Explore the Christmas Village at the Open Air Museum

Text Ingel Kink
Photo Estonian Open Air Museum

The Christmas Village at the Estonian Open Air Museum will take place on December 14 and 15, from 11 am to 4 pm. The event will offer traditional Christmas activities, local crafts for all ages. Visitors can enjoy a variety of events, including live choir performances, Christmas markets, and horse-drawn carriage rides, many of which take visitors back to specific moments and periods in Estonia’s past.

One of the key attractions is the Köstriaseme farm, where wooden purses will be crafted, and mittens knitted for poor families living near the church manor. At Härjapea farm, the Mäetaguse Rural Women’s Society will host a charity market and bake gingerbread cookies to raise funds for the education of unemployed youth affected by the economic downturn of the 1930s. In the Lau village shop, visitors can take part in a charity lottery, with proceeds going towards combating tuberculosis and promoting hygiene awareness.

Other events include a celebration at Pulga farm, where Christmas traditions are honoured with festive food and games. At the Nulli-Maie cotter, visitors can experience a modest but joyful Christmas celebration. Sepa farm will offer a hands-on opportunity to help saw wood for distribution to the poor and Kuie school will invite visitors to join in carol singing for the less fortunate.

At the Barn shed on Kolga farm, you can learn about the importance of animals during Christmas, as livestock were often treated as beloved family members. Meanwhile, the Kolga farm will be preparing gifts for fatherless children in a coastal village, while at the Jüri-Jaagu summer kitchen, visitors can enjoy a warm cup of tea offered by the Friends of the Estonian Open Air Museum.

For a festive meal, the Kolu inn will serve traditional Christmas dishes, and the Christmas fair will offer a selection of stalls.

Music will play a large part in the festive celebrations. On December 14, choir performances include groups from Tallinn English College, Tallinn French Lyceum, and Peeteli chamber choir. The following day, the Tallinn Free Waldorf School and Nõmme Folklore School will perform, followed by a Christmas sermon by Pastor Urmas Nagel.

Visiting times:

December 14–15  from 11 am to 4 pm

Tickets:

Adults 12 euros

Discount 10 euros

Family 25 euros

Free with museum card, Tallinn Card, or Estonian Open Air Museum annual pass.

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