Valga to Host the Largest Military History Festival in the Baltics

VALGA - The border town of Valga will host the largest military history event in the Baltic States on Friday and Saturday - the 18th International Military History Festival, or MilFest.

This year's main event focuses on large-scale reenactments of battles from the War of 1812 and the 1941 Summer War, a high-level historical conference, and the presentation of a significant work on the Forest Brothers, bringing together history enthusiasts and military history clubs from Estonia, Latvia, and Poland.

On the festival's opening day, a history conference will be held at the Valga Military Museum, featuring former Minister of Culture Anneli Ott, Senior Researcher at the Estonian Institute of Historical Memory Peeter Kaasik, and Commander of the Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Lauri Teppo, who will discuss the application of lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. The conference will be moderated by Erkki Koort, Director of the Institute of Internal Security. This will be followed by the presentation of the major work on the Estonian Forest Brothers, "Between War and Peace," and a panel discussion with its authors: Meelis Saueauk, Meelis Maripuu, Peeter Kaasik, and Martin Andreller.

On Saturday, spectacular staged battle reenactments will unfold in Valga's city park. The events will be preceded by a lecture on the War of 1812 by Siim Õismaa, a senior researcher at the Estonian War Museum, and a lecture on the 1941 Summer War by Peeter Kaasik and Meelis Maripuu. The Summer War-themed reenactment is directed by Merili Viks, and the battle will be conducted by the NGO Front-Line Estonia, led by Reimo Leoli, along with military history clubs from Estonia, Latvia, and Poland.

In addition to the historical spectacle, the city park will feature equipment and gear from the Estonian Defence Forces, allies, and various organizations, including the Rescue Board, the police, the Defence League, the Women's Home Defence, and the Valga Ukrainian Society "Kalyna." A traditional antiques and crafts fair will take place on the grounds of the Military Museum on Saturday, featuring a performance by the group Shukar Roma and a screening of the feature film "Tired," about Ukrainian war veterans.

"Valga MilFest is not merely a spectacle, but a living history lesson that helps us understand and value the story of the survival of the Estonian state and people," said Mart Kase, Mayor of Valga Municipality, who will also be hosting the Saturday program in the city park. "This year's large-scale battle reenactments and the in-depth events dedicated to the Forest Brothers confirm Valga's role as an important guardian of patriotic education and historical heritage."

Musical entertainment for the festival will include a major open-air concert on Friday evening with performances by Justament and Terminaator, and a commemorative event on Saturday evening at St. John's Church in Valga featuring an evening of 'Ave Maria' film music.

The Valga Military Museum, or the Foundation Valga Permanent Exhibition of Patriotic Education, is the most important center for patriotic education and military history on Estonia's southern border. The museum preserves, researches, and exhibits the history related to Estonia's national defense, internal security, and struggle for freedom, serving as a bridge between different generations. The annual international MilFest is the most prominent event of the museum's activities, supporting the population's will to defend, national defense awareness, and the region's sense of security.