On Saturday, 9 May, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a community Family Day will take place on Stockholm Square in Narva as part of the celebrations for Europe Week in the city. The event is aimed at both local residents and visitors, and offers a varied programme for the whole family.

Family Day is a community event that brings together people of all ages from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds to celebrate Europe Day together, spend time with family and friends, and discover new activities.

According to Anna Farafonova, Head of the Estonian Language House, the Family Day dedicated to Europe Day is, above all, a time for being together, intended for children, young people, parents, and grandparents alike. ‘It is an opportunity to pause for a moment, to be together, to notice one another, and to connect with our community,’ said Farafonova.

Jevgeni Timoštšuk, Project Manager of Community Activities in Ida-Viru County, notes that although this is only the second year of the Family Day in Narva, the aim is for it to become an enduring tradition. ‘This day brings together the various communities of Ida-Viru County and offers a varied programme featuring exciting artists and group activities,’ said Timoštšuk.

A wide range of activities for both children and adults will take place throughout the day. Visitors can look forward to a variety of workshops and creative activities, including the mobile workshops of Merkuur and pizza-making workshops, where participants can get hands-on and make their own delicious pizzas.

DJ Bassovsky will keep spirits high with music throughout the day. There will be a number of performances on and around the stage, including an energetic show by Sylvain Oulala and a juggling workshop.

Art enthusiasts can take part in the collaborative painting session of the Vestervalli art association, where a collective work of art will be created. Animal lovers will enjoy the dog show.

In addition, a number of partners and organisations will be represented at the event; for example, the Narva Central Library is offering exciting activities for the whole family.

Participants can also enjoy the ‘Life on the Border’ tours led by Denis Bjorkland in both Estonian and English, and a cinema room will be open at the Narva Town Hall. The programme of the cinema room includes the film Valik(Choice), produced by the Integration Foundation in 2022.

The event is organised by the Integration Foundation in collaboration with the Narva City Department for Development and Economy.

The event is being organised with co-funding from the European Social Fund+ under project no. 2021-2027.4.07.24-0017, ‘Supporting community activities that promote integration’. The project is coordinated by the Ministry of Culture, and the Integration Foundation is a partner in the project.

Programme and performers of the Family Day:

• 11.00 a.m.  Opening of Family Day
• 11.00 a.m.  3.00 p.m.  DJ Bassofsky
• Activities at the Narva Central Library
• Workshops for children by Merkuur (mobile workshops)
• Group painting session of the Vestervalli art association
• 11.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.  Pizza-making workshop for children
• 12.00–12.30 p.m.  Show by Sylvain Oulala
• 1.00–1.30 p.m.  Juggling workshop
• 11.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.  Guided tour ‘Life on the Border’ with Denis Bjorkland, in Estonian
• 1.00–2.30 p.m.  Guided tour ‘Life on the Border’ with Denis Bjorkland, in English
• 2.00–2.30 p.m.  Dog show
• 2.30–2.45 p.m.  Kite show by Sylvain Oulala
• 11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.  Cinema room at the Narva Town Hall 

Additional information:

Jevgeni Timoštšuk
Project Manager of Community Activities in Ida-Viru County
+372 58356025
jevgeni.timostsuk@integratsioon.ee 
 

On Saturday, 9 May, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a community Family Day will take place on Stockholm Square in Narva as part of the celebrations for Europe Week in the city. The event is aimed at both local residents and visitors, and offers a varied programme for the whole family.

Family Day is a community event that brings together people of all ages from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds to celebrate Europe Day together, spend time with family and friends, and discover new activities.

According to Anna Farafonova, Head of the Estonian Language House, the Family Day dedicated to Europe Day is, above all, a time for being together, intended for children, young people, parents, and grandparents alike. ‘It is an opportunity to pause for a moment, to be together, to notice one another, and to connect with our community,’ said Farafonova.

Jevgeni Timoštšuk, Project Manager of Community Activities in Ida-Viru County, notes that although this is only the second year of the Family Day in Narva, the aim is for it to become an enduring tradition. ‘This day brings together the various communities of Ida-Viru County and offers a varied programme featuring exciting artists and group activities,’ said Timoštšuk.

A wide range of activities for both children and adults will take place throughout the day. Visitors can look forward to a variety of workshops and creative activities, including the mobile workshops of Merkuur and pizza-making workshops, where participants can get hands-on and make their own delicious pizzas.

DJ Bassovsky will keep spirits high with music throughout the day. There will be a number of performances on and around the stage, including an energetic show by Sylvain Oulala and a juggling workshop.

