Saaremaa Food Festival

Text Stewart Johnson
Photo Andrei Chertkov

Saaremaa is unquestionably one of the most popular destinations in Estonia, and even though summer is winding down, now is possibly the best time of all to go! For nine days various locations throughout Saaremaa and the island of Muhu will be celebrating the Saaremaa Food Festival. This event offers delicious delicacies both from near and abroad.

Almost every day of the festival will show street vendors at local fairs selling the islanders’ best food wares, from honey and jam to spice mixes and a massive selection of unique breads. This year’s special theme will be Hungarian cuisine, notably authentic goulash! The first day of the Saaremaa Food Festival will feature a bonfire and preparing goulash right over the fire.

The second day is Market Day, with a special selection of local goods to feast on. The following Monday is Restaurant Week, with many of the islands’ best restaurants providing special offers for lunch and dinner. Specials include Muhu bread with chanterelles, French cuisine, and even a Mexican menu. More than 16 restaurants are participating in the event.

Wednesday will have the MO Saaremaa Kissel Run, a one-kilometre fun run for children and adults alike. After all the delicious food you’ll be eating, it might not be a bad idea to run, jog, or even walk in this event, which is part of the “Getting Healthier Through Physical Activities” campaign. The evening will conclude with tours of Kuressaare, and many tales and stories about the town.

Toward the end of the week will be the “Visit Villages” tour, which is exactly as it sounds: a prepared route through several villages on the islands with fun activities and foods at each destination. And finally, the last day of the Saaremaa Food Festival will have Apple Cafés Day, during which several cafés—even one-day cafés by people who have always dreamed of what it would be like to run their own café—will offer pastries and other products that contain…apples.

The complete programme for the Saaremaa Food Festival is available here, and entry to most events is free.

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