Pienten Helsinki
Summer fun in Helsinki
Updated 29.6.2018What child-friendly activities can be found in Helsinki? Where to go with small children on weekends? What to do on a rainy day? Small Helsinki’s weekly series searches for activity tips and recommends child-friendly places in Helsinki and the surrounding area. The website targets preschool-age children and families with young children.
As unbelievable as it sounds, this week features activities from the last week of June and the beginning of July, as well as Small Helsinki’s 26th “Where to go” article for 2018. The “Where to go” article is published weekly by Monday at the latest and suggests what’s happening in the city for families with preschool-age children. This week’s article takes you dancing in playgrounds, on sea adventures, and to puppet theater at the City of Helsinki’s Winter Garden. The children’s summer theater season also continues busily.
New in Small Helsinki: Evening at Home series suggests great places to take day trips with children. In the series’ first two episodes, adventures take place in Lahti and Eastern Uusimaa. From the Animals in the City article, you’ll find out where you can see, for example, donkeys, carp, mini pigs, reindeer, or tame squirrels. The list of upcoming summer events has also been updated, and on Monday, 25.6.2018, a clue to the new Park Hideaway will be published. There are already 23 park hideaways around the city for the coming week!
Small Helsinki’s background team plans to do this week:
- Finally visit Riku's summer yard to play and admire floating umbrellas.
- Find two park hideaways.
- Marvel at the Uutela canal waterfall.
- Have lunch in a playground.
- Go on an adventure in Suomenlinna.
- Take a day trip to the surrounding area.
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The article’s cover image is from Matosaari in Jollas, which offers a beautiful view of Villinki and Helsinki’s eastern archipelago. A story about a trip to Matosaari coming soon.
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At Matosaari.[/caption]
Tuesday »| Wednesday »| Thursday »| Friday »| Saturday »| Sunday »
MONDAY 25.6.2018
At the libraries:
Small Helsinki's library tip to Espoo: Take the metro to Iso Omena library in Matinkylä! The metro takes you directly from Helsinki to the large Iso Omena library and its excellent children's department, which also has space for play. Two elevators up from the metro station and you arrive directly at the library!Libraries are open during summer months as well, even if there’s no organized programming. Read for example what the library offers for the young and book recommendations for summer activities with children.
At the playgrounds:
Helsinki offers all children and young people under 16 free lunch at playgrounds on weekdays at 12 o'clock throughout the summer holiday. You need to bring your own plate, utensils, and a drink. On Monday, the playground lunch is fish soup. Check the full summer menu and allergy information from this link.Helsinki’s playground summer hours can be found here.
Dance artist Veera Lamberg runs dance workshops at Helsinki playgrounds from June to August. The workshops introduce the world of dance through imagination and music. There are two workshops: Dancing Magic Box (TT) for ages 0-6 and their families, and Dance Adventure Treasure Hunt (TA) for school-age children. On Monday you can dance at playground Kurkimäki at 1 p.m. (TT) and 2 p.m. (TA).
Traditional games summer tour at playgrounds: Monday at playground Kurranummi at 11-1 p.m.
Other events:
Helsinki City Museum and Children's City open from 4.6.2018 onwards at 9 a.m. during the summer season. A great playground for early risers! Read more from the museum's website. The Children's City also features an illustrated art exhibition 29.5.–31.8. by illustrator Jenni Isotoff, Dream Mäykkynen & Helsinki. At the Children's City, during the summer there's as usual small self-directed paper crafts for families every day. Starting June 1st, paper city fox chains and other decorations with Helsinki animals are made. More information on the city museum's website. The museum is also open on Mondays and admission is always free.Helsinki Pride’s Colorful Crowd family event at Narinkkatori on Monday 3-6 p.m. Trade unions are organizing a whole family event for workplace equality. Colorful programming for children and young people, with performances by, for example, Mimi and Kuku. More information on the Helsinki Pride event website.
TIP: Do you know Helsinki’s places? Tervasaari, an island between Kruunuhaka and Korkeasaari. There’s a walking route to the island from Pohjoisranta. Tervasaari has a nice playground and a summer theater, and from its shores you can marvel at the Katajanokan icebreakers. An easy outdoor spot near the city center. More Helsinki places can be found here.
