Flags to be hoisted on 106th anniversary of Republic of Estonia on Saturday

TALLINN - Flags will be hoisted on the occasion of the 106th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia on residential, commercial and office buildings on Saturday.

Flags will be raised on all flagpoles at sunrise and lowered at sunset. The occasion will be celebrated all over the country with festive concerts, commemorative moments and gatherings. Museums will organize thematic lectures and themed events.

The national holiday kicks off with the raising of flags across the country. A flag hoisting ceremony to the tune of the national anthem at the Tall Hermann Tower at Toompea Castle in Tallinn is to start at 7:34 a.m. The event will continue with a speech by parliament speaker Lauri Hussar, words of blessing by Archbishop Urmas Viilma, head of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the recitation of the Estonian Declaration of Independence by Markus Andreas Auling, a student of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater.

At 9 a.m., wreaths will be laid at the War of Independence Victory Monument in Tallinn. A speech will be given by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

The parade to mark the 106th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia will take place on Tallinn's Freedom Square at noon. The parade will be received by President Alar Karis and headed by commander of the defense forces Gen. Martin Herem. The parade will feature 34 flags, five companies, 11 platoons, two orchestras and four service dogs. After the parade, those interested will be able to have a look at the equipment of the Estonian defense forces and allies. 

A gala concert and reception of the president and First Lady Sirje Karis will take place at the Estonia Theater and Concert House at 6 p.m. The artistic director of the concert is Jaan-Eik Tulve.

A live broadcast of all aforementioned events can be followed via Estonian public broadcaster ERR.