, who will teach simpler dance steps.
On Saturday, 13 December, in addition to Winter Folk Dance Day, it will be worth visiting the city centre, where the Tartu Christmas Market – full of Christmas flavours and handicrafts – will be taking place. From 16:00-18:00, Santa Claus will once again be waiting for children at the Christmas City stage pavilion.
Sunday, 14 December, begins at 11:00 with a free skating lesson. At 18:00, the third Advent candle will be lit, and Tartu residents will be greeted by Deputy Mayor Kertu Vuks and Pastor Eino Lilleleht of the Tartu Elu Sõna congregation. Students from the Tähe Viis vocal studio will perform at the ceremony. The lighting of the Advent candle will be followed by a concert by Lonitseera.
The skating rink around the Kissing Students Fountain is open daily from 10:00–22:00, and use of the rink is free for everyone. Skates can be rented from 10:00-21:00. The Christmas City cafés and Christmas shop are open Monday-Friday from 16:00-21:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00-21:00.
Tartu Christmas City is organised in accordance with the guidelines for environmentally friendly events, with the aim of reducing its environmental impact. The cafés offer food and drinks served in reusable Ringo containers, which cost EUR 1.
Information and programme for Tartu Christmas City: tartukorraldab.ee
More information: Tartu Winter Dance Day producer Ave Rosenberg, [email protected], +372 5399 5049
Last changed 17.12.2025
