Helsinki Day 12.6.

Helsinki Day on 12 June finds the city in full bloom

Helsinki Day will begin in the traditional way at 9 o'clock in front of the City Museum and in the courtyard of the City Hall with a speech by Mayor Jussi Pajunen, musical entertainment and the serving of coffee. There is something happening throughout the day, both in the centre and in other parts of the city.

Music, street art and theatre will fill the streets, parks and market squares. Open doors and guided tours will reveal the city in a new light. On this year's Helsinki Day you will find dancing wherever you turn: try some fancy steps at dances in the City Hall banqueting room, street waltzes, dancing in the park, or traditional formal dances in the spirit of old Finnish films and open-air dance pavilions.

After refreshing yourself in a yurt sauna at Töölönlahti, you can end the day listening to the top names in Finnish music at the Radio Aalto Helsinki Day concert, or enjoying supper under the Helsinki evening sky.

The City Guy, Gal and Kid ("Stadin kundi, friidu ja junnu") will be announced on Esplanade, as well as Helsinki's Athlete of the Year. The City will welcome its newest inhabitant, the first baby born in Helsinki on Helsinki Day.

Helsinki Day has been held on the same day every year since 1959. The date, 12 June, was chosen because this was the day in 1550 when King Gustav I of Sweden founded Helsinki at the mouth of the Vantaa River.

All events on Helsinki Day are free of charge to the public. Free tickets for events where there is a restriction on the number of participants can be collected from 3 June onwards from Virka Info in the lobby of City Hall, North Esplanade 11–13 / Sofiankatu 1. Virka Info is open Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m.