The first singing festival in Estonia was held in 1869. The festival was attended by 878 singers and musicians. The first singing festival became very significant in the national awakening of Estonians and established the custom of holding such events afterwards. As a result, the tradition of holding this festival every 5 years was born, which was interrupted during the Second World War, but resumed again in 1947.
The first general singing festival held on the Singing Field took place in 1928 on a specially equipped stage. The modern bandstand was built in 1960 to a design by architect Alar Kotlin. The largest combined choir to perform on this stage at one time consisted of 24,500 singers.
It is not uncommon for Estonians to refer to themselves as "the singing people". Singing has proved to be one of the ways of national identity in the country's history, uniting Estonians both at the beginning of the 20th century and during the Soviet occupation. At a singing festival in 1988, more than 300,000 people gathered on the field. Estonians gathered not only to listen to national songs, but also to express their political demands. At this event, Estonians loudly demanded the restoration of Estonian independence for the first time.
Even today, every five years thousands of Estonians gather here to participate or be spectators at the singing festival. The festival is a huge open-air concert. Usually the number of participants reaches 25000-30000 people, and there are usually 18000 singers on stage at the same time. Simultaneously singing such a huge number of singers can not leave anyone indifferent.
However, not all choirs in Estonia can make it to this festival. Its popularity is such that groups compete with each other for the right to participate in the singing festival. The repertoire of the event is carefully worked out. Only the best choirs are admitted to this feast. The singing field can accommodate more than 100,000 spectators.
On the same weekend as the singing festival, Estonia also hosts a dance festival, which is a holistic performance with a specific plot. A huge number of dancers in national costumes dance all over the field, forming colourful patterns. The two festivals are usually united by a joint festive procession from the centre of Tallinn to the singing field. In November 2003, UNESCO awarded the song and dance festival tradition the status of spiritual and oral heritage.
The successful location of the Song Festival Grounds on a hillside in close proximity to the sea allows the audience, especially those sitting in the upper rows, to enjoy not only the concerts but also the beautiful seascape. The Tallinn Song Festival Grounds not only hosts traditional singing and dancing festivals, but also various festivals and rock concerts. Next to the bandstand is a 54-metre-high lighthouse. In the upper part of the tower is equipped with an observation deck, which offers a marvellous view of the city and the bay.
