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Helsinki Events and Helsinki Festivals
(Helsinki, Finland, FI)



Home to many traditional Finnish traditions and historic festivals, Helsinki is very much a modern city and also features more than its fair share of rock concerts, sporting events and lively celebrations. Actively promoting its many cultural attractions, Helsinki contains many theatres and concert halls, and in the early 1990s, opened its very own opera house next to Töölönlahti Bay, the Finnish National Opera (Suomen Kansallisooppera), which sees some 250,000 visitors each year, although the far more historic Aleksanteri Theatre (Old Opera House) still remains as popular as ever.

The summer months are when there is the best selection of festivals and other things to do. In particular, look out for Helsinki Päivä (Helsinki Day) each June, the Kaivopuiston Kansanjuhla concerts at Kaivo Puisto Park in July, and the Helsinki City Marathon in August, which starts at the statue of Paavo Nurmi, with the runners finally crossing the finish line at the Olympic Stadium.




Helsinki Calendar of Festivals and Events 2009 / 2010

Helsinki Events and Festivals in January - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Helsinki International Fashion Fair - throughout January, a major international fashion event showcasing the latest creations from many leading Finnish designers. Plenty of fashion accessories are always on hand
• Matka Travel Fair - throughout January, held each year at the beginning of the year in the Helsinki Fair Centre, on the Messuaukio, attracting everyone from tour operators to representatives of some of the world's biggest airlines
• Caravan Fair - throughout January, featuring a range of different vehicles, including camper vans and caravans, along with a huge range of camping equipment and demonstrations. Held at the Helsinki Fair Centre
• Motorcycle Exhibit MP - late January / early February, the biggest motorbike event in the whole of Finland, the Helsinki Fair Centre becomes home to endless Harleys, Triumphs and other famous names, along with vintage models and society stands

Helsinki Events and Festivals in February - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Finlandia Ski Race - throughout February, a cross-country skiing marathon attracting literally thousands of skiers, held in Lahti, around one and a half hours from Helsinki by train

Helsinki Events and Festivals in March - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Gastro - mid-March, a biennial food festival, attracting all levels of caterers and restaurateurs, offering the thousands of visitors the chance to sample some exquisite Finnish food and drink
• Viiniexpo - mid-March, anyone lucky enough to be visiting Helsinki during the middle of March should make a beeline to this wine fair, where over 50 different exhibitors gather with their international wines. A great chance to sample some of the world's best wines
• American Car Show - late March, featuring huge numbers of large, colourful, customized cars and other vehicles from America, attracting well over 50,000 visitors each year
• PixelACHE (PikseliÄHKY) - late March / early April, with exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations, all taking place at the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art on Mannerheiminaukio

Helsinki Events and Festivals in April - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Beer Festival - throughout April, filled with visitors of all ages, this ever-popular beer festival attracts both regional Finnish breweries and some of the bigger international names, so whatever your preference, there is endless beer on tap for you to taste and enjoy, together with brewery trade stands

Helsinki Events and Festivals in May - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Naisten Kymppi (Women's 10,000) - late May, female athletes compete in this mini-marathon race, running through the streets around Helsinki city centre and always watched by large crowds

Helsinki Events and Festivals in June - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Helsinki Päivä (Helsinki Day) - mid-June, celebrated each year on June 12th, this is the city's official birthday and local events generally start outside of the Town Hall (Kaupungintalo) and include free entrance to many leading cultural attractions, along with a lot of market stalls along the Esplanade

Helsinki Events and Festivals in July - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Faces Etnofestival - throughout July, Finnish residents from all around the region gather to celebrate their ethnic diversity, held close to Helsinki in nearby Karjaa and attended by more than 10,000
• Kaivopuiston Kansanjuhla - throughout July and August, a large concert held within the Kaivo Puisto Park, completely free of charge, often attracting acclaimed international musicians and groups, who perform alongside the Kaivohuone and next to the spreading lawns

Helsinki Events and Festivals in August - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Helsinki City Marathon - mid-August, taking in much of the city's beautiful Baltic coastline and natural scenery
• Helsingin Juhlaviikot - mid to late August / early September, dating back to the middle of the 20th century and first known as the Sibelius Week, the Helsinki Festival of today always attracts some 250,000 visitors each year, who come to enjoy movies, readings, theatrical events, local specialities and traditional music and dancing at the Huvila Festival Tent
• Taiteiden Yö (Night of the Arts) - late August, held on the very last Thursday every year in August and part of the Helsingin Juhlaviikot, when the majority of the city's museums, art galleries, bookstores and similar outlets stay open well after normal closing hours, featuring various events, exhibitions and summer festivities

Helsinki Events and Festivals in September - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Helsinki International Film Festival - late September, attended by tens of thousands of film lovers, all of the main cinemas around Helsinki come together to show a range of themed films, cult movies and more commercial blockbusters
• Irish Festival - late September / early October, lasting around ten-days, the many Finns descended from the Irish remember their Celtic heritage, with Irish music, pipers, dancing, traditional fare and plenty of Guinness for everyone

Helsinki Events and Festivals in October - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Stromming (Herring Fair) - early October, a celebration of Scandinavia's love of the simple herring, the Stromming festival is completely free of charge and dates back as far as the 18th century, marking the end of the year's fishing season
• Silakkamarkkinat - mid-October, a fishy event, where local fishermen sell their fresh catch on the main market square
• Helsinki Book Fair - late October, home to literally hundreds of writers, publishers and trade stands, who all gather at the Helsinki Fair Centre each year at the end of October. The various readings and forums are always well attended

Helsinki Events and Festivals in November - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Skiexpo - early November, held as the snowy winter approaches, a popular winter sports fair is staged at the Helsinki Fair Centre, with snowboarding demonstrations and a huge selection of winter sports gear, at bargain prices
• Lesbian and Gay Film Festival - mid-November, a celebration of the vibrant gay culture in Finland, with dozens of screenings of gay films at the city's Andorra Cinema, along with plenty of parties
• Forces of Light Festival - late November, the city is brightened up at this time with a range of artistic light installations and live street entertainment

Helsinki Events and Festivals in December - Helsinki, Finland, FI

• Helsinki Christmas Market - throughout December, a traditional seasonal market held along the Esplanade and offering the perfect chance to pick up some unusual local Finnish handicrafts and stocking fillers
• St. Lucia Day - mid-December, a pageant-type event originating in medieval times and featuring a parade of blonde girls (Lucias), who compete for the crown and title
• New Year's Celebrations - December 31st / January 1st, all-night partying to see in the very start of the new year, with midnight fireworks at Senate Square, close to the Helsinki Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko)

 
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