The annual ‘Playtime’ live music festival has been taking place since 2001 at the Mongol Shiltgeen recreational area in Gachuurt Village just east of Ulaanbaatar. Initially, only a few people attended Playtime to listen to rock music and enjoy the festival. But now, Playtime has expanded to become a really international event with thousands of people attending the festival each summer.

However, ‘Playtime-2020’ has been postponed by the organisers in line with the government decision of cancelling all cultural and sports events in order to prevent the coronavirus pandemic. The festival was originally scheduled to be held from 16-19 July, 2020. Therefore, festival will next be held on the same days in 2021. According to the organisers, new tickets for next year’s event will be sent by e-mail to everyone who has already booked.

The festival aims to promote modern music culture in Ulaanbaatar, and to bring together established and emerging artists to contribute to young people’s musical education.

Various pavilions are set up for food, tattoos, piercing, drawings, sales of clothing and accessories, and good Mongolian beer. Many attendees set up colorful tents and camp out at Mongol Shiltgeen to enjoy live music and dance at various parties until dawn.