Essentials

Folk festival visitor’s pledge

• I’m peaceful and respectful towards everyone
• I enjoy the music and let others do the same
• I’m ready for whatever the weather brings, be it a drought or heavy rain
• I always find my way to the nearest bin
• I won’t hurt myself with addictive substances and I won’t bring my own alcohol to the festival area
• I’m aware that the concerts last for 60 minutes
• I’m on time because I know that I won’t get in if I’m late to an indoor concert
• I know where the entrances and toilets are
• I leave the concert area after the concert
• I keep an eye on both my people and my belongings
• I won’t bring glass bottles, weapons, pyrotechnics or other dangerous items and substances to the concert area
• If I’m faced with a problem I can’t solve, I’ll ask for help from the nearest organiser, member of te security personnel or policeman
• I’ll leave my pets at home
• I won’t put myself and others in danger by climbing on the castle walls
• I know that the organisers and the security personnel have the right escort any guest who’s not following the festival rules out of the festival area
• I’m aware that the organisers have the right to change the schedule

Where is the festival held?

Viljandi Folk Music Festival takes place in the town of Viljandi, its surrounding areas an in the hearts of folk festival fans! We call the festival area the Perimetre and its border runs from the Castle Hills to the Vabaduse väljak (Freedom Square) and from the Varese bridge to the Singing Grounds. The Perimeter is open every day at 11-02. Starting from 14.00, you need to have or purchase a ticket to get it.
Outside the Perimetre, we hold concerts at Kultrahoov which is located in the yard of Sakala Centre on Turu Street, on the TÜ VKA Youth Stage in the yard of the old fire department on Väike-Turu Street and at Nukuteater on Lossi Street. We also hold county concerts at Loodi and Pilistvere.

Where can I buy tickets from?

Before the festival, you can purchase tickets on the Piletilevi website and their ticket offices.

During the festival, the most convenient way to buy tickets is go on the Piletilevi website on your smart device. You can also purchase tickets from our ticket booth on Vabaduse Square, from the Lossi ticket booth near Varase Bridge, Kirsimäe ticket booth, from the Traditional Music Center and at the gates of Kultrahoov and TÜ VKA Youth Stage an hour before the concert.

Our ticket and pass centre is located on Vabaduse Square where you can pick up all your passes, tickets and accreditations. You need to purchase an extra 2€ ticket for the concerts which are held at the Traditional Music Center.

More information about passes and tickets is available here.

What’s the difference between passes and tickets?

The festival pass is a wristband which gives you access to all outdoor concerts during the festival and to the concerts at St John’s church if there are vacancies.

The day pass is valid on a certain day and gives you access to all outdoor concerts during the festival and to the concerts at St John’s church if there are vacancies.

The youth pass is for students aged 13-26 (included) and grants the same access as a festival pass.

The festival pass, day pass and youth pass give you free entry to the Perimetre!

Concert tickets grant entry to the Perimetre for the entire day of the concert.

The Perimeter ticket gives you single entry to the Perimetre and it costs 5€

Can you pay by card the festival?

Yes, almost all our vendors take card. The fastest way to pay is to use contactless! The closest cash machine is across the road from Vabaduse Square at the SEB bank.

Where can I leave my car or bicycle?

You can leave your car at home. The streets of Viljandi are narrow and parking spaces are limited so we advise you to leave your car home. You can get to Viljandi very easily on a train or bus and there are local buses here which go round Viljandi. Take a look at bus schedules here and the local bus routes here. The train schedule can be found here. If you have to take your car, then it’s worth keeping in mind that parking in Viljandi is free and the chances of finding a parking space a higher further away from the festival area. You can leave your bicycle in the bicycle parking lot which is located on Vabaduse Square. The parking lot is under surveillance during the opening hours of the Perimetre.

You can also charge your electric car on Vabaduse Square.

Take them with you! Children up to the age of 12 (included) get free entry and we’ve got a special wristband for children to avoid any confusion.

We have a Children’s Area with a Children’s Stage at the festival where we hold numerous fun events.

We also have a Baby Tent for the families who come to the festival with babies where you can change nappies in peace, breastfeed or just take a moment to relax from the madness of the festival.

Please read through the festival rules for guests with children!

