We unveiled the program of the 10th jubilee festival: this year there will be held 18 different discussion areas, where among other things will be discussions about mental health, war and peace, energy rotation and the living environment in the future. Culture enthusiasts can see Paide Theater’s play “Fog”, Elo Liiva’s light installations and a photo exhibition of French cinema legends. Furthermore, over the years the legendary dance camp is also taking place.
This year’s Opinion Festival program on the 12th to 13th August includes 147 discussions on a wide variety of topics. “This year’s program extremely diverse and reflects what is important in society at the moment: we are talking about war and the preparedness of the population for crises, future technology and the metaverse, raising happy children and the mental health of young people, the climate crisis and the green transition,” said Kaspar Tammist, the Head of the Opinion Festival and Program Team.
In addition to the discussions, there will be music therapy and developing listening skills workshops, recordings of the Global Estonians podcast and a diverse cultural program for film, theater and music lovers. “ Since it’s the birthday year we will bring back some of the best pieces and revive the dance camp, which made the entire central square in Paide dance together. Nostalgic is combined with modernity this evening, as after the dance camp, NOËP the best male artist of 2022 will take the stage and play records until the late evening hours,” said Tammist.
To create a festive birthday atmosphere, the Opinion Festival area will be decorated with light installations by artist Elo Liiva, which will show Paide to visitors in a whole new light. The birthday party culminates on Saturday night with a joint cake-eating and a grand concert by the Estonian Dream Big Band, where Dagmar Oja and Kaire Vilgats take the stage as soloists. “All those for whom the Opinion Festival has been important during this decade are welcome to celebrate an important milestone in Paide Central Square with us. Birthday gifts can be made on request through Hooandja, where we will launch a campaign to organize a jubilant party,” said Tammist.
The Festival event on Facebook
The festival will take place thanks to the work of hundreds of dedicated volunteers and the help of good supporters. The Opinion Festival is supported by the Town of Paide, the National Foundation of Civil Society, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SA Järvamaa, the Office of the European Parliament in Estonia, the Representation of the European Commission in Estonia, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, the Education and Youth Board, Tallinn University, the State Electoral Office, the Representation of the Nordic Council of Ministers in Estonia, Telia, Magnum, Rohetiiger, Fermi Energia, the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People, the Open Estonia Foundation, Ledzep and Verston.
