X TARTU FOLK

About the event

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Tartu Folk is a folklore festival dedicated to creating bonds between different Tartu and European folklore groups and sharing local culture with one another and with the audience. The festival will host concerts, dance workshops and music workshops.

In 2025, Tartu Folk will be held for the 10th time. The festival’s headliners are traditionally from the Baltic and Nordic countries. Latvian folk songs and dances will be introduced by childhood friends from the Teikas Muzikanti (Latvia) ensemble. The repertoire of the Vilnius University folklore group Ratilio (Lithuania) is collected from compatriots they have met on their expeditions and from museum archives. The Nordic countries will be represented by the dancers and musicians from the Swedish Philochoros & V-Dala Spelmanslag (Sweden). Joining the headliners alongside European groups is Jumšan Gur (Tartu Udmurts), a Udmurt folklore ensemble based in Tartu. Tartu Folk has also introduced audiences to Estonia’s islands. We have had visits from the folk communities of Kihnu and Saaremaa. This year, there is an opportunity to get to know the dances and songs of the Pakri Islands, brought to the audience by Leesikad (Tallinn / Pakri Islands), an ensemble from the Tallinn French Lyceum. Traditional songs and instrumental tunes from South Estonia will be performed by the organisers, the Folklore Club Maatasa (South-Estonia).

The aim of the festival is to strengthen the local community, bringing together folk musicians, instrument clubs, and folk dance groups active in Tartu and Tartu County, with the goal of highlighting the bearers of local tradition and introducing to guests those working in the field of folklore in Tartu County. Although the organisers’ wish is to present unarranged folklore, it is always exciting to take a look at the present day as well. At the main concert, the folk dance ensembles Tantsutallad and Tarbatu will present contemporary choreographers’ ideas inspired by tradition, while smaller groups of musicians will perform on the festival café stage.

The main day of the festival takes place at the Vanemuine Concert Hall

The events of our anniversary festival are more extensive than usual and also include new concert venues. While Luunja has been the centre of the festival for 9 years, this year the main day of the festival will take place at the Vanemuine Concert Hall. However, the beloved Luunja Cultural and Leisure Centre will not be left out of the folk festivities. As tradition, a community folk celebration will be held in Luunja, but this year a new venue has been added in Tartu County – alongside Luunja, a parallel folk celebration will also take place at the Võnnu Cultural Centre, featuring both visiting groups of the festival as well as local cultural associations.

The festival program is divided into four days. The opening of the festival will take place late Thursday evening with folk songs on the banks of the Emajõgi River in Luunja. Friday begins with workshops in Tiigi Seltsimaja, and the evening brings the opportunity to take part in the folk celebrations in Luunja and Võnnu, while in Tartu, cultural societies and ensembles of different nationalities will gather. The main day of the festival – Saturday – is spent at the Vanemuine Concert Hall in preparation for the evening festivities, and sprinkled with smaller concerts and meetings on the various floors of the concert hall. The evening will culminate in a grand gala concert, followed by a dance club featuring dances and games from Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Pakri Island, and the Udmurt people. At the same time, in the concert hall café, visitors can enjoy the delightful performances of small folk music ensembles over a cup of tea.

The final concert takes place at the Estonian National Museum

The final concert of the festival will take the form of a web show and will highlight the Year of the Estonian Book, declared by the Ministry of Culture, by presenting chracters from Estonian fairy tales. The closing concert will be held at the bridge are of the Estonian National Museum. Constructed as a web show, the concert will be complemented by lively interludes featuring the headlining performers and the particularities of their home regions. The final concert of the Tartu Folk festival will be broadcast live on the festival’s YouTube channel. The concert will be hosted by Tuule Pihlap (Folklore Club Maatasa) and Kaarel Pogga (Vanemuine Theatre).

Tartu Folk is a community-oriented festival where anyone can participate, regardless of age or skill. We invite everyone to experience the festival’s wide variety of ensembles and enjoy its rich cultural heritage.

