A town with a vibrant cultural life, Pärnu offers its visitors various artistic experiences. The town’s cultural life revolves around Endla Theatre, Pärnu Concert Hall and a large number of art galleries and handicraft workshops. A variety of concerts, plays, exhibitions and festivals are on offer in Pärnu year-round. The international Järvi Summer Festival and the Pärnu Opera Music Festival are real treats for music lovers, while visitors interested in anthropology-related films can enjoy the international Pärnu Film Festival and art buffs may want to visit the traditional nude exhibit “Man and Woman”. If you enjoy long summer nights accompanied by beautiful music, be sure to attend the events held as part of the Ammende Garden Summer Music Programme or the music festival “A Bow to Valgre” dedicated to the talented Estonian composer Raimond Valgre. Historically, Pärnu County has been an important bastion of culture. For example, this was where the first Estonian song festival was held in 1867. The village of Kurgja is home to the Carl Robert Jakobson Farm Museum, which is significant in terms of cultural history. Cultural life is always in full swing on the island of Kihnu where people still honour traditions and families and communities come together to enjoy folk singing and dancing. In Pärnu County, culture aficionados can visit and learn about numerous local churches and manors and, if they’re lucky, also enjoy beautiful concerts that are held at these locations.