On August 20, 1991 at 11.03 p.m., the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia adopted the Resolution on the National Independence of Estonia, with 69 votes in favour. The state that had been proclaimed on 24 February, 1918 was restored.

This year Estonia celebrates the 30th anniversary of this historical event.

On Friday, the celebrations will begin at Toompea in Tallinn with a flag raising ceremony and end with a festive concert "The Spirit and the Power of Woman" in the Governor's Garden.

The speakers of the Parliaments of Latvia, Lithuania, Iceland and Poland and the President of the European Parliament will also participate in the events dedicated to the anniversary.

The schedule of events can be seen below. 

Tallinn

Toompea

7 a.m. Flag raising ceremony held in the Governor's Garden.

The event can be followed on ETV, ETV+ and Vikerraadio.

President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, President of the August 20th Club Ants Veetõusme and Speaker of the Althing (Parliament of Iceland) Steingrimur J. Sigfusson will speak at the ceremony. Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Urmas Viilma will say the words of blessing.

The flag-raising units of the academic associations and patriotic organizations will attend the ceremony in the Governor's Garden. Music will be provided by the choirs of the Estonian Male Choir Association, conducted by Andrus Siimon, Indrek Vijard and Jaanika Kuusik, and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Orchestra, conducted by Riivo Jõgi.

The national flag at the Tall Hermann Tower will be raised by three generations of one family – member of August 20th Club Tõnu Saarman with his daughter and grandchildren.

10 a.m. Flowers will be laid at the Memorial Stone to August 20

11 a.m. Eesti Post will present the postal stationery dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the restoration of independence in the White Hall of Toompea Castle.

The postal card with imprinted stamp has a photo of the Session Hall of the Riigikogu Building immediately after the resolution on the restoration of independence had been passed. The stamp shows the time "23.03" (11.03 p.m.), when the Supreme Council adopted the Resolution on the National Independence of Estonia.

Vice-President of the Riigikogu Hanno Pevkur, CEO of the state postal company Eesti Post Mart Mägi, President of the August 20th Club Ants Veetõusme and artist of the postal stationery Indrek Ilves will speak at the presentation.

12 noon. The August 20th Club and the 14th Riigikogu will hold a joint formal sitting.

President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas, President of the Republic Kersti Kaljulaid, President of the August 20th Club Ants Veetõusme and Chair of the Federation of Estonian Student Unions Marcus Ehasoo will deliver speeches at the joint sitting.

President of the 4 May Declaration Club of Latvia Velta Cebotarenoka, President of the Signatories of the Independence Act Club of Lithuania Birute Valionyte and President of the European Parliament David Sassoli will also address the Riigikogu.

The sitting will be live broadcast by ETV and ETV+.

2 p.m. The August 20 Club will hold its traditional festive meeting in the White Hall of Toompea Castle.

President of the August 20th Club Ants Veetõusme, President of the 4 May Declaration Club of Latvia Velta Cebotarenoka and President of the Signatories of the Independence Act Club of Lithuania Birute Valionyte will make speeches at the festive meeting.

3 p.m. The festive concert "The Spirit and the Power of Woman" will begin in the Governor's Garden.

The concert is dedicated to the Estonian women, who have carried the home, the homeland, the people and the nation through both the hard and the bright times.

With this concert, 30 female musicians of Estonia and the Academic Male Choir of Tallinn University of Technology honour the free Estonia.

Mari Jürjens, Naised Köögis, Anne Veski, Liisi Koikson, Liis Lemsalu, Anett, Anna Kaneelina, Birgit Sarrap, Tanja Mihhailova-Saar, Dagmar Oja and Kaire Vilgats, Tuuli Rand and Kristel Aaslaid, Evelin Võigemast, Rita Ray, Lenna, Swinging Sisters, Elina Born, Laura Prits, Getter Jaani, Elerin, Inga, Rahel and Kadri Voorand will be the singers.

The singers will be accompanied by the band formed of Kaspar Kalluste, Marek Talts, Joel Remmel, Hele-Riin Uib and Swinging Sisters. The Academic Male Choir of Tallinn University of Technology will be conducted by Valter Soosalu.

