This is Jaanituli — a celebration of Northern Summer Solstice, where people show up at dawn to stack firewood like it’s an Olympic sport, dance around flames like enchanted fairies, and feed the masses like Estonian grandmas on a mission. It’s a people-powered party built around one glorious bonfire that declares: this is how we Midsummer.
What started as a humble picnic now ranks among the biggest Estonian gatherings in Australia — pulling in folks from all corners for a full-throttle day of dancing, feasting and belly laughs. A community that builds, bonds and boogies like no other.
Brisbane Estonian Society has a long tradition of organising Midsummer bonfires in Australia. The Estonian community in Brisbane and wider South East Queensland has been coming together for Estonian holidays and celebrations from around 1930s. It was the parents of our most notable members and former presidents of the society — at a time when Tiina, Kulla & Hans, Jaak, Villiam, Ilse, Ille, Gisela and many others were still just children, unaware yet that the future of Brisbane’s Estonian community life would one day rest in their hands for decades to come. Along the way, Ron & Karel, Harry, Heidi & Rein and many more have joined the society’s activities.
Some 15 years ago, a fresh generation picked up the torch: Sirle, Airi, Kati, Raivo, Esmée, Krista, Anu, Andres, Sigrid, Tarmo and several others. Today, more new names have joined the crew — Siim, Iti, Elina and Mooris — they continue bringing spark by blending traditions with creativity and thus keeping the magic alive.
What made this year special
This year’s Jaanituli felt particularly memorable thanks to a few standout elements.
People, people and people…
The joy of this festival lives in the hands and hearts of those who make it happen — and in 2025, that joy overflowed. Around 30 generous volunteers helped power every corner of the event — from ticketing and the kitchen to the kids’ play corner, the bar and beyond. They brought laughter, calm under pressure and true Estonian hospitality to everything they touched.
The busy core team — Siim, Andres, Iti, Kati, Mooris and Elina — poured energy and imagination into every detail, showing that the community’s flame is in good hands. Brisbane’s Jaanituli doesn’t just rest on tradition alone — it dances forward.
Bold and playful video is a must-watch
This year, the story of the celebration was captured like never before in a bold, playful highlight video by Otto Zeiger — a content wiz based in Australia for 13 years we’re hoping to tell you more about soon! — teamed up with fitness influencer Kertu Roose. It’s loud, spirited and 100% Jaanituli.
🎥 Watch the Brisbane’s Jaanituli 2025 video here:
👉 https://youtu.be/SjHjiFZyMRY
Tastes of Estonia
The food at Brisbane’s Jaanituli is always a crowd-pleaser, but this year it felt like a feast made by family. Prepared by Sirle, with the help of many generous hands, the meal was pure Estonian comfort — ŝaŝlõkk, creamy potato salad, black bread and all the trimmings.
Across the dessert tables, community spirit was baked into every bite, thanks to the generous efforts of community members:
- Estonian Kitchen delighted with Kräsupea cake, waffles and other traditional sweets
- Eneli served up roulades, meringues, rustic rye sourdough bread and more
- Kristiina offered cinnamon scrolls and barista coffee
- Gold Coast Estonian Society brought in beloved Kalev chocolates from Estonia
- At the bar, many favourite Estonian beverages were served.
Music, dance and fire magic
From day to night, the celebration pulsed with movement, music and moments to remember. Children turned their cheeks into canvases with Sille’s face painting. Merri-Liis’s flower crowns were snapped up as quickly as she could make them — and every cent raised went back into supporting the society.
Folkroos — Brisbane’s local Estonian folk dance group — once again lit up the stage with energy and grace. Their performance erupted into a spontaneous dance around the bonfire by linking hands with audience members, and became a shared magical moment of community.
Andres’s soundtrack of both nostalgic and contemporary Estonian music carried us through the day, while Otto and friends turned the evening into a full-blown dance party. The program was packed with fun and flavour boasting with crowd favourites like tug-of-war, an egg toss and a fiery finale — Merilin’s captivating fire dance.
The flames may have warmed our hands — but the people warmed our hearts.
Stories around the campfire
As in past years, many guests camped overnight beside the beautiful Joyner riverbend that everyone claims “looks like Estonia”. People sat together around the fire well into the night, sharing stories, songs and laughter under the stars. Just like numerous generations of Estonians have sat around their bonfires through history.
With grateful regards
Brisbane’s Jaanituli was organised through the joint efforts of the Brisbane Estonian Society and the Gold Coast Estonian Society, and many volunteers. An event for more than 300 people is no small feat. It is thanks to every person who pitched in that this beloved tradition of Jaanituli not only survives, but gets bigger and better each year.
We’re truly grateful — aitäh, sõbrad!
Photos and videos
Photos: www.facebook.com/BrisbaneEestiSelts
Video @otto.zeiger: https://youtu.be/SjHjiFZyMRY
Time lapse: https://youtu.be/ue1PBdPLCVI
Follow us on Instagram: @brisbaneestoniansociety
