History and Gallery

In 2024, Car-Free Avenue took place from July 6 to August 12.

In its fifth summer, the Car-Free Avenue became the heart and meeting point of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024.

The cultural program on the avenue followed a set rhythm from Thursday to Saturday. Thursdays were traditionally dedicated to large concerts, which took on an international dimension this year. There was a record number of concerts, with seven foreign artists from five different countries performing. Fridays featured dance and movie nights, while Saturdays offered plenty of activities for families, and local municipalities were also present.

In total, more than 100 events took place on the avenue, including 24 concerts, 45 youth activities, and 42 general program activities.

Memorable concerts in the main program of the Car-Free Avenue were performed by the following artists: Mahavok, boipepperoni and An-Marlen, Zetod, I Wear* Experiment, Carnival Youth (LV), Sudden Lights (LV), Pulkka (FIN), Sagastrophe (FIN), Horoskoop & Nele-Liis Vaiksoo, Liv Andrea Hauge Trio (NO), Anett and Fredi with their band, the Birgitta Festival ensemble, The Unused Word (AT), Florian Wahl, Ellip, Endru & JeN Hovorka (CZ), Stefan, and nublu.

In 2023, Car-Free Avenue took place from June 29 to August 6.

The cultural programme ran throughout the entire period in a set rhythm from Thursday to Saturday. Thursdays bloomed with concerts curated by European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024. Friday events were inspired by the Year of Movement, and Saturdays were filled with activities for families. Movement days ended with dance evenings, and family days concluded with film evenings by Tartu Elektriteater.

Tartu youth centers also moved from indoor spaces to the avenue for the summer. Throughout the month, activities for children and youth were organized daily, ranging from crafts to workshops. During this period, street youth workers were active in public spaces, guiding young people to participate in activities.

Car-Free Avenue was furnished with a carousel, climbing walls, water features, and other attractions, along with existing street furniture, which was blended with new solutions. Stage was built on the slope facing the downtown park, and it remains there during the Capital of Culture year as well.

Gallery

In 2022, Car-Free Avenue took place from July 1 to August 14.

The riverside section of Vabaduse Avenue became a familiar and attractive public space from previous years, complete with outdoor furniture. However, on weekends (Friday 18:00 – Sunday 23:59), we closed the entire boulevard, where people could enjoy concerts, dance evenings, food markets, and many other events.

In addition to the fun attractions, pleasant leisure areas, and street food trucks, from Monday to Friday, we ensured reduced-speed traffic lanes for cars with a 1+1 lane configuration. Additionally, there were three yellow pedestrian crossings for pedestrians to safely cross to both the avenue and the banks of the Emajõgi River.

It was a space experiment to see if and how we can divide the street space on Vabaduse Avenue in a way that accommodates pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers to move simultaneously and safely.

The project manager of Car-Free Avenue was Ragnar Kekkonen. The event was organized by the City of Tartu, Tartu 2024, Tiigi Seltsimaja, Tartu Turg, Tartu Youth Work Center, and many other valuable partners in collaboration.