Night of Ancient Lights and KopliFest
Text Stewart Johnson Photo Visit Estonia / MTÜ Tuleranda
What used to be a heavily industrial district in northern Tallinn is rapidly developing into a cultural centre akin to the city’s now-famed Telliskivi district. Old factories and associated premises are undergoing gentrification in many ways, and quite frankly the area is very much worth spending a day exploring. Old, Soviet-era apartment buildings are being renovated and modernised, new housing developments with chic architectural designs, a keen awareness of environmentalism can be seen in many locations, and what used to be a somewhat dangerous forest is now one of the nicest parks in the entire country.
This park is called Kase Park, and on 29 August it will host KopliFest, a celebration of this district’s history and culture, as well as that of Estonia itself. There will be food, beverages, concerts—headlined by Curly Strings at 17:00—and lots of activities. These include demonstrations by first-responders, an extreme sports workshop, fun water events, games, and much, much more. The full schedule for KopliFest 2026 is available in English here. This family-friendly event starts at 14:00 and ends at 18:30. Kopli can be reached by tram, bus, car, bike, and on foot if you’d like to enjoy a nice walk.
After KopliFest, the Night of Ancient Lights begins at sunset, which in Tallinn will be at 20:33 on 29 August. This tradition pays homage to the age-old practice of lighting bonfires along the coast to stave off shipwrecks, ensuring loved-ones return home safely. Today it is an unofficial event marking the end of summer.
Visit this site to see a map of fires around the entire country. If you’re in Tallinn, the best coastal fires will be near the Seaplane Harbour, which is a nice walk from Kopli, and along Ingliranna on Reidi tee, near the Russalka sculpture.
To learn more about this and similar topicsBonfire Concert Events in Estonia Events in Tallinn Family Event KopliFest Night of Ancient Lights Summer
