ETV+ and Radio 4 to mark Estonia's Restoration of Independence Day with festive programming
On Thursday, August 20, Estonia marks the 35th anniversary of the restoration of independence, and broadcasters ETV+ and Radio 4 have prepared extensive holiday programming including live broadcasts and the president's speech. Rus.ERR will stream key events and publish photo galleries.
On Thursday, August 20, the Republic of Estonia marks the 35th anniversary of the restoration of its independence. To mark the occasion, television channel ETV+ and Radio 4 have prepared festive programming, including live broadcasts, a transmission of the president's speech from the traditional reception in the Rose Garden, special projects, and a selection of themed documentaries and feature films. The Rus.ERR portal will carry live broadcasts and publish photo galleries from the day's main events.
Live broadcasts and the president's address
Celebrations on ETV+ begin at 7:00 with the ceremonial raising of the national flag on Tall Hermann Tower, commentated by Boris Timofeyev. At 15:00, the Governor's Garden will host the anniversary concert "Voice of the Past. Sound of the Future," featuring SADU, NOËP, Puuluup, EiK, Duo Ruut and Sander Mölder. At 18:00, President Alar Karis will deliver a ceremonial address from the Rose Garden, broadcast live on Radio 4; ETV+ will air a recording at 20:10, with the full text published on Rus.ERR.
Documentaries and feature films
At 9:45, ETV+ premieres the documentary "One-Way Ticket to the West" (2025), about a charity organization that played a role in restoring Estonia's independence. At 16:30 follows the ETV+ original documentary "The Story of the Riigikogu" (2023) about the parliament building on Toompea. The evening continues with the short drama "St. John's Day" (2014) and a screen adaptation of "Truth and Justice" (2019), based on Anton Hansen Tammsaare's classic novel.
Music and Radio 4 programs
The lineup also includes recordings from the XXVIII Song Festival "Iseoma" and a concert by Ott Lepland and Tanja in Narva. Radio 4 will broadcast live from the Rose Garden at 17:05 with guest interviews, alongside programs on rural history, a project supporting Ukrainian women's entrepreneurship, culture of 1918, and the 110th anniversary of oil shale mining. At 13:05, a selection of Estonian music classics will air.
The holiday TV schedule is available on the Jupiter+ platform, while Radio 4's programming can be streamed via the Eesti Raadio website or mobile app.
