Estonian Song and Dance Festival Foundation

The Estonian Song and Dance Festival Foundation organises the festival from which it borrows the name. The Festival traces its tradition back to a first song festival in 1869. Since then, Choirs compete during the national song festival.

The Dance Celebration is a complete performance with a certain theme. The dancers in their bright national costumes from several colourful patterns on the dance field. The Dance Celebration is usually held on the same weekend as the Song Celebration. These two celebrations commence with a united festive parade through the city from the centre of Tallinn to the Song Festival Grounds.

In 2003, UNESCO declared Estonias’s Song and Dance Celebration tradition a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

In 2004 about 100,000 people participated in the XXIV Song Celebration and the XVII Dance Celebration, either as performers or spectators. For the first time in the history of the festival, the dance performace and the official parade were cancelled due to strong rain, however, 7,000 people organised a spontaneous parade.