Liiklus (traffic) in Tallinn's kesk/linn (mid/town) is suletud (closed) on July 2 from 8 am to 3 pm. Some people are no doubt thinking "Hmm, I wonder why?" and finding it a terrible nuisance, but if they happened to see what was going to happen, they would stop, watch and be mezmerized.

At 9:20 am the first of approximately 39 000 young singers and folk dancers from all over Eesti and beyond will begin to march, arranged in geographical order, in a celebratory rong/käik (procession) to the laulu/väljak (song festival grounds). By that time, dancers will have been practising together for 3 full days and performed 3 shows at the Kalevi Staadion. And when the young people, marching and singing in their various groups with banners and distinct folk costumes, arrive beneath the laulu/kaar (song festival arch/stage), the giant concert "Mina jään" (Here I'll Stay) will begin. Read more about it at 2017.laulupidu.ee/en/ or watch the celebrations live on Sat. and Sun. via ETV otse live (otse.err.ee). You can watch the concerts on the ETV website after the fact, but live is otse – otse südamesse (straight to the heart).

Photo and text:

Riina Kindlam

Tallinn