What to do and where to go with children during Midsummer?

What to do or where to go during Midsummer (“Juhannus”) in Helsinki and the capital region? Where can you see a Midsummer bonfire? During Midsummer, many travel to the countryside to celebrate midsummer, and a quieter Helsinki brings its own charm to an urban Midsummer. Pienten Helsinki gathers tips for celebrating Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day in the city with children. The tips include events as well as other activities during midsummer, along with a listing of Midsummer bonfires in Helsinki.

Pienten Helsinki wishes you a happy Midsummer!

Midsummer week events in Helsinki

  • Helsinki City Folk at the Espa stage on Monday 15.6.2026 from 18:00 to 20:00. Folk dancers and musicians from the capital region, dressed in their colorful national costumes, bring their Midsummer greetings to the Espa stage. Free admission.
  • Midsummer Pre-party for the whole family: The Slipovers at Korjaamo’s courtyard on Wednesday 14.6.2026 at 18:00. Free admission.
  • Traditional Midsummer celebrations are organized in playgrounds mainly during the Midsummer week on Wednesday and Thursday. More detailed information can be found on the playgrounds’ own pages and the City of Helsinki’s event calendar.

Midsummer Eve events 19.6.2026

  • Pienten Helsinki recommends: You should start Midsummer Eve morning at the Hakaniemi market hall and market square in a midsummer market atmosphere. Midsummer delicacies, strawberries, and birch branches to decorate the urban Midsummer are for sale at the market. Accordion music is usually played at the Kahvisiskot tent.
  • Porvoo: Archipelago atmosphere for Midsummer from the Pellinge summer market on Midsummer Eve, Friday 19.6.2026 from 9:00 to 12:00. The journey also includes a short ferry ride, so the trip is sure to be an experience for the little ones.
  • Espoo: Midsummer at the Pentala Archipelago Museum is celebrated on Friday 19.6.2026 from 10:30 to 17:00. Pentala’s connecting boat routes, schedules, and fees can be found on the City of Espoo’s website .
  • Midsummer Eve in Mustasaari on Friday 19.6.2026 from 12:00 to 21:00. The Midsummer celebration aimed at families with children includes sauna, swimming, treats, and summer activities on a lovely summer island. Domestic animals also live in Mustasaari during the summer months, and sheep live on the neighboring island. The ferry to the island departs from the Taivallahti shore (fee applies, free admission to the island). Mustasaari is owned by the Parish Union of Helsinki.
  • Karelian Summer Home Villa Salmela Midsummer Celebration on Friday 19.6.2026 from 14:00 to 22:00. A wide variety of program, sauna turns (fee applies), dancing, treats from the café, and a flag raising at 18:00. The children’s bonfire is lit at 17:00 and the main bonfire at 21:00, provided that burning bonfires is permitted. Free admission. Note that there is very limited parking space near Villa Salmela, so those arriving by car should park, for example, in the paid parking lot of Hotel Jollasranta.
  • Espoo: Kivenlahti Midsummer on Midsummer Eve, Friday 19.6.2026 from 15:00 to 20:00. Event spots can be found at Kahvi-Kaisa, Meritori school, Kivenlahti beach, Mari’s sand field, and the rooftop terrace of Hybridiarena Hype. The program includes, for example, the Skidit disco at Kivenlahti beach at 15:30 and 16:30. Free admission.
  • Music and dancing at Lasipalatsi Square on Midsummer Eve, 19.6.2026 from 16:00 to 22:00. The event has no age limit. Free admission.
  • Seurasaari Midsummer Bonfires on Friday 19.6.2026 from 16:00 to 01:00. Lots of different programs for all ages. Seven different bonfires are lit at the festival, provided that a forest fire warning is not in effect. Tickets €27.50, children under 12 free of charge.
  • Kivinokka Midsummer Celebrations on Friday 19.6.2026 from 18:00 to 21:30. Free admission.
  • Tali Allotment Garden Traditional Midsummer Celebrations at the clubhouse on Friday 19.6.2026 from 18:00 to 22:00. Free admission.
  • Marjaniemi Allotment Garden Midsummer at Marjala hill on Friday 19.6.2026 from 18:00 to 23:00. The bonfire is lit at 19:00, provided that burning it is permitted. Free admission.
  • Midsummer events of the Parish Union of Helsinki can be found behind this link .
  • Espoo: Midsummer events of the Parish Union of Espoo can be found behind this link .
  • Vantaa: Midsummer events of the Parish Union of Vantaa can be found behind this link
  • Inkoo: Inkoo organizes Midsummer events .
  • Summer in Helsinki – from Pienten Helsinki’s summer series features over 60 articles and hundreds of tips for spending summer in Helsinki!

