On Saturday, July 26, will begin the two-week-long Old Town festival Tartu Buzz, bringing life to the historic city center and inviting people to explore its hidden corners. The festival starts with Open Old Town Day, when courtyards and Rüütli Street will buzz with flea markets, and the evening gains momentum with a Daniel Levi concert.
The day starts in the morning with the Abakhan Market Buzz (Rüütli 11) and the Creativity Market of the Tartu Centre for Creative Industries (Lutsu 3–5), which focus on art, music, and filming. Visitors will be able to browse local design and unique items. Early in the morning, St. John’s Church (Jaani 5) invites for coffee and cake.
From 12:00 to 16:00, a big Open Old Town Day Flea Market will take place on Rüütli Street, where around 50 traders will offer exciting second-hand goods from clothing and shoes to home decor.
By midday, some other courtyards of the Old Town will also join the buzz. In the courtyard of the Hotel SOHO (Rüütli 9), visitors can explore items that over the years have gathered stories in hotel rooms and treasures left behind by hotel guests. In Paper Tiger’s courtyard (Kompanii 2), the vibrant Saiko store will offer fashionable findings for every wardrobe. Aega On (Jakobi 17) welcomes visitors to explore what’s new in the former premises of the Toome store. In Slõu’s courtyard (Rüütli 12), guests can enjoy a summer menu and live music.
Starting at noon, children are invited to the Tartu Toy Museum’s (Lutsu 8) nostalgic Retro Day, with traditional outdoor games, a prize wheel, and delicious cakes. The Tartu Youth Work Centre stage program offers a summer quiz from 15:00 to 18:00 and a bubble workshop starting at 16:00.
For a cozy early evening, visitors can head to the Ülikooli Kohvik terrace (Ülikooli 20) for music and mini pancakes. At the Genialistide Klub and Magasini Suvila courtyard (Magasini 5), guests can join an evening joint knitting session and later dance into the warm summer night to the beats of DJs.
The Open Old Town Day will culminate at 19:00 with a Daniel Levi concert on the main Tartu Buzz stage.
Sunday’s program includes a morning yoga session and a rose garden tour at the Tartu Botanical Garden, Pancake Day in the Magasini Suvila courtyard (Magasini 5), and for youth – a VR party and meeting with a TikToker Kaspar Wang. In the evening, St. John’s Church (Jaani 5) will host a runo song religious service for those interested.
Starting Monday, the festival’s main area will host Buzz Theme Evenings, with discussions on the Old Town architecture, living environment, cooking, nightlife, and so much more. Each evening will be enriched by a diverse cultural program, including performances by Anett and Fredi, Kristiina Ehin and Silver Sepp, Ruutu10 improv theatre, the Psühhobussi educational theatre play, and many other gems. Every day from 15:00 to 18:00, young people can take part in Tartu Youth Work Centre’s summer program with a variety of activities.
The Old Town Tartu Buzz Festival runs from July 26 to August 10. The festival’s heart beats along the Rüütli Street section between Munga and Lai Streets, with the main stage located in the green area by the St. John’s Church.
The full schedule is on the home page.
More information: Ragnar Konson, Producer of the Tartu Organizes, +372 5824 0301, ragnar.konson@tartu.ee