Categories
General News

Eesti Päevad 2024: Celebrating 70 Years of Estonian Days in Australia

The 70th anniversary of Eesti Päevad (Estonian Days) in Adelaide was a heartfelt celebration of Estonian culture and community, bringing together friends and family from near and far. For five unforgettable days we shared stories, traditions, and laughter, creating memories that will stay with us for years to come.

A Program Full of Highlights

Every day of Eesti Päevad offered opportunities to reconnect with our roots and with each other:

Family Day at Adelaide Hills Farm on Friday was the perfect start, filled with live folk music from “Kobin & Kolin” recently reformed just for us and featuring many of our talented community! Young & old enjoyed dancing dancing to their tunes under the marquee or on the lawns, and much laughter was had. We were also treated to a short performance by Kristiina Ehin & Silver Sepp… giving us a taste of the fun shows and beautiful thought provoking poetry to come.

The relaxed day was a chance for families & friends to gather in the shade under the enormous branches of the beautiful green trees, enjoy BBQ delights, and engage in lively discussions about what it means to be Estonian in Australia. Most kids headed straight for the slide and pool activities, while the coffee van kept us adults energised throughout the day. A personal favourite was the vineyard walking tour Peter hosted, his knowledge and passion for his grapes & vines was clearly obvious! The delicious wines most of us drank all day was a testament to his success!  

Saturday was packed with cultural experiences, from wine tours in Clare Valley to thought-provoking exhibitions at the Migration Museum and the Arts and Crafts display “The Estonian Spirit.” These events reminded us of the beauty and depth of our heritage. Youth activities and the first of three Bar Nights added vibrancy to the day, as friends reconnected and new bonds were formed.

Sunday’s Folk Day rehearsals – Went off without a hitch thanks to the careful planning by Amy and the various Folk Dance and Choir Leaders. After a few hours we were all treated to pizza and let out earlier than expected to refresh ourselves for a fun night ahead. 

The evening brought an extraordinary concert by Kristiina Ehin & Silver Sepp, whose poetic and out of the box performance captivated all. Kristiina’s ability to convey emotions and imagery was a joy to behold…. and Silver’s ability to create music with the most eclectic pieces of farm off-cuts, water bottles and water is inspiring.

Later that night Villemdrillem and Heleza then took the stage, lighting up the night with chart-topping rap and pop hits that had everyone on their feet, dancing and singing along! I think they had as much fun as we did! 

Monday’s Baltic Market Day was a feast for the senses, showcasing handmade creations that blended tradition with contemporary artistry. From timber crafts and jewelry to herbal teas and literary works, the market celebrated the skill and creativity of our community.

Folk Day: the highlight of Eesti Päevad celebrations for many – Folk dancing and choir performances brought joy and nostalgia, as we reflected on the enduring strength of Estonian culture. It was a truly magical celebration of the Estonian traditions we hold so dear. Dressed in our finest Estonian folk costumes or team outfits, we danced, sang, and shared the cultural treasures passed down through generations. The smiles on everyone’s faces… plus the energy and enthusiasm brought to each performance has me convinced we’ll have successful events for years to come! 

The celebrations culminated on Tuesday with a New Year’s Eve Dinner, where we welcomed 2025 together with much dancing to great tunes from “Sudden Comfort”. The warmth of shared stories, laughter, and gratitude filled the air, a perfect ending to an unforgettable festival.

Images courtesy of Kristel Alla, Johanna Rivers, and Esmée Okamoto.


Eesti Päevad was a huge effort to organise, heaps of fun to attend, and we don’t want it to be forgotten.

That’s why the Eesti Päevad website has been building a “Past Events” section – a place where we can record and share our memories of these events.

How you can help

Share photos and videos

If you have photos or videos of Eesti Päevad 2024 in Adelaide, or any other festival, please share them with us. You can upload them to our shared Google Drive, share a social media link to them, or email us directly (see links below).

Write your story or some memories

Maybe you don’t have a photo to share, but you do have a memory to preserve. It can be a single-line sentence with your impression of an Eesti Päevad event, a full review, a funny story about something that happened, or anything else. Heck, it can even be a social media post you already published about the event!

Any other materials or information

We want to preserve it all. For example, on the Adelaide 2024 page of the festival website, you can now find links to materials like the EP2024’s logo concept, AESL President Juho Looveer’s closing ceremony speech, and flyers.

Thank you for supporting us!

Next Eesti Päevad in 2027

The festival website has a new countdown tracker… Save the dates: 8-11 April 2027 in Sydney.