15.6.2025 | Leisure

Estonia’s Summer Capital Welcomes the Season

Text Stewart Johnson 
Photos Pexels / Daniel Peterson, Evelin Linholm

Pärnu rings in the start of summer this year more loudly than ever before. Not only is it the official start of the warmest, most festive season in Estonia, but they are celebrating the opening of a new bridge, as well as the arrival of the official torch of the Song and Dance Festival.

What to Expect

The day begins at 14:00 at the new Raba–Lai Street Bridge. If you time it right, you could be the first person to cross it after it officially opens!

An hour later, at 15:00, the official torch of the XXVIII Song and Dance Festival will arrive in Pärnu. Akin to the passing of the Olympic torch, this same flame will eventually find its way to Tallinn to mark the official start of Estonia’s most important cultural event, which happens only once every five years.

At 16:00, there will be a boat parade on the Pärnu River, and the official start of the Tour d’ÖÖ Pärnu, part of a ten-day bicycle tour of the entire country. This is their Pärnu leg.

15 minutes later there will be a jet ski show, followed by the official “handover” of the title of Summer Capital of Estonia. It is currently unknown where exactly this title will be handed over from, however, as the entire country exists in the same hemisphere.

At 18:00 there will be a concert by the Pärnu City Orchestra, followed at 19:00 by a cultural programme in the Nooruse Centre.

2 Quick Start will have a concert at 20:00, followed at 21:30 by Estonia’s preeminent House music DJs, Meelis Meri and P. Julm, or as they call themselves, the Rulers of the Deep.

This is an eco-friendly event, so if you choose to travel there, consider arriving by bicycle. Entry is free, except for the various afterparties located around town. The event will also have updates in the nearest future, so be sure to follow it here.