Chinese New Year

Today Keskuskatu in the city center turns into China Town. For the celebration of the Chinese New Year and welcome the year of the monkey.

This celebration has meanwhile become a tradition in Helsinki and is meanwhile in its 10th year. It starts at 13:30 with a parade through the city. Then lots of performances with dance and music follow. The highlight of the event will as always be the big fireworks over Töölönlahti. More information on the program can be found on the official website.

Drop by and enjoy the celebration!

Welcome the new year

It is the last day of the year. Time to celebrate the a hopefully successful 2015 and the beginning of an even better 2016 for all of you.

If you want to welcome the new year together with lots of other Helsinkians then come to Senaatintori tonight. It is the biggest party in town and as every year a full program is awaiting. The celebration will be kicked off at 22:00 with the We Love Helsinki DJ. Later Finnish pop star Maija Vilkkumaa will sing live on stage. The celebrations will culminate with a musical fireworks display at midnight.

There is of course no entry fee. Check out the whole program on VisitHelsinki. And don't miss out on the great deals offered by many restaurants in the city center that are only valid today on the bottom of the page.

Have a great start into the new year!

New Year's Eve at the Senat Square

And another year is over. 2014 is coming to an end today and 2015 is already waiting. And if you don't have any other plans so far then come to the Senat Square tonight.

Traditionally Helsinkian come here to welcome the new year here together with lots of music and stage entertainment. The celebration starts at 22:45 tonight. You might want to arrive a early enough to still get a good spot.

You can also follow the celebration online. Visit Helsinki broadcasts the whole event live on their YouTube channel.

Have a great celebration tonight and a great start into the new year!

Eurooppa-päivä at Bio Rex

Tomorrow is Europe day. A reason to celebrate. And that is done prominently in the center of Helsinki right at and around Bio Rex.

An exciting program of discussions, speeches, music and more is awaiting participants. And the event is of course free to join for anyone. Get in contact with candidates for the European Parliament, talk with representatives of countries all around the European Union and welcome the French Foreign Minister in Helsinki.

The full program can be found from the website of the European Commission and lasts from 10 to 15.00.

Join and have a great Europe Day!

The year of the horse

Tonight the Chinese celebrate their new year. In Helsinki this is traditionally celebrated at Lasipalatsin aukio and everyone is invited.

The programm starts already at 15:30 with the New Year's Parade through the city center. At 16:00 the Chinese village at Lasipalatsin aukio opens and together with it lots of small huts and stands that offer traditional Chinese food and products.

During the whole afternoon and there is a full programm on the stage ranging from dances and Kund Fu shows to speeches and songs.

If you have time also check out the New Year's programm at Helsinki Casino.

Finally at 20:30 the Chinese New Year will be welcomed with big fireworks over the city.

Don't miss it! The entrance is of course for free.

Let's welcome 2014

Today is the last day of 2013. Do you already have plans where to welcome the new year?

If not that come to the big city celebration on Senaatintori in the heart of Helsinki. Again there will be lots of live music and thousands of people are expected to come. Celebrating New Years Eve at the Senat Square has a long tradition and dates back to 1932.

At midnight big fireworks will ring in the new year.  The entrance is of course free.

Have a great start into 2014!

Hyvää Juhannusta!

Today is Juhannus, the Finnish midsummer. Most people have left the city to spend it with family and friends on their summer cottages.

The city might appear like a ghost town since most places – even bars and pubs – will be closed. But there is still something going on here during Juhannus.

Juhannus tree at Seurasaari

Experience for example the traditional midsummer celebration at Seurasaari where the big Juhannus kokot (fires) are lit. The celebration starts at 18:00 and continues till late at night. The entrance fee is 18 €. Kids under 15 years are free.

Or see the big Juhannus fire further outside on the island of Pihlajasaari. A boat takes you there from next to Café Carusel. The fire is lit at 21:00.

Have a great Juhannus!

This was Vappu 2013

The sun was shining, the temperatures were mild and the whole city was celebrating. Thousands of people came to the traditional picnic at Kaivopuisto again and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Kaivopuisto turns Finland's largest and most crowded picnic area

the traditional brass band at Ullanlinnanmäki

white caps everywhere

salsa sounds and dancing

It seemed like the sun wanted to make up for the exceptionally long winter this year. Already Mantan Lakitus on Tuesday took place under perfect weather conditions.

people waving their caps

Amanda with her Vappu cap

Happy Chinese New Year!

New Years seems to be already so long ago. This week you get a second chance to celebrate though. The Chinese New Year is close at hand. For this occasion lots of preparations have been done in the center of Helsinki. A small Chinese village with traditional food, stage shows and music is awaiting visitors at Lasipalatsin aukio.

The program starts at 14.00 and the entrance is for free. And don’t forget to be in time for the fireworks over Töölönlahti at 18.30 to welcome the New Chinese Year.

Helsinki celebrates

Today is the first day of the Helsinki week. It is arranged around the city’s birthday and lasts from May 31^st till June 17^th (so actually much longer than one week). This year the city has something special to celebrate. Apart from being the World Design Capital it is also Helsinki’s 200^th anniversary as capital of Finland.

Lots of events are will take place in the city during the next two weeks. To get an overview and decide what you want to see you should check out the website of Helsinki Viikko. Here you find all the information you need.

The cities actual birthday is on June 12^th which is also going to be the busiest day of Helsinki Viikko. You will read more about it later here on HelsinkiIn.