Midsummer's Day (Juhannus) is the most important annual event for Finns. People leave cities and towns for summer cottages to celebrate the longest day of the year. Bonfires are lit and lakeside merrymakers swim and row boats.

Other annual Helsinki Events:

March

Musica Nova Helsinki. Musica Nova Helsinki is an international annual event dedicated to new art music concerts

Musica Nova Helsinki,

Lasipalatsi, 00100 HELSINKI,

tel. +358 (0)9 6126 5100, telefax +358 (0)9 6126 5161

Late March

Annual Church Music festival. Churches of Helsinki are filled with music. Festival features especially brass instruments.

The Parish Union of Helsinki, information, 3 linja 22, 00530 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 70921, telefax +358 (0)9 709 2233

Helsinki, Cable Factory

Helsinki Beer Festival. The biggest Beer Festival in Finland is presented each year. The Festival featured a record 400 different beer, 50 ciders, and a selection of whiskies. On Thursday and Friday afternoons admission is to trade visitors only. On Thursday and Friday nights (from 5 p.m.) and all day Saturday (from 12 noon) the Festival is open to the general public. Helsinki Beer Festival Office, Telephone +358-9-6962 8021 Fax + 358-9-6962 8080

June June 12

Helsinki Day. anniversary of the founding of Helsinki, with activities around the city for people of all ages. Helsinki City Information Office, Aleksanterinkatu 20, 00100 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 1691, telefax +358 (0)9 655 354

Jun 14-Jun 16

Helsinki, Senate Square

Regional Fair (Itä-Uusimaa). The traditional fair in the heart of the city, bringing a mixture of dialects, regional cuisine and practical demonstrations of various trades and crafts.

Helsinki City Information Office, Aleksanterinkatu 20, 00100 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 1691, telefax +358 (0)9 655 354

Jun 14

Helsinki, Olympic Stadium

AsicsGrand Prix. The summer's biggest sports event will feature top athletes from around the world.

Suomen Urheiluliitto ry, Radiokatu 20, 00240 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 348 121, telefax +358 (09) 3481 2367

June 22

Helsinki, Seurasaari

National Midsummer Eve celebration. Bonfires, folk music, folk dances, traditional Finnish games

Seurasaari Foundation, Tamminiementie 1, 00250 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 485 424, telefax +358 (0)9 485 424

August

August 24-September 9 (approx)

Helsinki Festival

Helsinki Festival, Lasipalatsi, Mannerheimintie 22-24, 00100 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 6126 5100, fax +358 (0)9 6126 5161

Music, dance, drama, films, high-standard exhibitions. The basic idea of the annual Helsinki Festival is to culminate the summer with an international arts event. The Festival includes Night of the Arts -festival and Food Piazza on the Senate Square

The Helsinki Festival is the most diverse event in the Finnish cultural calendar, with major symphonic works and the finest baroque orchestras. World class musicians perform in the Huvila Festival Tent each year.

Other Festival events include visiting dance and theatre companies, and well known names in visual art and cinema. There is a special program for children. The annual Night of the Arts is celebrated late in August with many events throughout the city.

mid-August

Helsinki, Fair Centre

Helsinki International Fashion Fair. The Fashion fair presents coming trends, it is the number one event in the Fashion industry in Finland

Helsinki Fair Centre, Messuaukio 1, 00520 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 15091, telefax +358 (0)9 142 358

September

mid-September

Helsinki, Fair Center

Habitare, Homeowner Fair. Habitare Furniture and Interior Decoration Fair is the biggest furniture fair in Finland. In the previous fair 501 exhibitors displayed products from 25 different countries.

Helsinki Fair Centre, Messuaukio 1, 00520 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 15091, telefax +358 (0)9 142 358

October

early October

Helsinki, Market Square

Baltic Herring Market. Fishermen have been gathering round Helsinki Market Square at the beginning of October to sell their wares ever since the 18th century. Once again October will bring the oldest of the city’s traditional events. The market will be packed with salted, pickled and marinated fish and special events.

Port of Helsinki, Olympiaranta 3, 00140 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 173 331, telefax +358 (0)9 1733 3232

mid-October

Helsinki, Hartwall Areena

Helsinki International Horse Show. Each year, Helsinki International Horse Show arrives at Hartwall Areena for three days. The biggest annual indoor event in Finland, the

Horse Show has been held in Helsinki since 1985 and has established itself in the forefront of top events. Event attracts top names from abroad.

Scanhorse, Runeberginkatu 5 B, 00100 HELSINKI, puh. +358

November

Nov-Dec

Helsinki

Forces of Light festival. A city event using light and darkness as its ingredients. Forces of Light is a project of the townspeople, one which has been built by means of a broad network. The event will inspire people to enhance their habitat by means of light and create an image of Helsinki as a creative city of light. Forces of Light, Fredrikinkatu 61 A 60, 00100 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 686 6810, telefax +358 (0)9 6866 8111

Nov

Helsinki

Classic Jazz. Helsinki Classic Jazz Festival swings in November. The best international and finnish classic jazz bands.

Classic Jazz ry, Metsätähdentie 13, 01350 Vantaa, tel.+358 (0)9 602 116, +358 (0)40 505 4884, telefax +358 (0)9 602 656

end of Nov

Helsinki

Ethnic Sounds. Since 1994 Ethnic Sounds is involved in the Nordic ”World in the North” –festival collaboration. Ethnic Sounds features artists from around the world.

Maailman musiikin keskus, Meritullinkatu 33 C, 00170 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 6962 790, telefax +358 (0)9 6962 7910

end of Nov-beginning of Dec

Dance Arena. A biennial festival of contemporary Finnish dance and the Finnish Platform of Rencontres Internationales Chorégraphiques de Seine-Saint-Denis. The festival highlights the peak performances of Finnish contemporary dance and takes place in the different venues for presenting dance.

Finnish Dance Information Centre, Bulevardi 23 - 27, 00180 Helsinki, tel. + 358 (0)9 612 1075, telefax + 358 (0)9 612 1824,

December

Dec 6

Helsinki

Independence Day. Honor guard at the war memorial and students' torchlight procession at the Senate Square.

Women's Christmas Fair. Crafts and Christmas specialities.

Naisten Joulumessut, Bulevardi 11 A, 00120 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 642 277

Dec 13

Cathedral-Finlandia Hall

Lucia -parade. On Lucia Day, 13th December, the beautiful Lucia maiden descends the steps of the Lutheran Cathedral and leads a parade through the city.

Folkhälsan, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 43491, telefax +358 (0)9 434 9352

Esplanade Park

Christmas Market “Tuomaan markkinat”, Crafts, baked goods and other Christmas specialities

Kiinteistövirasto, Halli- ja ulkomyyntiyksikkö, Pohjoisesplanadi 5, 00170 HELSINKI, tel. +358 (0)9 169 3367, telefax +358 (0)9 169 3784

Dec 31

Senate Square

National New Year's Eve festivities. Speeches and music