The producer of the festive concert is Danel Pandre and the music director is Marti Tärn. The concert will be hosted by Üllar Saaremäe.

Due to the restrictions on the attendance of public events, we will distribute only 500 free tickets to the concert. They are available at the sales points and on the website of Piletilevi.

We ask you to present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, a certificate of recovery from COVID-19, or a test certificate with a negative result for entry to the concert. Rapid testing will also be possible.

The concert can be followed on ETV, ETV+ and Vikerraadio.

Elsewhere in Tallinn

All events in restricted areas are accessible upon presentation of the COVID-19 certificate, so please arrive in time. Proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test result (within the last 72 hours) can be provided both digitally and on paper. Some events also offer free rapid testing on site.

12 noon - 6 p.m. A military-themed family day takes place at the Tallinn TV Tower. In the courtyard of the TV tower you can see an exhibition of military equipment, a shooting range is open, and a demonstration battle is being fought by the Defence League. The Rescue Board introduces fire and water safety rules, and in the smoke tent you can learn how find a way out in the event of a fire. An origami craft workshop is open to children. Music is performed by Kolga students' band Uurikad, song studio Un Canto and Laikre family ensemble. The Pirita District Administration will also announce the winners of this year's competition for the most beautiful home garden in Pirita. The concert of the band Swingers starts at 5 pm and at 9.45, the display of fireworks can be enjoyed.

2 p.m. A concert by Ivo Linna and Antti Kammiste dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Estonian independence takes place in the Salme Cultural Center in North Tallinn (Põhja-Tallinn).

2 p.m. The pop-rock band Traffic performs Vabaduse Park on the corner of Tähe and Nõmme-Kase streets In Nõmme. It is recommended to bring your own blanket or camping chair.

7 p.m. A night song festival "Free Estonia" (Vaba Eesti!) takes place at Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, at the end of which the City Center Administration will organize fireworks in Inglirand (approximately at 12.45 a.m.).

This year's night song festival includes almost sixty songs performed by fifty young and older artists. The festival will be broadcast on ETV and you can read the lyrics from the screen.

August 21

2 p.m. A free family festival will take place at Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, providing sports and entertainment activities for both young and old. There will be a children's area, sports area, street food alley and a concert in the evening with Traffic, 2 Quick Start and the Lithuanian band The Roop, which represented Lithuania at Eurovision this year. The gates will open at 1 p.m., the approximate end of the event is at 11 pm. More information can be seen on Facebook. 

Tartu

Independence Day will be celebrated in Tartu with a ceremony at the Kalevipoeg monument and a night song festival in the outdoor area of ​​the Estonian National Museum.

11 .a.m. A ceremony marking the restoration of independence will take place at the Kalevipoeg memorial with speeches, singing and music.

Mayor of Tartu Urmas Klaas (Reform), textile artist and academic Anu Raud, actress Priit Strandberg and alumni of the Estonian Women's Students' Association Kudrun Tamm will speak. 

The Tartu Akadeemiline Meeskoor men's choir (conductor Kuno Kerge), the female choir Emajõe Laulikud and the girls' choir Kurekell (conductor Vilve Maide) and the Tartu Wind Orchestra (conductor Margus Kasemaa) will perform. The ceremony will be led by Andres Dvinjaninov.

Participation requires proof of coronavirus vaccination, a negative PCR test or rapid test up to 48 hours before the ceremony.

7 p.m. The night song festival "Vaba Eesti!" ("Free Estonia!") will start in front of the Estonian National Museum and will last until 12.30 a.m.

The first act of the big music evening will culminate in Alo Mattiisen's five patriotic songs, the first two of which will be performed by Bonzo and Hannes Kaljujärve in Tartu and the other three will be broadcast from Tallinn.

In the second half, songs from the last 30 years of freedom will be sung. Additionally, band Trad.Attack will give a concert in front of the ERM and the evening will end with a broadcast from Tallinn Song Festival Grounds.

Participation requires proof of coronavirus vaccination, a negative PCR test up to 48 hours before the ceremony. Free quick tests are available onsite and testing will take place on Friday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. An identity document must be shown.

A free ticket can be purchased from Piletilevi. When redeeming the ticket, the appropriate price type must be selected: 1) with a health certificate, 2) with on-site testing.

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