BE MORE FINN AND CELEBRATE THE UNCONVENTIONAL

Go treasure hunting as Helsinki is transformed into a giant flea market
Join the festivities on 23 May, as the streets of Helsinki are transformed into one huge flea market known as 'Cleaning Day'.  Relish the vibrant carnival atmosphere as the community come together to share their treasures.  Visitors can tour the city while picking up a spectacular array of goods; find one-off clothing items, second-hand sports equipment or something for the home.  
How: Finnair flies to Helsinki daily from London and Manchester with fares starting from £191 return. 

Join the party as Helsinki celebrates it’s 460th anniversary
Festivities are due to spread throughout Helsinki on 12 June for the capital’s 460th birthday.  Music and events fill the streets as locals and visitors celebrate together.  Unite for the annual ‘Dinner Under the Sky’ where the streets of Helsinki are transformed into a restaurant as people banquet together in the sunshine.  
How: Finnair flies to Helsinki daily from London and Manchester with fares starting from £191 return.  

Get stuck in - Swamp Soccer World Championship
Get stuck in at the Swamp Soccer World Championship, taking place in Hyrynsalmi in July.  Teams from around the world come together to compete in this iconic tournament.  Players are not afraid to get dirty as they throw themselves through mud and swampland to be in with a chance of lifting the trophy.  Originating in Finland as a training regime for athletes, teams can’t help but get stuck in to this unique Finnish sport. 
How: The Swamp Soccer World Championship takes place from 16 – 18 July and teams are invited to enter from all over the world.  Finnair flies to Kajaani via Helsinki daily with prices starting from £191 return.  

Feel the Flow Festival
A disused power station, just a short walk form Helsinki, provides a spectacular venue for one of Finland’s biggest music festivals.  Boasting more than 10 different stages, Flow festival promises something for everyone.  Finnish favourites Lännen-Jukka, Manna and Lil Tony are joined by old school legends the Pet Shop Boys and Beck, along with performances from Florence + The Machine, Alt-J and Major Laser. 
How: Flow festival takes place over three days from 14 – 16 August.  Weekend tickets cost €169.  Finnair flies to Helsinki daily from London and Manchester with fares starting from £191 return.  

Come together for the World’s Biggest Food Carnival
Join the world’s biggest food carnival on 16 August as the streets of Helsinki are transformed into thousands of mini restaurants for Restaurant Day.  Established in Finland in 2011, this global event allows anyone to set up a stall, restaurant or bar.  Well-known restaurants take this opportunity to experiment with new menus while amateur cooks can serve up home cooking from their own living room.  
How: Finnair flies to Helsinki daily from London and Manchester with fares starting from £191 return.

Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships
As the original home of Nokia, Finland is synonymous with telecommunication.  Ever at the forefront of technological advancement, Finland has a unique way of utilising old models before they are recycled.  The Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships provide an opportunity for competitors worldwide to rid themselves once and for all of out of date defective mobiles.  People come together from around the globe to take out their frustration and compete for the longest throw.
How: The Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships takes place on 22 August in Savonlinna.  Finnair flies to Helsinki daily from London and Manchester with fares starting from £191 return. 

Roadies wanted - 20^th Anniversary of the World Air Guitar Championship
This year sees the world’s finest air guitarists gather together in Oulu, Finland for the 20^th anniversary edition of the Air Guitar World Championships.  The three-day festival starting on 26 August kicks off with the Dark Horses’ Qualifying round where unknown acts take to the stage to fight for a golden ticket to the final.  The events culminate in the World Final, where the top air guitarists battle it out for the distinguished title of World Champion.  Roadies are encouraged to come along to support performers as they watch history in the making.
How: Finnair flies from London Heathrow and Manchester to Oulu.  Flights start at £177 return.  

The Lahti Festival celebrates 150 years of Sibelius
2015 marks the 150-year anniversary of the birth of Sibelius, Finland’s most famous Finn.  To celebrate, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra will be organising a week’s worth of concerts from 31 August – 6 September.  Guest performances will be seen from Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Symphony orchestra with direction from some of Finland’s most distinguished conductors. 
How: Finnair flies to Helsinki daily from London and Manchester with fares starting from £191 return.