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23.8.2025 | Culture

KopliFest and the Night of Ancient Lights

Text Stewart Johnson
Photo Kevin Wang / Unsplash

KopliFest and the Night of Ancient Lights

 

Kopli is the district of Tallinn that is farthest to the north, on a peninsula, and it is having a festival to celebrate its unique culture and heritage. A rather industrial neighbourhood, Kopli housed workers for various factories, including shipbuilding, during the Soviet era. The area now boasts several lovely parks with playgrounds, a popular culture centre, and is easily accessible by tram, car, bus, and foot.

KopliFest itself will feature lots of live music, arts, food and beverage, a fair and market featuring local goods, loads of activities for children, workshops, and tours of the area. The extremely popular Põhjala tehas is also in Kopli, which is full of art galleries, restaurants, and other entertainment.

More information is available in English here, and in Estonian here. The event is scheduled to conclude around 20:00. In the evening, visitors can enjoy the Night of Ancient Lights. This is a tradition to commemorate the signal fires that were lit in times long ago to guide sailors home, or at least keep them from crashing on the coast. They were lit at sunset.

The Night of Ancient Lights will take place all across the country, and you can choose a local bonfire to attend here. But if you already know you’ll be in Tallinn and want to attend, you can choose between the Seaplane Harbour Museum, and the Viimsi Open Air Museum. Dress warmly!

 

To learn more about this and similar topics
Bonfire Events in Tallinn Festival Kopli KopliFest Night of Ancient Lights

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