Toast to 465 years of Helsinki

On 12th June Helsinki will celebrate its 465th birthday and visitors are invited to join the party. Free events will take place throughout the day showcasing the best of Finnish culture and hospitality as the community takes to the streets to honour this one of a kind city.

Traditional morning coffees in Senate Square mark the start of the festivities as Mayor Jussi Pajunen declares Helsinki Day officially open. Locals and tourists amass to enjoy coffee and rhubarb pie as they watch performances from Helsingin Laulu choir and the Helsinki City Hall Dancers.

Events will take place throughout the city to celebrate Finland’s unique and vibrant culture. Take an evening Spåra tour in an exclusive tram decorated by Finnish artists as they guide visitors around the highlights of their favourite city. Watch a puppet performance of the “Saga of Sibelius” by the Puppet Theatre Centre Buoy (Poiju) to honour the acclaimed composers 150 anniversary. No Finnish ceremony is complete without the traditional sauna ritual, join the locals in the pop-up Yurt Sauna beside the Töölönlahti bay and jump from cool lake to hot sauna for the truly authentic experience.

Finns are famous for their music and this, of course, plays a central role in the Helsinki Day festivities. Mini festivals and concerts pop up all over the city offering something for everyone. Enjoy ‘Songs about the City’ from the traditional folk band Ollibull & Band at Kamppi Village Festival and listen to upcoming music from Helsinki Cigarbox Experience at the Kontula Shopping Centre Festival. By far the most popular is Radio Aalto’s Helsinki Day concert in Kaisaniemi Park. Here thousands of people gather together and dance into the evening with music from top Finnish artists Sunrise Avenue and Jenni Vartiainen.

The celebrations culminate in a Dinner Under the Helsinki Sky. This unforgettable event sees 1,000 people seated at one long table through the centre of the city. Friends, family, strangers and neighbours share their food and dine together to toast to 465 years of Helsinki.

How: Rooms at Hotel Indigo, Helsinki start from €164 per person based on two sharing. Finnair flights leave London Heathrow five times a day and Manchester twice a day for Helsinki with fares starting from £191. (www.finnair.com / 0208 0 010101). See www.visitfinland.com for more information on Helsinki and Finland.