A weekend full of music brings two female vocalists to the stage in Tartu’s Christmas City
Tartu City Government Press Release
/ Today, 4 December, at 18:00, Tartu’s Christmas City will be filled with cosy jazz when Susanna Aleksandra takes the stage. Then, on Sunday, 7 December, at 18:00, the second Advent candle will be lit, followed by Mari Kalkun’s Christmas concert.
Susanna Aleksandra and Luiz Murakami (Brazil) will create a warm and soulful atmosphere at the now traditional Christmas City jazz evening. It is worth arriving early to secure a seat.
There is much more to enjoy in the Christmas City at the end of the week. On Friday, 5 December at 18:00, the first social dancing workshop will take place, teaching interested participants the slow and Viennese waltz. On three consecutive Fridays at 18:00, Veiko Ratas, head coach of the Dance School Tango, will conduct social dancing courses.
On Saturday, 6 December, the Republic of Finland will celebrate its 108th Independence Day. At noon on the day of the celebration, Verni Loodmaa, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Finland in Tartu, will greet members of the public at Town Hall Square. Sibelius’s ‘Finlandia’ will be played on the Town Hall’s bells, and the Tartu Ingrian Society’s dance group Rötyskä will teach Finnish folk dances.
On Saturday from 16:00 to 18:00, Santa Claus will be waiting for children to recite poems and have their pictures taken with him at the Christmas City stage pavilion. In addition, the Christmas City blacksmith will be demonstrating his craft from 16:00 to 18:00 on Saturday and Sunday, and visitors will also have the opportunity to try their hand at blacksmithing.
On Sunday, 7 December, the day begins at 11:00 with a free skating lesson. At 18:00, the second Advent candle will be lit, and Tartu residents will be greeted by the deputy mayor and Timo Švedko, the pastor of Tartu’s St. Mary’s Church congregation. Students from the Laulupesa singing studio will perform at the ceremony. The lighting of the Advent candle will be followed by a concert by Mari Kalkun.
The Advent candle will also be lit in the Christmas City at 18:00 on the next two Sundays. On the third Sunday of Advent, there will be a Christmas concert by Lonitseera, and on the fourth
Sunday of Advent, Maarja Aarma and the Jazzkaar jazz trio will perform their special programme ‘Öises sädeluses’ in the Christmas City.
The skating rink around the Kissing Students Fountain is open daily from 10:00 to 22.:00, until March 1. Admission to the rink is free of charge, and you can also bring your own skates, helmet, and protective gear. Skate rental is available every day from 10:00 to 21:00. Free skating lessons are held at the ice rink on Wednesdays from 18:00 to 19:00, and Sundays from 11:00 to 12:00.
Tartu Christmas City is organised in accordance with the guidelines for environmentally friendly events, with the aim of reducing the event’s environmental impact. Cafés offer food and drinks in reusable Ringo containers, which cost EUR 1.
Information and programme for Tartu Christmas City: tartukorraldab.ee
More information: Tartu Christmas City project manager Maarja Liba, [email protected]
Last changed 15.12.2025
