Village of Light

By the way, it’s always Christmas in Tartu! And spring!

The traditional Village of Light on the Town Hall Square has again grown more bigger and varied during the past hot summer months. With the support of our creative power team, we are happy to announce that all Tartu residents and guests of the city are welcome to spend a cheerful holiday season from November 27 to January 8 in the very heart of Tartu.

The beloved Christmas village with lots of glass pavilions is ready by the beginning of the First Advent Sunday. The village is located at the Town Hall Square and is waiting for everyone to spend time, have fun and drink hot chocolate until the end of the Christmas Holiday. Come enjoy the fresh air with us and just wander around the beautiful Tartu. Coffee, mulled wine and gingerbread sellers, sleigh rides and ponies, the straw house that has become a classic in Christmas City Tartu, an (animated)movie pavilion, bonfires and wooden animal carousels – everyone is returning to the Village of Light to celebrate the holidays!

We have lots of friends and partners who have contributed to creating this year’s glass pavilions. Thank you Ahhaa Center, Limnology Center of the Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonian Rescue Board, The School of Architecture (at the Widget Factory), Pallas University of Applied Science, Tartu Observatory, Tartu 2024 Foundation, KiVa Antibullying Program Foundation, students, society and chickens. Yes, you read that right! During the coming holidays, there will be a lot of chirping in the Town Hall Square, in the most literal sense of the word. At the personal invitation of Tartu’s City Rabbit Toivo, the chickens are again returning to the Village of Light. The chicken family will move back home probably in January but visit their nest back home also from time to time, on some nights, also during the holiday time.

Of course, like last year, also this winter you can skate on the Town Hall Square until the end of February! Starting from November 27, the First Advent Sunday, a skating rink of nearly 1000 square meters is open around the fountain “Kissing Students”. So one of the most romantic and fun entertainments in the world – skating – can be practised in Tartu under the starry sky of light chains right on the most important square in the city. You have to come!

We light all four Advent candles together in the town square. On Advent Sundays, we welcome everyone to the heart of the city from 10 am. The Village of Light and cafes are open, and the world’s most beautiful skating rink is waiting for you to skate. Advent candle lighting ceremonies always start at 17:00. This year’s Advent candle lighting ceremonies have been directed by actor and director Kaili Viidas.

So come for a lovely walk, enjoy the goods, try some handcrafting, meet your people and, of course, skate! Enjoy the diverse cultural program of Christmas City Tartu and take care of yourself and your loved ones!

The Village of Light awaits everyone until January 8, and the skating rink is open until February 26.