Celebrate in Helsinki
Helsinki is the site of Finland’s most festive celebrations. Here are some of the most popular festivals and events each year.
Vappu
This two-day festival every April 30 traces its roots to a North European pagan carnival known as Walpurgis Night. The celebration starts at 6 p.m. at the Market Square with the Havis Amanda statue being crowned with a student’s cap. From there, the revelry begins and students dressed in colorful overalls party all night in every street, bar and club in the city. The merry-making continues the next day as revelers partake in a champagne picnic at Kaivopuisto Park with over 70,000 people in attendance.
Helsinki Day
On June 12, the locals celebrate the city’s birthday with musical concerts and theatrical performances in many outdoor venues and a yearly guided tour of the historical sites. The celebration begins with the mayor’s morning coffee and lasts until late at night.
Midsummer Festival
Better known as Juhannus, the Midsummer Festival is held from June 19 to 25. It starts with a huge bonfire at Seurasaari Island. After the fire is lit, tradition dictates that everyone stays quiet for a moment to commemorate "the nightless night."
Night of the Arts
The Taiteiden Yö festival every August is celebrated like a smaller version of Vappu. As revelers line the streets, a series of cultural performers entertains the crowd throughout the night. This festival began in the 1990s, initiated by local bookstores to drum up interest in the arts. The city government now organizes this annual festival.
Christmas
Known as Joulu in Helsinki, the Aleksanterinkatu is adorned with a thousand lights and the open-air Christmas market at Esplanadi ushers in the its busiest time of the year.
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