Midsummer's Eve 

Midsummer Eve "A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body"

23 June 2026 from 19:00 to 00:00

This year, our Midsummer Eve celebration turns its full attention to movement – which has always been an inseparable part of summer festivities. The love of sport was kindled in the people in the late 19th century by famous strongmen who had risen from the very heart of common folk; they inspired others to take up physical culture and to open sports societies. By the time of the First Republic of Estonia, physical culture was already pursued consciously and purposefully, and it was firmly woven into the programme of summer events. Sports performances and competitions, which had become inseparable from Midsummer Day, kept their place of honour also in the Soviet era.

 

A healthy and strong body lends inner strength and helps you stand up to hardship! Beyond sport, the spirit of the people has always been nourished by music, dance, song, and the joy of time spent together. This year, our celebration has in store sporting festive evenings of different eras, tests of strength, sauna wisdom, dancing and singing. The musical atmosphere is in the hands of Väikeste Lõõtspillide Ühing, Lõõtspillipoisid, Tabasalu Brass, as well as Peeter Kaljumäe, Kaido Kallikorm and others.

 

Farms with a programme are open until 23:00. Farms without a programme close at 22:30.

By purchasing a ticket in advance before June 13, 2026, you’ll get a discounted entry to the Midsummer event!

Buy your e-ticket in advance here!

The Midsummer Eve celebrations traditionally begin at 19:00 with a festive procession from the museum’s main gate. Accompanied by the songs and music of the Leigarid folk group, the procession will make its way to the Swing Square, where a great Midsummer bonfire will be lit.

The evening will open with a folk dance group of Estonians from Norway. At 21:00, 22:00 and 23:00 the stage belongs to Väikeste Lõõtspillide Ühing. A few minutes before midnight, Dawn and Twilight will meet – and in the fading light of the setting sun they will carry the flame of Midsummer far out to sea.

 

Köstriaseme farm – an invitation to dance

The other family members have already hurried off to the bonfire – only the master of the house, Kaido, has stayed behind on the threshold of the storehouse, fingering the keys of his accordion. The sailors’ songs and tunes from the First World War he plays on his button accordion may well draw out into the yard everyone who feels like turning a leg in dance. Why not, after all? Dancing is a wonderful way to keep moving!

 

Härjapea farm – Mäetaguse municipal sports society’s Midsummer Eve

In the 1930s, an active push was on to bring physical culture to the wider public. Country folk were already toiling hard every day, but taking up sport gave them knowledge of how to develop the body in a purposeful way. Training and competing together not only build physical strength but also lift the spirit! At the sports society’s festive evening, the mood will be kept up by the Tabasalu Brass band and Mr. Peeter Kaljumäe.

 

Kuie village school – a song lifts the heart!

Plenty of fine songs have been written about sport. And why shouldn’t there be? After all, songs are sung about everything else that brings people joy, eases the mind and brightens the mood! The school folk invite guests to sing along with Jaagup Kippar. The schoolhouse is also the starting point of the Midsummer Eve adventure game for the whole family – an activity that will lead its players to spots in the museum visitors don’t usually get to see.

 

Roosta sauna – healing with herbs

What could be more healing than a sauna and a good herbal remedy! To stay free of health troubles in the year to come, you should make it to the sauna on Midsummer Eve before sundown. Into the sauna whisk go herbs that are filled with special power on this very evening. Knowledge of herbs and their healing properties will never go to waste!

 

Jüri-Jaagu farm sauna and summer kitchen – making sauna whisks

The master of the farm heats the sauna and ties whisks from birch branches. A good sauna whisk and good steam work wonders on the body – and right now is the perfect time to make whisks. Tie them too early, and the leaves fall off; tie them too late, and they turn stiff. If you mean to take a sauna on Midsummer Eve, you must make the whisk yourself. No other way! That’s the rule! Luckily, the master is no jealous keeper of his craft and is happy to teach the art to anyone who wants to learn.

 

Village Square – the beauty of folk and dance costumes of the Leigarid

On great holidays it’s the custom to put on the very best. On Midsummer Eve, the dancers of the Leigarid gathered around the swing will be wearing folk costumes from different regions of Estonia. Bright and made of natural fabrics, these outfits are not only beautiful and dignified to look at – they will also keep off the rain and the wind if need be. And dance, well, dance simply cannot fail to lift one’s mood!

 

Kolga farm yard – old folk games

Country people had been engaged in physical culture long before the names of Estonian sportsmen first came to the public ear. Folk amusements like tug-of-war, the sack race, walking on stilts and crawling under a yoke can be considered a form of physical education in their own right! One thing is certain: all of them develop agility, speed, strength and flexibility.

 

The Kolga farm barn-shed is closed on Midsummer Eve, so that the cattle are not troubled by the spirits that lurk around on the shortest night of the year.

 

The seasonal fishermen’s house from Hiiumaa – feelings put on paper

Anyone who has tired of dancing and sport can take a break here and, gazing dreamily out across the sea, set their thoughts and feelings down on paper.

 

The kolkhoz apartment building yard – Midsummer 1980. The village Olympics

The 1980 Olympic Games brought a grand sports festival right here, to Estonia. You can’t exactly go sailing in Sookuru, but if there’s one thing the kolkhoz folk know how to do, it’s have a good time! In the courtyard of the apartment building, contests in all kinds of disciplines will unfold: lifting a beer crate, tug-of-war with a Zaporozhets (yes, the car!), boot- and ball-throwing, a round of koroona and plenty more to keep spirits high. The grill is smoking, and everyone is singing along with Lõõtspillipoisid!

Food Academy Summer Residence – TAKE A BREAK!

In the midst of the lively Midsummer’s Eve celebrations, the Food Academy Summer Residence offers visitors a chance to slow down for a moment. In a cozy wine tent, you can enjoy carefully selected drinks and delicious tapas, rest your feet, and let yourself be carried away by summery DJ rhythms.

It’s a place where an evening full of movement and experiences finds its balance—a meeting spot for great taste, relaxed vibes, and enjoyable company.

Visitors are welcome to bring their own reusable dishes.
Buildings that do not have a Midsummer Eve programm will be open until 10:30 pm. Buildings that have a Midsummer Eve program will be open until 11 pm.

Since the museum's parking lots cannot accommodate all cars, we recommend using public transportation or bicycles.

• Buses number 21 and 21B from Balti jaam and the city center bring you to the main gate of the museum (stop: Rocca al Mare). 
• Driving back to the city (stop Rocca al Mare) bus No. 41.
• Bus number 21A from Väike-Õismäe also takes you to the main gate of the museum. 
• From the city center, you can also take buses number 42, and 8 to the Zoo stop, and then take a 15-minute walk along the seaside road to the open-air museum. 
• The front park near the main gate, the Tehasemaja parking lot, and the rear parking lot (approximately 800m towards Kakumäe) are open. 
• You can bring your own bicycle to the museum or leave it in the bicycle parking lot in front of the ticket office. 

Ticket offices are open on Midsummer's Eve: 

• Main gate and ticket office until 11 pm. 
• Rear ticket office (approximately 800m towards Kakumäe) until 6 pm-10 pm.

The museum's farms and buildings are closed to visitors from 6 pm to 7 pm on that day.

NB! With the Museum Card, entry on June 23rd is only from 10 pm to 4 pm. On the evening of Midsummer's Day, the Museum Card is not valid for entry!