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At Tervasaari.[/caption]
TUESDAY 26.6.2018
At the libraries:
Libraries are open during summer months as well, even if there's no organized programming. Read for example what the library offers for the young and book recommendations for summer activities with children.At the playgrounds:
Helsinki's playground summer hours can be found here.Helsinki offers all children and young people under 16 free lunch at playgrounds on weekdays at 12 o’clock throughout the summer holiday. You need to bring your own plate, utensils, and a drink. On Tuesday, the playground lunch is spinach soup. Check the full summer menu and allergy information from this link. Summer camp is free to enter and only a few workshops require advance registration.
Dance artist Veera Lamberg runs dance workshops at Helsinki playgrounds from June to August. The workshops introduce the world of dance through imagination and music. There are two workshops: Dancing Magic Box (TT) for ages 0-6 and their families, and Dance Adventure Treasure Hunt (TA) for school-age children. On Tuesday you can dance at playground Nurka at 10 a.m. (TT) and 10:30 a.m. (TA) and at playground Kiikku at 1 p.m. (TA only).
Traditional games summer tour at playgrounds: Tuesday at playground Kimmo at 11-1 p.m.
Other events:
Oak Story puppet theater performance at the courtyard of Helsinki City's Winter Garden (indoors if rainy) on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The performance is recommended for ages 3-9 and lasts about 20 minutes. The performance is produced by puppet theater Sytkyt. Free admission.TIP: Do you know Helsinki’s places? Arabianranta residential area art: Many artworks can be found in the Arabianranta residential area that you can spot while exploring the neighborhood. For example, Ann Sundholm’s Oasis is definitely a hit with children: Three large concrete lions sleep in the middle of Jan-Magnus Jansson’s square. Nearby is also a nice playground Arabia, where you can find a park hideaway that’s open all summer and offers playground lunch for children on weekdays during summer vacation. More Helsinki places can be found here.
WEDNESDAY 27.6.2018
At the libraries:
Libraries are open during summer months as well, even if there's no organized programming. Read for example what the library offers for the young and book recommendations for summer activities with children.At the playgrounds:
Helsinki's playground summer hours can be found here.Helsinki offers all children and young people under 16 free lunch at playgrounds on weekdays at 12 o’clock throughout the summer holiday. You need to bring your own plate, utensils, and a drink. On Wednesday, the playground lunch is chicken sausage pasta. Check the full summer menu and allergy information from this link.
Dance artist Veera Lamberg runs dance workshops at Helsinki playgrounds from June to August. The workshops introduce the world of dance through imagination and music. There are two workshops: Dancing Magic Box (TT) for ages 0-6 and their families, and Dance Adventure Treasure Hunt (TA) for school-age children. On Wednesday you can dance at playground Filpukka at 10 a.m. (TT) and 11 a.m. (TA).
Traditional games summer tour at playgrounds: Wednesday at playground Kiikku at 11-1 p.m.
Other events:
Itis' new family event venue opening celebration takes place at Tallinna Square on Wednesday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. More information on the Itis shopping mall website and on Itis' Facebook page.Children’s sea adventure –family sailing 27.6.-4.8.2018 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. Tickets €25 (adult), €12 (child). More information on the event’s Facebook page.
Daycare Museum is open in June on Wednesday 12-6 p.m. In July, the museum is on vacation.
NuoriEspa brings young people’s performances and a young people’s eco-café to Espa Stage 27.-30.6.2018. On Wednesday you can enjoy performances 3-7 p.m. Read more about Espa Stage’s program.
Summer theater: Viiru the cat and old man Pesonen take over the Puotila Manor yard theater stage when Viiru Moves play is seen at Puotila Summer Theater stage. Premiere on Wednesday 27.6.2018 at 1 p.m. Tickets €12. Read more on Puotila Summer Theater’s website.
A•lava open stage Wednesdays 5-7 p.m. The event is open to the public and performers. You can go on stage to perform or watch other people’s performances. More information on Annantalo’s website.
Summer theater: Laajasalo Summer Theater presents: Pekka Mörkö. Kylämetsä association’s summer theater brings Gösta Knutsson’s Pekka Mörkö to the stage in Laajasalo. Performance on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Tickets €15, under 2-year-olds free. Read more on Kylämetsä association’s Facebook page.
Tip for Espoo: Manor Museum Glims’ 4H farm animal pasture visits continue on Wednesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m. Read more on the manor museum’s website. Free admission.
