Аннотация:This article explores the ways that contemporary cultural events and festivals reflect and handle ethnic and historic connections, and how they have changed over time. The article investigates four types of events. The student customs analysed include the celebration of Walpurgis Night (April 30) within the framework of corporation culture and the celebration of the anniversary of the University of Tartu. St John’s Eve celebrations organized by the Estonian National Museum and the Estonian Agricultural Museum represent ethnic events. From agrarian festivals, the article presents the Viss or the Cow Day (selection of the prettiest cow) and the Animal Breeding Day. Celebration of the Hanseatic Days in July is a compound event focusing on handicraft, food, and culture of the Middle Ages. These are unifying events for the larger community, for people of all ages, and they also provide a distinctive identifier of a place – the city of Tartu.
