Sea, Music and Ancient Fires: a special evening will take place at Toila Harbour on 29 August
The last Saturday in August brings one of the most visually distinctive end-of-summer events to Toila Beach. On 29 August at 2026, “Meri, muusika ja muinastuled” will take place in Toila Harbour, bringing together the sea, live music, fire sculptures and the tradition of Ancient Bonfires Night.
This is not just a concert by the sea. At the start of the evening, participants will begin building fire sculptures on the beach, which will be judged by a jury and lit after dark. Meanwhile, the band REMINDERS will perform, local food and drink venues will be open, and the focal point of the whole event will be the lighting of the fire sculptures at 21.30. Admission is free.
Quick answer: what is happening in Toila on 29 August?
“Meri, muusika ja muinastuled” will take place on 29 August at 2026 in Toila Harbour. The programme begins at 17.00, and according to the official schedule, the final REMINDERS concert will last until midnight. During the evening, fire sculptures will be built and judged, live music will be played, and the sculptures will be lit at 21.30. The event is free and suitable for the whole family.
Date: 29 August 2026
Start: 17.00
End of program: 00.00
Location: Toila beach and harbor area, Sadama tee 2, Ida-Virumaa
Admission: free
Parking: free at Föhrenhofi väljak
Headliner: REMINDERS
Host: Toomas Nõmmiste
Lighting of the fire sculptures: 21.30
What makes this evening special?
The highlight of the event in Toila is the building of fire sculptures.
During the evening, teams create sculptures from wood, paper, cardboard, straw, and string. The jury evaluates the construction process, the sculpture's appearance and presentation, as well as how it burns. Later, the works are set alight together on the beach.
This is precisely what sets the evening in Toila apart from an ordinary end-of-summer concert: the most interesting part does not take place only on stage. Visitors can watch entirely new objects appear on the beach over the course of a few hours and see how they transform into fire installations after dark.
Sea, music and ancient fires 2026: programme
According to the official programme, the evening will proceed as follows:
17.00–17.45 – team gathering, drawing of places and introduction of the jury
18.00–approximately 20.00 – building the fire sculptures
20.15–20.40 – the jury's assessments and comments
20.40–21.15 – band REMINDERS
21.30 – lighting of fire sculptures
22.00–22.40 – band REMINDERS
22.45 – letters of appreciation
23.15–00.00 – band REMINDERS
The evening will be hosted by Toomas Nõmmiste.
The organiser reserves the right to make changes to the programme, so it is worth checking the latest official event information before travelling.
The evening is not limited to fire sculptures
In addition to performances by REMINDERS, the programme also features Hanno Kokteilid, Toila Ranna Lounge and Toila Mereresto. The organiser also promises a traditional prize draw.
This means you do not have to arrive at the event only at 21.30 for the lighting of the fires. It makes more sense to arrive in Toila earlier, watch the sculptures being completed, eat by the sea, and stay for the evening concert and the lighting of the fires.
What is Ancient Bonfires Night?
In 2026, Ancient Bonfires Night will be celebrated on 29 August. Bonfires will be lit at sunset on beaches and along the shores of inland waters throughout Estonia. The official Ancient Bonfires Night website states that the nationwide celebration in 2026 will take place at sunset, or at approximately 20.30.
The tradition in Toila has grown into a larger event. According to the organizers' description, “Meri, muusika ja muinastuled” continues the Muinastulede Öö project held at Toila sadam in 2007, and the purpose of the modern tradition includes connecting communities around the Baltic Sea and preserving cultural heritage.
In Toila, the fires will be lit a little later — at 21.30, once the fire sculptures are ready and it is already dark enough outside.
Can children attend the event?
Yes. Puhka Eestis officially describes the event as family-friendly and the organiser invites both families and groups of friends to attend.
If you are visiting with younger children, bear in mind that the most spectacular part of the evening starts quite late: the fire sculptures will be lit at 21.30, and the music programme continues until midnight.
A large part of the event will also take place outdoors by the sea. In late August, evenings can be chilly even after a warm day, so it is worth bringing warmer, windproof clothing.
Would you like to build a fire sculpture yourself?
You can also register your own team for the 2026 event.
The advance registration deadline is 20 August 2026 and each team may have up to 15 people. To register, send the organiser the name of the team or organisation, the representative's contact details and the vehicle registration number.
Registration: kaisa.pukk@toila.ee
The organizer provides teams with some of the building materials, but separate safety and material rules apply to the competition. Therefore, before participating, be sure to read the full official guidelines.
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Where to park?
According to the organizer, visitors can leave their cars at Föhrenhofi väljak, and parking is free.
For a larger event, however, it is worth arriving early, especially if the aim is to see the fire sculptures being lit at 21.30.
Is the event free?
Yes. “Sea, Music and Ancient Fires” is free for visitors. There is no need to buy a ticket, and the official event information confirms both free admission and free parking.
Why visit Toila specifically on 29 August?
Many festivals and concerts take place in Estonia during the final weekends of August, but the format of the Toila event is slightly different from the usual.
The main focus here is not solely on the performer. The sea, the darkness, the fire sculptures built on the beach and their simultaneous lighting create an atmosphere that cannot be replicated at an ordinary concert venue.
If you want to end the summer not with just another stage concert, but with an evening by the sea and a powerful visual experience, Toila is one of the most interesting options in Ida-Viru County on 29 August.
Official information
- Sea, music and ancient bonfires – Ida-Viru event calendar
- Meri, muusika ja muinastuled – Puhka Eestis
- Night of Ancient Bonfires 2026
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