TIP: Do you know Helsinki’s places? Stansvik Manor’s park has the landscapes from the Risto Räppääjä and Cool Venla films and Auntie Elvi’s house. Beaches, meadows, forests and beautiful old buildings and at the very tip of the peninsula a rocky archipelago beach. A nice trip destination for the whole family! The area is home to restaurant Stansvik, which serves lunch from a buffet from April deep into autumn. Next to Stansvik, one of Helsinki’s new residential areas, Kruunuvuorenranta, is being built, and nearby you can find other great places, such as Oil Tank and Kruunuvuori cliffs, pond and old haunted mansions. Today the area is also easily accessible by HSL bus number 88 from Herttoniemi metro station. More Helsinki places can be found here.
THURSDAY 28.6.2018
At the libraries:
Libraries are open during summer months as well, even if there's no organized programming. Read for example what the library offers for the young and book recommendations for summer activities with children.At the playgrounds:
Helsinki's playground summer hours can be found here.Helsinki offers all children and young people under 16 free lunch at playgrounds on weekdays at 12 o’clock throughout the summer holiday. You need to bring your own plate, utensils, and a drink. On Thursday, the playground lunch is barley porridge and fruit juice. Check the full summer menu and allergy information from this link.
Dance artist Veera Lamberg runs dance workshops at Helsinki playgrounds from June to August. The workshops introduce the world of dance through imagination and music. There are two workshops: Dancing Magic Box (TT) for ages 0-6 and their families, and Dance Adventure Treasure Hunt (TA) for school-age children. On Thursday, younger children with their families can dance at playground Tullinpuomi at 10:30 a.m. (TT) and school-age children at playground Viiri at 1 p.m. (TA).
Traditional games summer tour at playgrounds: Thursday at playground Mäkitorppa at 11-1 p.m.
Other events:
Children's sea adventure –family sailing 27.6.-4.8.2018 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. Tickets €25 (adult), €12 (child). More information on the event's Facebook page.Summer theater: Viiru the cat and old man Pesonen take over the Puotila Manor yard theater stage when Viiru Moves play is seen at Puotila Summer Theater stage. Performance on Thursday at 1 p.m. Tickets €12. Read more on Puotila Summer Theater’s website.
NuoriEspa brings young people’s performances and a young people’s eco-café to Espa Stage 27.-30.6.2018. On Thursday you can enjoy performances 3-7 p.m. Read more about Espa Stage’s program.
Summer theater: Laajasalo Summer Theater presents: Pekka Mörkö. Kylämetsä association’s summer theater brings Gösta Knutsson’s Pekka Mörkö to the stage in Laajasalo. Performance on Thursday at 6 p.m. Tickets €15, under 2-year-olds free. Read more on Kylämetsä association’s Facebook page. X
Tip for Espoo: Manor Museum Glims’ 4H farm animal pasture visits continue on Thursdays 3:30-4:30 p.m. Read more on the manor museum’s website. Free admission.
TIP: Do you know Helsinki’s places? Viiki Arboretum is located between Viiki and Vanhankaupunginlahti. The area has many different types of trees and information about trees and nature, paths and trails in the forest, bird towers and picnic places. A nice atmosphere and lots to marvel at, and on hot summer days also good shady spots. Cows graze in the nearby field during the summer months at Viiki research farm. More Helsinki places can be found here.
FRIDAY 29.6.2018
At the libraries:
Libraries are open during summer months as well, even if there's no organized programming. Read for example what the library offers for the young and book recommendations for summer activities with children.At the playgrounds:
Helsinki's playground summer hours can be found here.Helsinki offers all children and young people under 16 free lunch at playgrounds on weekdays at 12 o’clock throughout the summer holiday. You need to bring your own plate, utensils, and a drink. On Friday, the playground lunch is ground meat risotto. Check the full summer menu and allergy information from this link.
Dance artist Veera Lamberg runs dance workshops at Helsinki playgrounds from June to August. The workshops introduce the world of dance through imagination and music. There are two workshops: Dancing Magic Box (TT) for ages 0-6 and their families, and Dance Adventure Treasure Hunt (TA) for school-age children. On Friday you can dance at playground Mellunmäki: school-age children’s dance adventures start at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., preschool children dance with their families at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Other events:
Children's traffic city holds an open family day during the summer season on Fridays and Sundays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., when children of all ages practice in traffic city under an adult's guidance. On other weekdays there is guided traffic education for children born in 2013 and older. Read more on the Children's Traffic City website. Free admission.
