Orchid Festival «Mind the flower!» 2017 takes place for the 5th time on Saaremaa to show its rich cultural and natural resources represented by a wide range of orchid species growing in Vilsandi National Park and semi-natural landscapes of the island. Saaremaa is especially rich in native orchids, both in the number of different species and in the size of their populations. Since 1983 all orchids are under protection in Estonia. 25th of May at 4 p.m. the opening of the Saaremaa 5th Orchid Festival will be held in Kuressare castle cafe. The exposition “Orhids in Hanila county and all over Estonia” will be opened the same time . Festival will include four parts: Party of Lady Slippers May, 25-28th, Children and nature June, 2-4th, Party of Dactylorhizas June, 16-18th and Party of Epipactises June, 30th – July, 02nd. In the agenda you can find hikes, expositions, concerts, lectures.27th of May at 5 p.m will take place lecture by Alan Ridgeway. The aim of Saaremaa Orhid Festival is: 1) to introduce unique wild rchids of Estonia;2) to turn attention to one of the Europe’s oldest nature parks, today’s Vilsandi National Park and its values;3) to inform through organized activities about the importance of semi-natural landscapes and species that can be found there 4) to propose an output for local entrepreneurs and increase the number of guests in the area;5) to bring good lecturers and attractive performers to countryside; 6) to evaluate the life in peripheral areas through the sustainable development actions. 

Saaremaa 5. Orhideefestival eesmärgid: 1) tutvustada Eestimaa unikaalseid looduslikke orhideesid. 2) pöörata tähelepanuEuroopa ühele vanimale looduskaitsealale, tänasele Vilsandi Rahvuspargile (1910, Eest Vabariik 1918!) ja selle väärtustele. 3) läbi organiseeritud tegevuste teavitada laiemat avalikkust pool-looduslike koosluste ja seal leiduvate liikide kaitsmise vajadusest. 4)pakkuda väljundit ettevõtlusele ja suurendada piirkonna külastatavust 5) tuua maapiirkonda häid lektoreid ja värvikaid esinejaid. 6) väärindada elu ääremaal läbi säästva ja jätkusuutliku tegevuse. Festivali programm on jagatud nelja ossa läbi orhideede õitsemise aja. Nii saavad huvilised täiusliku ülevaate Eestimaa orhideedest. Lisaks veel tunnustatud loodusemeeste loengud ja mitmekülgne kultuuriprogramm.