Valguspidu Sneak Peek ft. Malmöflickorna, TERR Kungla, and Jõgevahe Pere
Thu, Aug 20
|Taddle Creek Park
Before Valguspidu fills the arena, catch three of its groups up close. Malmöflickorna, TERR Kungla and Jõgevahe Pere bring gymnastics and folk dance to Taddle Creek Park for a free KESKfEST opening-night preview! Bring your own dinner and enjoy the show.
Time & Location
Aug 20, 2026, 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Taddle Creek Park, 40 Bedford Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2J9, Canada
About the event
Get an early taste of Valguspidu as KESKfEST spills out into the neighbourhood on opening night. At 6:30 PM in Taddle Creek Park, gather al fresco for a free preview featuring three groups connected by movement, Estonian culture and a remarkable history of performing across borders. Pack along a picnic dinner and enjoy the performances!
Who's performing?
Malmöflickorna is flying in from Malmö, Sweden, but their story began in Estonia. The group was founded in 1954 by Estonian gymnastics educator Leida Leesment, a University of Tartu physical education graduate who fled Estonia during the Second World War. Malmöflickorna became internationally known for its distinctive style of rhythmic gymnastics and signature red-ball routines and has given more than 1,800 performances in 37 countries. The group historically performed at several Estonian World Festivals in both Tallinn and Tartu, as well as Toronto in 1984 and 2000.
For Toronto’s own TERR Kungla, performing near KESKUS brings the story full circle. Founded in 1949 by Ants Saar, Kungla has taken Estonian folk dance from Toronto to Estonia, Europe, Australia, the United States and even Expo 67 in Montreal. In June 2023, the group performed Tuljak on the future KESKUS site, taking advantage of a brief window in construction to give what was the first rahvatants performance on the KESKUS site. Now they return as part of the KESKfEST celebrations!
Jõgevahe Pere is no stranger to the Annex either. The women’s folk-dance group from Jõgeva County visited Toronto in September 2023, performing at the annual Annex Corn Fest in Jean Sibelius Park.
The Annex Residents’ Association described the performance as “entrancing,” and the group also made a visit to the KESKUS construction site during its Toronto stay. This August, they return to share their energy with KESKfEST.
This is only a taste of what is still to come! Valguspidu "Läbi päeva ja öö" takes place Saturday of KESKfEST and brings together more than 300 singers, 250 dancers and 60 gymnasts in a celebration of Estonia’s unstoppable culture and spirit.
This opening-night preview is free and open to all. Because the performance is outdoors, it will not go ahead if it rains.