Rules for festival guests with children

• Get a sticker from the ticket centre for your child so you can write down their name and your contact information in case you unexpectedly go separate ways.
• The electricity cable is not a climbing rope nor a swing even if your child is very light.
• The end of the stage is not a place for children as it distracts other festival guests. Even if the performer allows it. Even if the parent allows it.
• The walls of the Castle Hills are dangerous and are not meant for climbing. Even if the climber has done it numerous times before and nothing has happened!
• You can rent headphones for your child from the Traditional Music Center which protects the fragile ears of your kids. Remember that the loud sounds at the festival might be tolerable and enjoyable for grownups but these levels might not be harmless for children.
• Important numbers: 112 and the festival office +37258144114

Where and what can I eat?

We have a Food Alley and Picnic Area in the Perimetre where everyone will find something to eat. We also offer delicious craft drinks and interesting sweets. Have a look at the map of the food area here.

NB! You can’t take your own food and drink to the Perimetre! But our security guards are reasonable. We’ll let you in with a water bottle and won’t confiscate your baby food or half-eaten apple, but we won’t let you bring, for example, an entire pizza to the festival area. We won’t also allow you to bring any alcohol or glass.

Where can I sleep?

The most convenient way to visit the festival is to stay with a friend. You can always book a room at a hotel. We also have a camping site, sleeping quarters and a glamping hotel.

The campsite is located 300m from Vabaduse Square. It opens on Thursday at 12 and closes on Monday at 10.

The sleeping quarters are located in Viljandi Vaba Waldorfkool.

The glamping – a mix of glamour and camping – site is next to the campsite and staying in it will definitely be an experience. Read more about accommodation here.

I can bring my instrument and backpack to the festival area but what happens after?

First of all, playing music on the street is allowed, even encouraged! Take your instrument and play like you’ve never played before! Just make sure that you don’t clog up the narrow points on the streets. For example, the front of the Traditional Music Center should always remain free for security reasons. But if you get tired and need a place to keep your instrument, then we’ve got an instrument and luggage storage! It’s located next to the information tent on Vabaduse Square and it’s open THU-SAT 11-02 and SUN 12-22. Storing costs 3€ a day.

Can I go to a sauna?

Of course! Ingeri Hostel has a sauna and you can enjoy the sauna ritual in the Picnic Area as well. Viljandi Sports Hall also offers washing facilities so you’ll be squeaky clean! Learn more about the washing facilities here.

Where can I leave my rubbish?

We sort our rubbish. Always find the right bin!

Be caring and nice to the environment while visit the festival and pick up litter even if it isn’t yours and put in the bin even if you’ve been partying hard!

We advise reusing all your dishes. We also offer a rent-a-cup service together with Topsiring.

Where can I charge my phone?

We’ve got two awesome charging stations. In collaboration with the Estonian Green Movement, you can charge your phone by creating electricity by riding a bike. You can also charge at the tent of our main sponsor Telia. Judging from experience, the charging stations are constantly busy, so we advise you to charge your phone at home and bring a battery pack.

Can I smoke?

Yes you can, but we promote healthy living! There are special marked smokers’ areas at the concert venues to ensure that everyone enjoys the concert. Follow the signs!

Where can I sell my stuff?

If you want to sell anything at the festival, get in touch with the Sales Outlets Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The vendors have usually been chosen by April so you snooze, you lose!

There’s no spontaneous selling activity happening on the streets during the festivals and all special events are pre-planned. All independent sellers are sent away from the festival area together with their merchandise.

I have a super cute and well-behaved pet, can I take them with me?

No. We mean it. We know that they don’t bite but still, please leave your pets at home for your own and everyone else’s safety.

Guide, hypo and assistance dogs are welcome. So are service dogs.

What do I do if I find something that belongs to someone else?

Lost and found things can be brought to the luggage storage on Vabaduse Square.

If the object is suspicious, turn to the nearest security guard.

People with disabilities

ALL music lovers are more than welcome at our festival. People accompanying someone with a severe disability can enter the festival for free. Most venues have disabled access but some places might be harder to access without any help. If you have any questions, contact Liina Ergma at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +372 5834 7613.

Can I take photos and film the festival?

Everyone who wants to professionally record the festival, needs to contact the Head of Communication, Heli Luik at +372 5822 6500.

If you upload any photos or videos from the festival to the internet, then please make yourself visible by adding #viljandifolk. Follow out social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Drones are not allowed to be flown at the festival. The only exception is a few of our official collaborators who have agreed it with the press and security teams.

What does it mean that the festival is green?

Our team has worked hard to come up with sustainable solutions. We invite all our collaborators to think along and support our ideas! Companies who use biodegradable dishes were given a advantage when we were choosing our caterers. Most of our caterers have support our sustainability agenda. Some of our caterers offer a rent-a-cup service for drinks. At Kultrahoov, they serve drinks ONLY in rented cups. Our catererss sort their rubbish into packaging cardboard and plastic, bio waste, oil and glass.

