The top of the parade has been inspired by the stories of the seashore of the European Capital of Culture.  In earlier years the groups from Tallinn have marched at the end of the parade, this time more than 8000 youth from the European Capital of Culture have the honour to walk just behind the traditional opening party – organizers and conductors. As the first group the dance ensemble Sõprus will enchant the viewers by bringing twenty huge sea waves to life. They will be followed by representatives of Tallinn city, guests and performers carrying thousands of sea blue ribbons. All 241 choirs and ensembles from Tallinn will carry Tallinn 2011 branded signs.

To relieve the festival’s participants and visitors of long walks and traffic jams Tallinn 2011 will open a free parking lot for bicycles at the song festival grounds. The bicycle park was popular already during the last song festival in 2009; it will be open from 1st to 3rd of July and is located on the parking lot outside the Sea gates. Volunteers of the Capital of Culture help to organise the parking. Bicycle owners are asked to bring their own locks and to pick the bicycles up before closing time.
In addition to bicycles also a parking lot is provided for prams on Friday and Saturday. During the dance performances there is limited space for seating; therefore parents are asked to park their prams at a guarded parking lot just within the grounds by the Sea gates. Tallinn 2011 volunteers will be assisting here as well and ask parents not to leave valuables in the prams.

Opening times of the bicycle parking lot at the Song Festival grounds:
01.07 at 12:00-23:00
02.07 at 17:00-23:00
03.07 at 11:00-23:00

Pram parking lot at the Song Festival grounds:
1.07 at 18:00 – 23:00
2.07 at 18:00 – 23:00

The XI Song and Dance Celebration of the youth takes place from 1.to 3. of July and carries the title „The wide world begins in a small land“. The festival is taking place this year because Tallinn is the European Capital of Culture 2011 and it can easily be said that the whole world has its eyes and ears upon us.
The design of the parade has been created in cooperation with Emma Leppermann Studio. European Capital of Culture bicycle parking lot is being organised in cooperation with Estonian Song and Dance Festival Foundation. More information about the events of the European Capital of Culture can be found in Tallinn 2011 information tents at the Song Festival grounds.