Saaremaa's largest Midsummer celebration was turned into a paid event
Saaremaa island's main Midsummer bonfire — the Kuressaare celebration — was made ticketed this year. The municipality explained the decision by saying they simply received a good offer.
"When the private organizer offered us the chance to bring top Estonian performers — real superstars like Anne Veski and Terminaator — to Saaremaa's Midsummer event, we discussed it and concluded that since we issued 27 public Midsummer event permits on Saaremaa this year, there are indeed plenty of free events for everyone to choose from. But it would be nice to have one event with top artists as well. As a municipality, we probably couldn't afford that on our own," said Kristel Peel, Saaremaa's cultural director.
Kuressaare celebration was the biggest and most crowded on the island. Estimated couple of thousand people came to watch the bonfire and enjoy performances by top Estonian artists. That is significantly more than in previous years — even though, for the first time, the concert required an entry fee.
A look at the Piletilevi page shows that on June 23, the day of the event, a full‑price ticket cost €25, while a 13-15 years old child or pensioner paid €15.
To ensure no one missed out on a Midsummer celebration, the municipality provided Kuressaare residents with a free bus ride for three hours to the Orissaare bonfire, 50 kilometers away.
"My friend wanted to go to Orissaare because she said she hasn't been there in ages," said participant Arda‑Maiga.
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Editor: Argo Ideon
