Credits: Mikko Huotari
With an annual calendar of events focused on everything from innovation and technology to cinema and performance art, Helsinki always has something interesting happening. Here are a few picks to add to your schedule.
May 1st is Labour Day in Finland. With strong roots in working-class culture, the festivities around vappu have evolved into a big party that’s beloved by all. The evening of April 30th into the holiday morning is traditionally spent with friends and family, having a long meal at home or at a local restaurant. The morning of the 1st, however, is more raucous, with thousands of Finns parading into Helsinki’s Kaivopuisto Park to herald the arrival of spring. Be sure to pack a picnic full of traditional delicacies like sima, an homemade fermented drink; munkki, sugary doughnuts; and perunasalaatti, a creamy potato salad. Locals typically meet and greet each other in the park, then head home to continue the party – perhaps finishing with a round of late-night karaoke in the local pub. Traditional iskelmä, or folk songs, are guaranteed!
Learn more about First of May in Helsinki at MyHelsinki site.
Helsinki Design Week has been happening every September since 2005. With a festival programme that includes approximately 250 individual events each year, this is the largest design festival in the Nordics, and it offers guests rare access to previously forgotten or abandoned venues. The festival, for example, was the first to reopen the doors of the old customs warehouse (Tulli-ja pakkahuone), the old abattoir (Teurastamo) and the old port warehouse (Jätkäsaari). In 2019, Helsinki Design Week took over Erottaja 2, a neo-renaissance palace in the heart of Helsinki, and in 2020, the event was held in the recently renovated Olympic Stadium. Don’t miss this year’s event, with highlights like PechaKucha Night and presentations from local and international design legends.
Check out the Finnish design flagship stores in Helsinki.
Kekri is a Finnish harvest festival that’s held in autumn. Once celebrated all over Finland, this holiday has largely been eclipsed by Christmas, to which many old Kekri traditions have migrated. During the ancient Kekri Festival on the island of Suomenlinna just off Helsinki, guests and residents alike can join in fall festivities before the long, dark winter descends on Finland. In fact, one of the notions behind the festival is to look darkness in the face without fear. While this can sound a bit grim to those unfamiliar with the tradition, Kekri is actually a celebration of new arising from old. As the souls of the dead return to the world of the living, people indulge in heaps of food, plenty of joyous music and a variety of fun-filled games, all to celebrate the season’s harvest and the last days of light before winter.
The Helsinki Festival is held annually in late summer, and it’s the largest arts festival in the Nordics. Don’t be intimidated by its size, though – the event’s ultimate goal is to make art accessible to all. Featuring classical and world music, theatre, dance, circus and visual arts, Helsinki Festival’s diverse programme ensures every visitor’s tastes and interests are addressed. Make it a priority to stop by and enjoy a performance or two.
The Helsinki International Film Festival (HIFF) is a non-competitive film festival that’s been running since 1988. Held annually in September, it promotes the artistry of filmmaking and focuses on showcasing new talent. If you attend HIFF, you’ll probably notice many Helsinkians flocking to the cinema as colder winds begin to blow into town. Two fantastic theatres to see for yourself are the cosy Riviera in Kallio, where you can book a loveseat, and Cinema Orion, one of the oldest establishments in the city.