Estonian actor Tõnu Kark, asked by a TV reporter why he came to the song festival parade, answered “I wanted to see some happy people. And there are a hell of a lot of them here.” Ditto for me.
The song festival is the only event I’ve ever witnessed where shouting “Long live (fill in the blank with almost anything)” is met consistently with a hearty roar. Most cheers are tributes to choirs, or counties, or parishes, but occasionally there’s something unique. Prime Minister Ansip marched by and shouted “Long Live Estonia,” to which a 70-year-old woman next to me rejoined: “Long Live the Government.”
Here are some images made by our staff photographer, Imbi Imetore.
And, finally, the following. Imbi, not being male, was wondering about the illustrated accuracy of the man's right hand as portrayed in the song festival portapotty wall-side instructions.
