The driving force behind the festival is Marko Torm<\/b>, who organised similar events in Rakvere in 2019, followed by Narva and Narva-J\u00f5esuu last spring. In Estonia, he has also been known for the past 15 years as one of the organisers behind the Rakvere Night Run.<\/p>\n
The event will bring a festival area to the \u00dclemiste community park featuring around a dozen different mobile saunas and hot tubs open free of charge to everyone. Among them are two large tent saunas, one black and one white, where visitors can not only enjoy regular sauna sessions free of charge, but also participate in six overlapping paid sauna rituals scheduled daily.<\/p>\n
Thanks to sponsorship from a mineral water company, the \u00dclemiste Sauna Festival promotes itself as alcohol-free and supportive of the so-called \u201csilent sauna\u201d concept.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sound and aroma rituals in the large black tent sauna can accommodate around 50 people at a time. During the ritual, only the sauna master is allowed to speak,\u201d Torm emphasises.<\/p>\n
In the even larger white tent sauna, which can host up to 80 guests, the sauna master introduces visitors to the art of whisking and, later in the evening, to hotter sauna sessions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n Perhaps sauna etiquette in Ida-Viru County has been somewhat unique during previous festivals, as the writer has personally observed visitors in spas in Tallinn, Tartu, and Rakvere naturally quieting down during rituals even without special instructions, usually no later than after the sauna master casually mentions it at the beginning of the session.<\/p>\n The Sauna Festival will take place in the \u00dclemiste City community park at Valukoja 11. The saunas will be open on Thursday 4 June and Friday 5 June after the working day, from 16:00 to 20:00. Changing, washing, and storage facilities will be available in the nearby Community Building. Sauna bathing takes place in swimwear, and towels can be purchased on-site. Visitors may walk around in sandals and wear bathrobes brought along for cooler weather.<\/p>\n It is worth noting in advance that only the maximum number of guests will be admitted to the rituals held every half hour and on the hour. If the festival proves popular, participation may require waiting in line for 15\u201320 minutes before the ritual begins.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/balticguide.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Saunafestival_MartinPiir-0151-1024x683.jpg\")
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