This year, the Festival of Opinion Culture will be held on August 15-16 on Vallimägi Hill in Paide.

The object of the festival is to provide an open platform for the discussion of society and culture, free of any political ambition. Ours is a cross-community, self-developing festival open to everyone. We want alert and active people to discuss issues important to them and to Estonia.

The words ‘cross-community’ mean that the festival welcomes representatives and interest groups from all walks of life. ‘Self-developing’ means that those organisations and associations bringing issues to be discussed will do so using their own resources. ‘Open to everyone’ means that anyone interested in sharing his or her ideas is welcome to take part. It also means that the festival is free of charge for participants, with the initiators of topic-based stages organising everything.

The festival will provide the opportunity to listen to inspiring speeches, exchange opinions about social and political issues, gain new knowledge and fresh ideas, participate in workshops, meet new people and enjoy the social programme.

We want to:
• bring people together from all corners of Estonia, including political and non-political institutions;
• give participants an opportunity to discuss the issues vital to the present and future of Estonia – something that is normally done behind the closed doors of conference rooms;
• create a platform for people to exchange opinions regardless of their position or title;
• leave visitors motivated with a sense of wellbeing and desire to return next year.
The Festival of Opinion Culture was inspired by the 46-year-old Almedalsveckan festival in Sweden, as well as other similar events in Finland, Norway and Denmark.