Estonian Gymnastics Festival kicks off in Tallinn with 3,000 participants

The seventh Estonian Gymnastics Festival, titled 'The Charm of Rural Life', kicked off on Saturday at Kalevi Central Stadium in Tallinn. The event features 3,000 gymnasts and folk dancers, with participants ranging from a 4-month-old baby to women in their 80s.

Rehearsals for the festival's routines have been underway since Wednesday, and the first public performance took place on Saturday evening. Project manager Lembe Laas noted that such a major project requires three years of preparation, and the performance is the culmination of that work.

Chief director Tea Kõrs explained that this year's theme highlights rural life, following the changing seasons from spring to autumn. In spring, nature awakens, lambs and cows are let out, and crops are planted. Summer is a celebration, including Midsummer, Estonia's biggest summer holiday. By autumn, crops ripen and must be harvested for baking, cooking, and preserving jams to prepare for winter.

Participants Liisa, Tiia, and Kristiina praised the festival's atmosphere, comparing it to the Song and Dance Festivals, saying the energy is contagious and makes all the long rehearsals worthwhile. The second performance is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.