Midsummer bonfires in Helsinki 19.6.2026

Note! Bonfires may only be burned if a forest fire warning is NOT in effect.

The information for the following bonfires has been confirmed on 16.6.2026, and they will be burned if a forest fire warning is not in effect:

Midsummer bonfires elsewhere in the capital region 19.6.2026

However, please ALWAYS check the latest information from the organizer’s pages!

Open museums during the Midsummer weekend

Museums are mostly closed throughout Midsummer, but the museums listed below can be visited during the Midsummer season.

  • Seurasaari Open-Air Museum is open normally on Midsummer Day, Saturday 20.6.2026, and Sunday 21.6.2026. Closed on Midsummer Eve, 19.6.2026, due to the Seurasaari Midsummer Bonfires event.
  • Ateneum is open on Midsummer Sunday, 21.6.2026, from 10:00 to 17:00. Museum admission fee applies, free admission for under 18-year-olds.
  • Kiasma is open on Midsummer Sunday, 21.6.2026, from 10:00 to 17:00. Museum admission fee applies, free admission for under 18-year-olds.
  • Helsinki City Museum is open on Midsummer weekend Sunday, 21.6.2026, from 11:00 to 17:00. Free admission.
  • The Tram Museum is open on Midsummer weekend Sunday, 21.6.2026, from 11:00 to 17:00. Free admission.
  • Museum of Architecture and Design is open on Midsummer weekend Sunday, 21.6.2026, from 11:00 to 18:00. Museum admission fee applies.

Things to do during Midsummer in Helsinki and the capital region

  • Summer in Helsinki – over 60 articles and hundreds of tips for spending summer in Helsinki!
  • Picnic spot tips for Helsinki can be found in Pienten Helsinki’s themed article.
  • The Secrets of Helsinki article reveals small and large secrets about Helsinki!
  • Linnanmäki Amusement Park is also open during Midsummer. Admission fee applies.
  • Korkeasaari Zoo is also open during Midsummer. Admission fee applies.
  • In Seurasaari you can see a Midsummer pole and enjoy the rest of the island’s atmosphere free of charge on Midsummer Day 20.6.2026. There is an admission fee only for adults to the museum houses; children visit the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum free of charge.
  • In the Meilahti Rose Garden , Midsummer roses are blooming. Free admission.
  • The quietening Helsinki city center is an experience in itself.
  • The Kaisaniemi Botanic Outdoor Garden can be visited every day during the Midsummer holidays from 9:00 to 20:00. The greenhouses are closed during Midsummer.
  • To a playground during Midsummer? You can find all of Pienten Helsinki’s playground tips behind this link.
  • On many domestic animal farms, animals can also be viewed during the Midsummer weekend. For example, the indoor facilities of Fallkulla Domestic Animal Farm are open daily during Midsummer from 10:00 to 14:00, and admission is free. Read more in Pienten Helsinki’s Animals in the city article .
  • Lammassaari and Kuusiluoto offer the peace of nature in the middle of the city! Lammassaari and now also Kuusiluoto can be accessed accessibly, for example with strollers. Sheep also live on Kuusiluoto this summer for landscape management duties.
  • Suomenlinna ferries transport adventurers during Midsummer as well, but some of the island’s services may be closed during the Midsummer season. So, pack some snacks and enjoy Suomenlinna’s unique atmosphere and adventure in the caves in peace.
  • Espoo: Espoo’s wonderful islands and beaches offer Midsummer atmosphere and activities; read more on Visit Espoo’s pages . For example, the Pentala Archipelago Museum is open during Midsummer.
  • Dozens of outdoor recreation areas of the Uusimaa Recreation Area Association can be found near Helsinki. Hiking in stunning nature destinations is an excellent alternative to spending Midsummer at a cottage.
  • Going for a swim? Kumpula Outdoor Swimming Pool and the Swimming Stadium are also open around Midsummer with slightly exceptional opening hours (admission fee applies). In Espoo, Leppävaara Outdoor Swimming Pool is open during Midsummer (admission fee applies).

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