World Village Festival
Cultures from all over the world meet annually during this Festival in Helsinki. There is a lot happening from music, circus, dance, theatre, art to various funfilled activities. The Festival also offers new perspectives on tolerant multiculturalism and global issues.
Helsinki Pride
Each summer, Helsinki’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community party and get political at Finland’s biggest Pride festival. The annual event promotes equality and openness through discussions, cultural events, parties and a big parade. Thousands march through the streets in an eye-popping and colourful display, and over 10,000 revellers take part in the wider events. Performers and activists rub up alongside spectators and organisers, but the event is not only popular with the LGBT community. It’s also a great excuse for the rest of the city to enjoy themselves whilst showing solidarity for a good cause.
Helsinki Festival
The Helsinki Festival is the largest multi-arts festival in Finland, lasting two weeks, and featuring everything from classical music to pop and world music, from theatre to contemporary dance, and from the visual arts to cinema and children’s events. Related events include art-themed urban culture, as well as Night of the Arts.
Helsinki International Film Festival
The annual Helsinki International Film Festival offers a great mix of screenings which attracts well over 40,000 people each year to screens throughout the Finnish capital. Filmmakers from all over the world attend the event where visitors can enjoy a mix of shorts, features and documentaries.
Helsinki Baltic Herring Fair
Fishermen have been gathering round Helsinki Market Square at the beginning of October to sell their wares ever since the 18th century. The tradition continues to this day when Helsinki hosts the Baltic Herring Fair, one of the city’s oldest traditional events. The market is packed with salted, pickled and marinated sh and special events also take place. As well as traditional marinade recipes, there are also exotic options on oer too ranging from lemon and rowanberry to cayenne pepper and garlic. Some stalls also sell items such as socks, hats and jumpers made from the wool of sheep living on the remote islands, as well as loaves of the delicious black bread so popular in the Finnish archipelago. On the Saturday of the Helsinki Baltic Herring Fair, traditional sailing ships race each other just o the Helsinki shore, where crowds gather to watch the spectacle. After the race, the ships dock at Market Square for the sailors to attend the Traditional Sailing Ship Meet on the Sunday. The ships are also open for the public to jump on board and look around.
We Jazz
A series of jazz concerts kicks out the first jazz event of its kind in Helsinki each winter. Local and international artists will take to the stage at a number of different venues throughout the city.
New Year’s Eve celebrations
New Year’s Eve has been celebrated at Senate Square since 1932. Thousands of people gather to celebrate to enjoy musical performances, traditional speeches, greetings and songs. The festivities culminate in brilliant fireworks, after which the partying continues throughout the night all around town.
Lux Helsinki
When Helsinki plunges into darkness during the long, winter, Lux Helsinki literally lights up the city centre with magical light art. The main route stretches from the Olympic Stadium past the Amphitheatre at the Finnish National Opera, Hesperia Park, Kansalaistori and Kiasma to Baana and Senate Square. Impressive light installations by Finnish and international artists can be viewed every night when the sun sets.