Photos of the festival in 2024. Photographer: Peeter Paaver

The first festival organised by Folklore Club Maatasa took place in 2016, intending to connect and bond with other communities of youth specializing in authentic folklore. Back then, the festival was named Tartu Youth Folklore Festival. In 2020, however, it was impossible to organise a live event due to COVID restrictions. Hence, an alternative solution was brought to life – an international competitive web show called Tartu Folk-Off, which garnered much attention. Once COVID restrictions were cancelled, the organisers combined the concepts of a web show and live festival into one, creating what we now know as Tartu Folk.

The Festival Tartu Folk will take place in November, a time of spirits, during which the connection between us and our ancestors’ songs, tunes, and dances is vital and valuable. This festival will bring light and warmth to our hearts during the darkest time of the year. The main keywords and symbols of the festival are: fire, youth, connection between generations, ancestral heritage.

“Veere, veere päeva” is a video produced by the Folklore Club Maatasa about the Estonian customs of St. Martin’s and St. Catherine’s Day. It is believed that mardisants (mardi beggards) and kadrisants (kadri beggars) – people dressed up as beggars, in dark and manly clothing for mardisants, and light and womanly clothing for kadrisants – may be the souls of ancestors.


Participants

Ratilio

Lithuania

Vilius Marma

Teikas Muzikanti

Latvia

Katrīna Feldmane

Philochoros & V-Dala spelmanslag

Sweden

Oskar Bremer

Jumšan Gur

Estonia (Udmurt)

Dmitry Denisov, Inga Ignatieva, Irina Reshetnikova

Leesikad

Estonia (Pakri Islands)

Kristiina Siig

Folklore Club Maatasa

Estonia

Halliki Pihlap, Helin Pihlap

Tantsutallad

Estonia

Uve Saar

Folk Dance Ensemble of Tartu University

Estonia

Aveli Asber, Mae Viires

Tarbatu

Estonia

Kristel Maruste

Triskel

Estonia

Kelli Kärsna

Vassakule

Estonia

Maire Jürgel, Minna Presmann, Meelika Kaarna, Kertu Kaarna

Röntyskä

Estonia (Ingrian Finns)

Juha-Matti Aronen, Merje Malkki

The Tartu group of Leigarid

Estonia

Leaanika Parra, Tuuli Torop, Katariina Nelli Tiisler, Sille Kapper-Tiisler

Nadiia

Estonia (Ukrainan)

Janika Oras

Väike Hellero

Estonia

Janika Oras

Alamakstud Härrad

Estonia

Romet Allingu, Brett Hiiob

Kaera-Marid

Estonia

Viivika Kook

Kaaruskrapp

Estonia

Viivika Kook

Wenden

Estonia

Viivika Kook

Hää miil

Estonia

Diana Tarto

Klopandi

Estonia

Diana Tarto

Tartu Dance Club

Estonia

Elen Rebane

Trambali

Estonia

Elen Rebane

Youth group of the Folklore Club Maatasa

Estonia

Halliki Pihlap

Schedule

12th of November and 14th of November

Start Activity Description
10.30-11.00 Fairy Tale Morning at the Tartu City Library The children's and youth department of the Tartu City Library invites children of kindergarten-age to a Fairy Tale Morning. We will listen to Estonian folk tales. Joining us will be the children's group of the Folklore Club Maatasa.

