The Tartu Christmas City, featuring an ice rink and cosy cafés, will open on Saturday, 30 November, at 10 AM. The village will remain open until 5 January, with the ice rink available for winter fun until 2 March.
The opening day will bring the grand finale of Tartu 2024 European Capital of Culture, titled “Jää ja loo,” to the Christmas City and Pirogov Park.
At 12 PM, Tartu Christmas City pavilions will be officially opened, two of which have been designed by Tartu 2024 and its partners. The starPERSONS pavilion showcases a vibrant portrait exhibition highlighting key figures of the cultural year. Another pavilion combines a children’s favourite, a straw house, with a robot operating behind a transparent wall, whose sole mission is to find a needle hidden in the hay.
The Christmas City will also feature an Orion exhibit and a star map created by the Tartu Observatory in Tõravere. The Higher Art School Pallas will present a magical universe with imaginative constellations in its pavilion. Meanwhile, SPARKUP Science Park will showcase everyday items inspired by space technology. The Architecture School pavilion will once again offer playful activities at height, similar to last year.
From 4 PM to 6:45 PM, visitors can skate to disco beats with Limpa at the skating disco. At 7:20 PM and 8:20 PM, the Christmas City stage pavilion will host performances by Curly Strings. Full details of the Tartu 2024 finale are available on the website tartu2024.ee.
On the first Sunday of Advent, 1 December, at 6 PM, the Advent candle will be lit in the Town Hall Square. Mayor Urmas Klaas and Tartu Dean Kristjan Luhamets will greet residents, followed by a light show titled “Towards the Stars”, created by director Kaili Viidas. The show combines astronomy with the Estonian mythological view of the stars. The performance will be repeated at 7 PM and 8 PM.
Additionally, visitors to the Town Hall Square can enjoy sleigh rides and pony encounters. The Christmas City cafés Däp, Päkapiku Puhvet, and Humal Christmas Cafe will offer festive treats from 10 AM to 10 PM throughout the weekend.
Food and drinks will be served in Tartu Market’s reusable deposit cups, costing €1. The deposit is refunded upon returning the cup to a café or a designated return point during Advent. It’s important to note that deposit cups should not be disposed of in waste bins. The organisation of Tartu Christmas City adheres to eco-friendly event guidelines to minimise environmental impact.
In the coming weeks, the Christmas City will offer a rich programme, including a winter folk dance day, jazz and cabaret clubs featuring Marianne Leibur and Voldemar Kuslap, meetings with Santa Claus, popular winter games, craft workshops, and plenty of skating fun.
More information and the full programme for the Christmas Village is available at tartukorraldab.ee.