Celebrating the heritage and traditions of Estonia’s hidden harbours

In just five years, a small event organised by a local fisheries group on the shores of Estonia's Lake Võrtsjärv has grown into a travelling celebration of fishing heritage, local traditions and community pride in one of the country's least known regions. Thanks to EU funding support, the Inland Water Festival has now expanded to harbours across the region, hosting concerts, workshops and guided boat tours and attracting tourists keen to learn more about this little-known corner of Estonia.

Lake Võrtsjärv, Estonia's unknown jewel

Stretching across 270 square kilometres through the heart of Estonia, Lake Võrtsjärv is the country's largest inland water body and is connected to 500 kilometres of navigable waterways. The lake is a protected site within the EU's Natura 2000 network, providing crucial habitat for eel, pike and zander, as well as a large variety of migratory birds. It is both a vital nature reserve and a living habitat, sustaining traditional fishing practices that have shaped local life for generations. Yet with few visitors to the area, its rich cultural and fishing heritage - from winter ice-fishing to the stocking of fish - remains largely unknown.

Fish take pride of place

The Inland Waters Festival is helping to put Võrtsjärv clearly on the map. The festival is organised by the Lake Võrtsjärv Fisheries Development Agency in partnership with a network of local harbours. Each harbour develops its own programme of events and activities that highlight its local identity. Activities range from boat trips to culinary showcases, but always with the local fisheries, local fish products and traditional dishes at their heart, alongside music, theatre and cultural events. This fusion of heritage and creativity helps preserve and promote the living traditions of fishing while deepening the connection between people and the lake.

From humble roots to European inspiration

The Inland Water Festival started life as a small-scale affair, as part of an event run by one of the local fisheries groups. EU support through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) was key to helping it expand, says project manager Jaanika Kaljuvee. "The support enabled the event to be organised on a much larger scale across more harbours, with a longer duration and a richer programme. Thanks to the funding, we were able to involve a wider range of performers and partners and offer higher quality. Without this financial support, the festival would have been significantly smaller, less consistent, or might not have taken place at all."

The results of the 2025 edition of the festival, which saw several new harbours join in the festivities, confirm this upward trend: more visitors, greater visibility and a stronger sense of shared identity among lakeside communities. The festival has even inspired ideas for similar events in other European lake regions.

More information

Website of the Inland Waters Festival

Website of Lake Võrtsjärv Fisheries Development Agency NGO | Vortsjarve kalanduspiirkond