Ten years after Estonia’s first-ever Mega-Event, TheCoastalCrew returned with another celebration of Estonia’s geocaching community. On a sunny weekend in August, nearly 800 geocachers gathered on Estonia’s northern coast for Tales of the Coastal Folk (GCBDYHY), the Mega-Event sequel of legends.

With a venue like the Viimsi Open Air Museum, a theme centered around Estonia’s maritime heritage was only fitting. Events leading up to the Mega-Event introduced geocachers to Estonian history and culture. The weekend started with a gathering in the Old Town of Tallinn, Estonia’s capital. As someone who had never visited Estonia before, I quickly gained an appreciation of the rich culture and history throughout the city.

On the day of the Mega-Event, geocachers explored the coastal outdoor museum and enjoyed magnificent views of the Baltic Sea. In one area, geocachers decorated small wooden fish and sailboats with markers, gems, and googly eyes. They signed the decorations with their usernames and tied them to a large net that served as the event logbook.

The energy continued throughout the day as musicians performed onstage and dancers demonstrated traditional Estonian folk dances. I even had the chance to join some of the dances, although Signal the Frog® had better moves than I did!

There wasn’t a boring moment in the day as the TheCoastalCrew planned plenty of other activities for every type of geocacher. Vendors sold local crafts and produce at a farmers market and tour guides shared the region’s maritime history. Adventures also guided geocachers to artifacts connected to Estonia’s heritage.

When one needed a break from the activities, there were several food vendors available to entice hungry attendees with the smell of seafood, and blankets scattered on the grass made for plenty of space to sit and enjoy the sound of the ocean waves.

This Mega-Event was a grand time, filled with festivities, folklore, and geocaching. None of this would have been possible without the efforts of TheCoastalCrew hosts who put in so much effort to make the weekend one to remember. Thank you all for making this Mega-Event worthy of folklore!