On 20 August, Narva will host a lively Community Picnic that brings together people from all over Ida-Viru County to celebrate Estonia’s Restoration of Independence Day. The day begins with inspiring Community Voice discussions and workshops in Rugodiv Park and ends with a large communal sing-along at the Joaorg Song Picnic.
COMMUNITY VOICE
Rugodiv Park
At 12:00 PM–4:00 PM
Community Voice will transform Rugodiv Park into several themed discussion areas where you can exchange ideas and participate in workshops and masterclasses. The focus will be on issues that matter to the people of Ida-Viru County – young people’s future in the region, local identity, urban space, cooperation between communities and decision-makers, mental health, well-being, intergenerational dialogue, and the meaning of togetherness in today’s society.
🔵 COMMUNITY ZONE
12.00 Opening of Community Voice
12.30–14.00 What kind of Narva do we want?
14.30–16.00 Community and government: partners or parallel worlds?
16.00 Community Voice wrap-up and closing
🟡 YOUTH ZONE
Can young people build their future in Ida-Viru County, or do they have to look for opportunities elsewhere? Do adults really know how to listen to today's young people?
12.30–14.00 Is Ida-Viru County a future for young people, or just a gateway to leaving?
14.30–16.00 Have adults fallen behind the world of today's young people?
🟢 WELL-BEING AND CREATIVITY ZONE
Let's talk about mental health, the sense of belonging, and whether Ida-Viru County is one shared region or a collection of many different worlds.
12.30–14.00 Is too much being said about the mental health crisis, or are we talking about it too late?
12.00–16.30 Workshops and masterclasses for children and adults
14.30–16.00 One Ida-Viru County or a hundred different worlds?
Visitors can also enjoy activities by the Police and Border Guard Board, the Rescue Board and Narva Hospital, as well as attractions for children.
SONG PICNIC
Joaorg
At 5:00 PM–8:00 PM
The Song Picnic will feature choirs, musical groups and soloists from Ida-Viru County, who will perform songs in Estonian, Russian, Ukrainian, Votic and Ingrian. The lyrics will be displayed on a large screen so that the audience can sing along with the performers.
At the Song Picnic, choirs from across Ida-Virumaa will take the stage: the Tandem Choir of the Rugodiv Cultural Centre, the Narva Music School Youth Mixed Choir “Vaimustus”, “Narva Poistekoor”, the Choir of the Narva House of Nationalities, the Narva folklore ensemble “Suprjadki”, the Men's Choir “Kaevur”, “Lüganuse Segakoor”, “Kirderanniku koor”, “Iisaku segakoor”, and the Youth Choir of Jõhvi Gymnasium. They will also be joined by the Tallinn Mixed Choir “Sakala” as a guest. The evening will conclude with a performance by beloved singer Anne Veski.
Community Picnic is free for everyone. The organisers recommend that visitors bring a picnic blanket and basket and dress according to the weather.
🅿️ We encourage you to come to the event on foot or by public transport. Free parking is available at Madise 24 (next to Narva Alexander’s Church) and Madise 15 (Swedish Lion parking area).
The event's creative team consists primarily of creative professionals connected with Ida-Virumaa. The event was created and is produced by Anna Farafonova and Jevgeni Timoštšuk. Alo Puustak contributes to the production as creative partner and expert. The evening will be hosted by Ave Landrat and Signe Viilop, with Kati Jägel-Paal as video artist and Kirill Gorjušin as chief conductor. The visual concept of the celebration is complemented by illustrations created by artists from “Sketchy Seiklus” in Ida-Virumaa.
Community Picnic is organised by the Integration Foundation’s Estonian Language House in cooperation with communities and partners. The event takes place within the framework of the European Social Fund project “Support for Community Activities Promoting Integration” (No. 2021–2027.4.07.24-0017).
Photo: Anastassia Volkova