The sights on Tõrva’s «Dance Mound», this Sunday afternoon, were depressing with roof, stage and sidewalls of the song festival arena burned down. As reported by local media, traces of vandalism were still evident with shreds of glass, a broken mirror, a shattered desk.
Just before midnight, on Saturday, police were alerted of a gang of youth vandalising the song festival arena. Upon arrival, all the police encountered were the flames – with no youngsters in sight.
Saturday night a concert called Fathers and Sons had wound up at 10:30 pm, approximately, on the location. According to host Gunnar Loho, they tidied up the arena, locked up the facilities, turned off the electricity and left at 11:15 pm. While leaving, the sighted a bunch of young people, headed towards the song festival grounds.
According to Tõrva mayor Agu Kabrits, he received numerous reports during Saturday of young people vandalising the town at various locations thereof.
«Considering the upcoming Tõrva Days and Tõrva Spell (Tõrva Loits) outdoors festival, the fire is a heavy blow,» said the mayor. «Even though the events are not directly located at the song festival area, this is where people always go for walks and this would indeed be an ugly sight for them to behold.» The mayor is convinced in arson, his conviction shared by Gunnar Loho and the local music teacher and culture personality Maie Kala.
In two weeks, another concert is planned in the arena. «Surely it will not be cancelled; by then, we will fix the arena so as the concert will proceed,» promised the mayor.
Gunnar Loho added that as a number of concerts, organised by him, have been held on the Tõrva Dance Mound in earlier years – with some yet in store this summer – he would donate part of the profits to restore the arena. The mayor also being convinced the arena would be restored. A couple of hours later, it was announced by Gunnar Loho and Peeter Kaljuste that an event called This Summer’s Souvenir 2013 (Selle Suve Suveniir 2013) is planned by organisers and town of Tõrva on Friday, July 26th, on the ruins of the arena, to support the restoration fund.