Wide range of events at cultural centres enriches Helsinki Day

Helsinki Day will spread across the city providing a generous serving of different free events and activities. The programme offering at cultural centres are a major part of the birthday celebrations of our beloved Helsinki.

This year will see six cultural centres to the east and north of the inner city an Kustaankartano Senior Centre in Oulunkylä join in the Helsinki Day celebrations.

Annantalo 9–11 & 15.30–17.30
Workshop activities with adults in the morning for children of daycare centre age and
babies: making graphics on the theme of young people in Helsinki, handicrafts on the theme
of creepy-crawlies, joint painting on the theme of My Helsinki, and baby dancing. The same
non-stop workshops will take place in the afternoon, adapted for families. In addition,
Amandine Doat: Dididot the Clown and the Giggling Body performances at 10.30 and 15.30,
clown workshops at 16.30 as well as Dance and Mime Theatre Auracon at 17. More
information

Kanneltalo 13.30–18
Musician Mari Kätkä will lead the most beloved sing-along songs while illustrator Sari Airola
illustrates them into narrative images at 13.30. Award-winning Finnish champion in
restaurant magic Mika Värtö will perform at 15 and jazz guitarist Mathias Sandberg’s The
Captain gig can be experienced at 17. Actor Ella Pyhältö will host the day and Cafe
Pöytäliina will be open throughout the event, serving delicacies inspired by Helsinki Day for
lunch. More information

Kustaankartano Senior Centre 13.30–18
Celebrations in the yard will mark not just Helsinki Day but also the service centre’s 70th
birthday. Fibo orchestra and Skidit disco will take to the dance floor as well as Arja Koriseva
at 15 and 17.30. Johannes Malkamäki and his magic will act as compere. Sami Majamäki
will play the accordion, Raffle Army will entertain with giant soap bubble performances and
Fauna Humana with various animal figures. At Ratikkatori visitors can come and see the old
Rosina tram. Tasty food will be available from BlackGrill and Sanga Foodtruck. More information

Malmitalo 15–19
Try graffiti techniques in the paint marker workshop under the guidance of professionals or
make your own pin or customise an old one in the pin workshops run by Malmi library. Dj
Kakkiainen and Mc Citykani will take to the stage in Ala-Malmi Park at 16 and Paleface &
DJ Leijonamieli feat Gracias at 18. More information

Maunula House 15–19
Visitors to the summer square of Maunula House can experience the contemporary circus
Race Horse Company’s Ikään kuin ikään performance, a show for all ages, at 15 and 18.
Månsas Deli will sell delicacies on a circus theme and for the youngest family members
there will be item fishing, face painting and circus activities. A large mural painted by 9th graders at Maunula Secondary School will be hung on the outer wall of Maunula House on Helsinki Day. The mural is intended to delight visitors of the cultural centre as well as passersby. The mural will be on display 12–26 June. More information

Stoa 17–20
The Dance Out event will transform Stoa square into the biggest dance floor in east Helsinki. To mark Helsinki Day, a large dance stage will be built in the square using old terrace planks from the iconic Helsinki Festival Huvila concert venue. Kyösti Mäkimattila & Varjokuva, Orquesta Bomba Buena and F will provide live gigs and set
the beat for the dancing. More information

Vuotalo 12–19.30
Stoori, the children’s mobile library, will visit the lower yard and visitors will be able to try
their luck on the wheel of fortune from 10.00–13,00. There will be performances of puppet
theatre Jo’s Punch & Judy Show – He’s back! at 10 and 11, flower garlands can be made in the June workshop at 13–15 and quick drawings can be made under the rowan trees at 14–16. The range of live music for the day will have something for everyone:
Pikku Papun Orkesteri at 12, FlipFlop – Finland-Swedish children’s music orchestra at
13.30, Marion Rung – 50 years since Tom Tom Tom at 17, Figaro at 18.30 and Yeboyah at
19. For Helsinki Day, a world map game will be painted in the courtyard of Vuotalo where
children can have adventures completing various tasks around the world. More information

Photo: Petri Anttila