Dear visitor!

You can make a difference and help us become more sustainable! Bring your own reusable water bottle or cup (glass is not allowed due to security reasons). You can fill the water bottle in the hand wash and water point at the Food Courtyard.

There’s a Topsiring tent near the Food Courtyard (near the bridge next to St John’s church) where you can return your rented cups. You can wash your cups before using them again on the Food Courtyard and in the picnic area.

Pick the right bin for your rubbish! We have different bins for bio waste and bio dishes, rubbish and single-use dishes, cigarette stubs (did you know that a cigarette stub takes 10 years to decompose when thrown on the ground?), and also one for recyclable packaging (plastic bottles and metal cans in one and glass in the other container).

We know that all this can be quite difficult when you’re partying but all you have to do is read the signs on the bins! Thank you very much!

Use sustainable means of transport:

• The Folk Train in collaboration with Elron brings visitors to the festival.
• Festival pass owners get a reduction on Tallinn and Tartu buses in collaboration with Hansa Liinid.
• If you travel by car, bring your old or find new friends to travel with you.
• If you have an electric car, you can charge in at Vabaduse Square.
• You can leave your bicycle in the bicycle parking lot.
• The most convenient, fastest and healthiest way of travelling at the festival is on foot.

You can find out more about practical information about sustainable energy at the Estonian Green Movement energy point in front of the St John’s church. You can boil your water to make coffee, tea or porridge by cycling or start a light, hairdryer or another gadget and charge your phone.

You can also charge your phone with different smaller and larger solar panels. They’ve got experts in there who can answer all your questions about sustainable energy. You can also find out more about sorting rubbish ­– children can try out a waste game and grown-ups can try their hand at real boxes of waste.

The energy stall is open FRI-SAT 12-21, SUN 12-16

Here are the greens steps the organising team has taken:

• In collaboration with the Estonian Green Movement, we use recyclable dishes for team catering and Tegelaste pesa uses Topsiring cups.
• The team refills their water bottles to reduce the number of plastic bottles.
• The team bags are made of recyclable materials in collaboration with our supporter Telia.
• We reuse the materials from previous years which we’ve kept in the stage designs and invite people to bring in fabrics that they don’t use anymore.
• The children’s area is made of pallets.
• The youngsters at the ETHNO camp gave a new life to their old t-shirts they’ve brought from home by printing the ETHNO logo on them.

What should I pack with me?

Viljandi Folk Music Festival is an open air festival, so keep up with the weather forecast here.

• A coat – it protects you from both the rain and the cold. Remember that you can’t bring an umbrella to the festival area but you can buy a poncho from the merchandise shop.
• Sunscreen, something to cover your head (hat, shawl, etc) and a bottle of water to keep you hydrated on a hot day.
• Wet wipes – you can use them to wash your hands, clean your seat or refresh yourself.
• Festival brochure! You can get it from the ticket centre.
• Pen or pencil to mark your schedule in the brochure.
• Something to sit on that you can use both at the concerts and in the picnic area.
• A cool retro camera to capture the best moments of the festival.
• Band-aids, painkillers and personal medicine. The Medical Help point is located in the Traditional Music Center and you can find out more here.
• Mosquitos love summer nights, so bring some mosquito repellent.
• And don’t forget your tickets! Please don’t print your tickets but find them on your phone with time to spare. Save the environment and time spent in the queue! Remember that we’ll always ask for a document to prove your eligibility if you’ve bought a reduced ticket.

What can I take with me from the festival?

A lot of emotions and tonnes of new friends! Legs which are aching from dancing can also be a nice result of a good time. But the best things to take from the festival are new skills and knowledge. We’ve got a lot of educational events going on, find out more information here.

You can buy merchandise from the Merchandise shop next to the Traditional Music Center on the side next to Kirsimäe stage. You can also purchase festival t-shirts, stickers and albums! Find out more here and find the shop at the festival!

But if you feel that some negative experiences want to go home with you and you believe that the organising team can help you, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we can find a solution together.

I really want to help to organise the festival, what should I do?

Come and volunteer! More information is available here.

You can also do your internship with us and take a closer look at how the festival is organised. Write to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and tell us about yourself and we can find a solution together!

I can’t find an answer to my question, what should I do?

Stay calm, breathe in and out and contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can find the contact details of our team here. During the festival, don’t be scared to approach team members and ask them directly! You can recognise the team members from their festival t-shirts.