Narva to host mass singalong for Estonia’s restoration day

Narva will host a community picnic ending with a mass singalong on August 20, Estonia’s Restoration of Independence Day, ERR reports. The event will take place at Joaorg, with performances by choirs and soloists from Ida-Viru County and a closing concert by Anne Veski with her band.

The picnic will take audiences on a musical journey through Ida-Viru County. Beginning in Narva, the programme will travel through songs and visual elements to Narva-Jõesuu, Toila, Sillamäe, Jõhvi, Kohtla-Järve and Kiviõli before returning to Narva. The repertoire will reflect the region’s different places, generations, languages and cultures.

“The idea of the singing picnic is to jointly celebrate the 35th anniversary of Estonia’s restoration of independence and to remind people that our strength lies in unity,” said Anna Farafonova, head of the Estonian Language House at the Integration Foundation.

She said the event would also highlight Ida-Viru County’s diversity by introducing local people, choirs, cultures and traditions, and showing how they enrich Estonia as a whole.

Performers will include the Tandem Choir of Narva Cultural Centre Rugodiv, Vaimustus youth mixed choir of Narva Music School, Narva Boys’ Choir, the choir of Narva House of Nationalities, Narva folk ensemble Suprjadki, the Kaevur men’s choir, Lüganuse Mixed Choir, Kirderanniku Choir, Iisaku Mixed Choir and the youth choir of Jõhvi Gymnasium.

Tallinn Mixed Choir Sakala will take part as a guest performer.

The singing picnic will begin at 5 p.m. A discussion programme called Kogukonnahääl, or Community Voice, will precede it at noon in Rugodiv Park, featuring discussions and workshops.