History
The Story of Baltic Battle
1978 - The Beginning
The Baltic Battle party has taken place every year since 1978. The first one was organized as the official opening of the – at that time – new clubrooms in the Old Town and was a joint venture with MSC Finland. Because our Finnish brothers would travel across the Baltic, the party was named The Battle of the Baltic Sea (in Swedish) with the English translation Baltic Battle added.
The Early Years
From the very first party, in August 1978, it was a big success. It included a boat trip around the southern neighborhood islands and the main party took place, of course, in the new premises. Tom of Finland was specially invited and showed how his drawings were created, which later became world famous. MSC Finland brought a jumping leather jack toy as a gift, which is framed behind acrylic glass in our current clubhouse.
Growth and Recognition
For Baltic Battle 2, the year after, we went big with a joint venture of five Nordic leather clubs. We commissioned our first exclusively designed Baltic Battle poster by Tom of Finland and there would be 10 more during the 80s. Baltic Battle 3 in 1980 was organized entirely on our own. And so it has continued, year after year... And the rumor spread and many international guests came and are still coming. We announced this as our major ECMC event and the rumor spread even outside Europe. In 1981, Drummer Magazine – the legendary leather and fetish magazine – wrote that our Baltic Battle is even bigger than the CMC Carnival in San Francisco!
Memorable Venues
Some particularly memorable BB's are those with the main battle in a shipyard dry-dock (1997), at the culture exhibition hall at Euro Pride with 600 participating leather gays (1998), at a shipyard (2000-2002), in a former printing works (2007), in a former big cinema (2012) – all with welcome pub evenings and Sunday brunches in the club and additional activities in town. Gay and leather history has been written and there are many memories of amazing and (in)famous parties – and all was and is only possible due to all the volunteers, who engage and work hard, breaking their balls – both literally and practically.
The Battle will continue!
Join us for Baltic Battle XLVII and become part of this incredible legacy!