Helsinki Day thanks event organisers, performers and participants

Helsinki Day was celebrated with almost two hundred free events all over the city. Thousands of city residents took part in Helsinki’s birthday festivities and enjoyed the warm, sunny weather. 

Helsinki Day began at the City Hall with morning coffee, courtesy of Mayor Juhana Vartiainen – with rhubarb pie for the first 1,000  visitors. The Esplanade stage’s nearly all-day programme began with the nomination of the 2024 Stadin Kundi and Friidu. This year, the Stadin Slangi association’s jury awarded the titles to urban activist Riitta Korhonen and researcher, writer Janne Saarikivi. The music and performing art programme, curated by outsider art expert organisation Pertti’s Choice, kept audiences entertained until eight in the evening.

The Dinner under the Sky event brought around 1,000 city residents together to raise a toast to their beloved Helsinki. The car traffic on North Esplanade gave way to a 400-metre table, around which the residents gathered to dine in merry company.

The City of Helsinki’s Cultural Centres provided an extensive and varied programme for Helsinki residents of all ages and backgrounds from morning to night. The free programme included diverse workshop activities, magic, games, delicacies, exercise, dance, circus performances and an extensive range of live music with, for example, Arppa, Maija Kauhanen, Hassan Maikal, Stig, Minsku Tammela and Emilia Sisco & Northern Lights on stages set up in the yards of the Cultural Centres around the city.

This year’s Helsinki Day baby was born at the Women’s Hospital at 00.09, and several merited citizens such as lighting and set designer Mikki Kunttu (Cultural Award) and judoka Martti Puumalainen (Helsinki Athlete of the Year) received Helsinki Day medals and awards at the City Hall.

Did you take part in celebrating Helsinki Day this year? Give feedback and submit your wish for next year’s Helsinki Day festivities. Ticket packs for Helsinki Festival will be drawn among the respondents. Fill the form

Next year’s Helsinki Day programme will be announced in more detail in spring 2025.

Image: Saara Autere