14th of November

Start Activity Description
18.00 Tartu Community Celebration at the Tiigi Seltsimaja Kogukonnapeol kohtuvad Tartus tegutsevad folklooriühendused ja erinevate rahvuste ansamblid: Väike Hellero, Jumšan Gur (udmurdi), Nadiia (ukraina), Röntyskä (ingerisoome). Leigarite Tartu rühm ja Folklooriklubi Maatasa noorterühm tutvustavad Lõuna-Eesti pärimust. Kontserdile järgnevas tantsuklubis on kõigil võimalus kaasa tantsida ja kogeda erinevate rahvaste kultuuripilti. Piletid Fientas: 7/10 € (sooduspilet: õpilased, pensionärid)
18.00 Luunja Community Celebration at the Luunja Cultural and Leisure Centre The people of Luunja will be treated to a musical and dance feast by the guest groups of Tartu Folk – Ratilio (Lithuania) and Philochoros & V-Dala spelmanslag (Sweden). In Luunja, they will be welcomed by local groups: the children's group of Luunja High School, the mixed folk dance group Trambali, and the women's folk dance group Klopandi. There will be a concert and a joint dance club. Music for dancing will be provided by the duo Alamakstud Härrad.
Tickets available on Fienta: 7/10€ (discounted ticket: students, pensioners)
18.00 Võnnu Community Celebration at the Võnnu Cultural Centre The people of Kastre parish will be treated to a musical and dance feast by the guest groups of Tartu Folk – Leesikad (Tallinn/Pakri Islands) and Teikas Muzikanti (Latvia). They will be welcomed in Võnnu by local groups: the mixed folk dance group Kaaruskrapp, the women's folk dance group Kaera-Marid and the senior womens' group Wenden. There will be a concert and a joint dance club. Dance music will be provided by the local village musician duo, Hää Miil.
Tickets available on Fienta: 7/10€ (discounted ticket: students, pensioners)

15th of November

Start Activity Description
16.00 The gala concert at the Vanemuine Concert Hall The festival’s headliners are traditionally from the Baltic and Nordic countries: Teikas Muzikanti (Latvia), Vilnius University folklore group Ratilio (Lithuania), Philochoros & V-Dala Spelmanslag (Sweden). The Tallinn French Lyceum group Leesikad will entertain with dances and songs from the Pakri Islands. Joining the headliners is also Jumšan Gur (Tartu Udmurts). Traditional songs and instrumental tunes from South Estonia will be performed by the organisers, the Folklore Club Maatasa (South-Estonia). Participating folk dance groups from Tartu include Tantsutallad, Tarbatu, Folk Dance Ensemble of Tartu University, Dance Group Pikne, the Härmatis alumni group, and Triskel.
Tickets available on Fienta: 15/20€ (discounted tickets: students, pensioners)
19.30 International dance club at the Vanemuine Concert Hall Inviting you onto the dance floor are: Teikas Muzikanti (Latvia), Ratilio (Lithuania), Philochoros & V-Dala spelmanslag (Sweden), Leesikad (Tallinn/Pakri Islands), Jumšan Gur (Tartu/Udmurt), Folklore Club Maatasa (Southern Estonia), Emajõgi Dance Club, Vassakula Folk Dance Group, Tartu Group of Leigarid, and others.
Tickets available on Fienta: 15/20€ (discounted tickets: students, pensioners)
19.30 The café stage at the Vanemuine Concert Hall The café stage will feature a colourful mix of small ensembles and solo performances. Tickets available on Fienta (day ticket): 15/20€ (discounted tickets: students, pensioners)
00.00 Ethnic disco at Vanemuine Concert Hall The main day of the festival will be rounded off by Ethnic disco, where you can dance your heart out to contemporary music rhythms created based on Swedish, Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian folklore.
Tickets available on Fienta (day ticket): 15/20€ (discounted tickets: students, pensioners).

16th of November

Start Activity Description
12.00 Final Concert at the bridge area of the Estonian National Museum The final concert of the festival, with video clips introducing the performers' hometowns and cultural scenes, will take place on the bridge area of ​​the Estonian National Museum. The main performers will be: Teikas Muzikanti (Latvia), Ratilio (Lithuania), Philochoros & V-Dala spelmanslag (Sweden), Leesikad (Tallinn/Pakri Islands), Jumšan Gur (Tartu/Udmurt), Folklore Club Maatasa (South-Estonia). The concert will be hosted by Tuule Pihlap (Folklore Club Maatasa) and Kaarel Pogga (Vanemuine Theatre).
Tickets available on Fienta: 7/10€ (discounted ticket: students, pensioners)

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