Tuulekala Festival 2027

The Tuulekala Festival, held at Orjaku Harbour, is a traditional fishing festival held every year on the last Saturday of May in honour of the garfish, which comes to spawn in the Baltic Sea. This long-snouted fish with green bones is highly prized by the people of Hiiumaa. Their affectionate name for it, “tuulekala” (“wind fish”), comes from its arrival in spring with the westerly and southwesterly winds, making it an eagerly awaited event. A key part of the festival is the tuulekala trolling competition, which has been held for 16 years and is Estonia’s largest recreational fishing event by number of participants, with more than 300 people taking part. The festival’s most exciting moment is the competitors’ mass start in Jausa Bay. Visitors can sample fish dishes throughout the day at the market, where all kinds of local fish delicacies are on offer. There are also interesting lectures, performers and workshops. The festival offers activities for the whole family. While the big fishers are fishing out at sea, younger fishing enthusiasts can take part in an angling competition on the Puulaiu Canal near the festival site. Don’t forget to book your ferry tickets and accommodation.