3.6.2025 | Restaurants

Grillfest Food Festival This Weekend in Pärnu

Text Stewart Johnson
Photos Grillfest

Pärnu by the sea, 300 food vendors grilling their finest meals, 50,000 visitors, and only two days—since 1999 the Grillfest Good Food Festival has become a staple of the Estonian summer. Street food vendors will also represent, but the main focus, as the name implies, is Estonians’ favourite summer pastime: grilling.

If it can be grilled, it can be found at Grillfest. Pork, beef, chicken, fish, and vegetables will all be available in the more than one hundred food stalls. Street food will also be available, and likely even vegan food.* This is a family-friendly event, so count on fabulous desserts, such as Estonia’s famous ice cream makers.

*If you haven’t had grilled vegan food before, don’t knock it! It is very worth trying.

Younger visitors to Grillfest can also enjoy the Super Manki Playland, an entire area devoted to the grillmasters of tomorrow. There will be arts and crafts workshops throughout both days, music, animals, and dancing.

There are multiple zones of Grillfest, many with their own stages, providing live music all day for both days. The main concerts on Saturday night will feature Detroit’s very own James Werts World Project, and Estonia’s retro-superstars Caater.

Entry to Grillfest is free for everyone, but the food, understandably, is not. Bring your card or cash. The complete programme for the event can be found in English here. If you plan on staying the entire weekend, meaning Sunday as well, Pärnu is an excellent small city to explore.