Art enthusiasts can take part in the collaborative painting session of the Vestervalli art association, where a collective work of art will be created. Animal lovers will enjoy the dog show.

In addition, a number of partners and organisations will be represented at the event; for example, the Narva Central Library is offering exciting activities for the whole family.

Participants can also enjoy the ‘Life on the Border’ tours led by Denis Bjorkland in both Estonian and English, and a cinema room will be open at the Narva Town Hall. The programme of the cinema room includes the film Valik(Choice), produced by the Integration Foundation in 2022.

The event is organised by the Integration Foundation in collaboration with the Narva City Department for Development and Economy.

The event is being organised with co-funding from the European Social Fund+ under project no. 2021-2027.4.07.24-0017, ‘Supporting community activities that promote integration’. The project is coordinated by the Ministry of Culture, and the Integration Foundation is a partner in the project.

Programme and performers of the Family Day:

11.00 a.m.                               Opening of Family Day

11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.      DJ Bassofsky

Activities at the Narva Central Library

Workshops for children by Merkuur (mobile workshops)

Group painting session of the Vestervalli art association

11.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.      Pizza-making workshop for children

12.00–12.30 p.m.                Show by Sylvain Oulala

1.00–1.30 p.m.                      Juggling workshop

11.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.   Guided tour ‘Life on the Border’ with Denis Bjorkland, in Estonian

1.00–2.30 p.m.                      Guided tour ‘Life on the Border’ with Denis Bjorkland, in English

2.00–2.30 p.m.                      Dog show

2.30–2.45 p.m.                      Kite show by Sylvain Oulala 

11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m.      Cinema room at the Narva Town Hall 

Additional information:

Jevgeni Timoštšuk

Project Manager of Community Activities in Ida-Viru County

+372 58356025

jevgeni.timostsuk@integratsioon.ee 

Integration Foundation

Press release

16 April 2026

The Narva City Pharmacy is being brought back to life in an exhibition and invites people to share their memories.

At the end of May, the Integration Foundation will open an exhibition entitled Narva City Pharmacy – Community Memory and a Shared Story at the Estonian Language House in Narva, which will introduce visitors to the history of one of Narva’s most significant landmarks. People are invited to share their own personal memories until 24 April.

According to Anna Farafonova, Head of the Estonian Language House, the aim is to collect unique memories, photographs, and emotions that will help to preserve the significance and history of one of the most important places in Narva.

‘This exhibition not only looks to the past, but helps to create and preserve a living community memory. We are looking forward to hearing people’s memories so that we can add to our shared history and pass it on to future generations,’ said Farafonova.

However, the exhibition at the Integration Foundation’s Estonian Language House in Narva serves more than just a cultural and historical purpose – it plays a significant role in creating an environment conducive to learning Estonian. The exhibition uses the ‘talking walls’ method, in which the texts are not merely informative, but also support the development of reading skills and vocabulary. Each photo is accompanied by text and short exercises, which allows visitors to learn about the history of Narva and practise their Estonian at the same time.

Darja Berestova, the project manager of the exhibition, says that the exhibition serves primarily an educational purpose.

‘At the Estonian Language House, we consistently foster a language environment through a variety of events and activities that encourage the natural use of the language. This exhibition is one opportunity to do just that – for both students and teachers. It can be used during lessons, during breaks, and for independent exploration,’ said Berestova.

Established in 1944, the Narva City Pharmacy was, for a long time, the only pharmacy in the post-war town and therefore played a significant role in the lives of local residents. It was a place where people could find help, medication, and hope at a time when the town was still recovering and growing. It was right here that many children born in Narva received their first medicines, and over time, the pharmacy became a place with which almost every resident of Narva has a personal connection. 

We are looking forward to receiving all photos and stories related to the Narva City Pharmacy by 24 April: integratsioon.ee/en/form/narva-apteegi-malestuse-projekt

You can share both brief recollections and longer stories – from the range of products sold at the pharmacy to the people you might have met there and the topics of conversation. The pharmacy closed on 30 May 2022, but during its long history, it employed several dozen people, and its impact on the city cannot be overstated.

The exhibition, which will also open on 30 May, is based on historical photographs, but people’s stories, memories, and emotions play an equally important role. The exhibition weaves together the life story of the pharmacy’s first manager, the recollections from later employees, and personal stories from local residents. In this way, the history of a single place creates a broader community narrative, which forms an important part of Narva’s identity.

The exhibition will open at the Estonian Language House in Narva and is organised in collaboration with the Narva Museum.

Further information: heleri.michalski@integratsioon.ee; Tel: +372 555 97 131