Guard parade tradition continues again on Fridays. The guard parade procession departs at 12:30 p.m. from Helsinki Senate Square, marching through Market Square to the main guard and back through Esplanade to Kasarmitori. After the guard parade, an entertaining MIL-Espa concert at 2 p.m. is held on Espa Stage. On Friday 15.6, the Finland's armed forces male conscript band is responsible for the music of the Guard Parade. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Summer theater: Viiru the cat and old man Pesonen take over the Puotila Manor yard theater stage when Viiru Moves play is seen at Puotila Summer Theater stage. Performance on Friday at 1 p.m. Tickets €12. Read more on Puotila Summer Theater's website.
NuoriEspa brings young people's performances and a young people's eco-café to Espa Stage 27.-30.6.2018. On Friday you can enjoy performances 4-8 p.m. Read more about Espa Stage's program.
Summer theater: On the Taivallahti Summer Theater stage you'll see Tiina and Sinikka Nopola's Risto Räppääjä and Freezer Elvi play. Preview screening Friday 29.6.2018 at 6 p.m. Tickets €16. Read more: on Taivallahti Summer Theater's website.TIP: Do you know Helsinki's places? Sisä-Hattu is a secret island off the southern tip of Lauttasaari! An island you can wade to and even walk to with dry feet during low water. The access route is stony, so water-resistant shoes are recommended or you should bring them along. The island adventure to Sisä-Hattu may not be suitable for the very young, but a trip with older children is a magnificent experience. The island's rocks have beautiful rock carvings and large cruise ships also pass by. More Helsinki places can be found here.
SATURDAY 30.6.2018
Other events:
City-wide barbecue party at Narinkkatori on Saturday 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Lidl's Grill Master tour comes to Helsinki and brings family-friendly programming to Narinkkatori: for example at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., Group Hau performs on stage. Read more on Lidl's website.Asteroid Day at Helsinki Observatory on Saturday 12 a.m.-6 p.m. Diverse programming for the whole family. More information about the day's program can be read here. Free admission to the event.
NuoriEspa brings young people's performances and a young people's eco-café to Espa Stage 27.-30.6.2018. On Saturday you can enjoy performances 12 a.m.-6 p.m. Read more about Espa Stage's program.Children’s sea adventure –family sailing 27.6.-4.8.2018 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. Tickets €25 (adult), €12 (child). More information on the event’s Facebook page.
Summer theater: Viiru the cat and old man Pesonen take over the Puotila Manor yard theater stage when Viiru Moves play is seen at Puotila Summer Theater stage. Performance on Saturday at 1 p.m. Tickets €12. Read more on Puotila Summer Theater’s website.
Summer theater: Laajasalo Summer Theater presents: Pekka Mörkö. Kylämetsä association’s summer theater brings Gösta Knutsson’s Pekka Mörkö to the stage in Laajasalo. Performance on Saturday at 3 p.m. Tickets €15, under 2-year-olds free. Read more on Kylämetsä association’s Facebook page.
Summer theater: On the Taivallahti Summer Theater stage you’ll see Tiina and Sinikka Nopola’s Risto Räppääjä and Freezer Elvi play. Premiere on Saturday at 6 p.m. Tickets €16. Read more: on Taivallahti Summer Theater’s website.
Remember also: Park Hideaway adventure continues around the city!
TIP: Do you know Helsinki’s places? Tullisaari park is a large, restored park area in Laajasalo, which also has an old pond and beautiful old buildings. Good fishing spots, a small but nice playground and plenty of space to run, play and even play ball. More Helsinki places can be found here.
SUNDAY 1.7.2018
Other events:
Open Gardens event across Finland invites visits to various gardens. Also includes many locations in Helsinki. Read more on the event's website.Children's traffic city holds an open family day during the summer season on Fridays and Sundays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., when children of all ages practice in traffic city under an adult's guidance. On other weekdays there is guided traffic education for children born in 2013 and older. Read more on the Children's Traffic City website. Free admission.
City-wide barbecue party and Grill Master competition culminate in the finals at Narinkkatori on Sunday 12 a.m.-8 p.m. The Lidl's Grill Master tour finals also feature family-friendly programming. Read more on Lidl's website.
Summer theater: Viiru the cat and old man Pesonen take over the Puotila Manor yard theater stage when Viiru Moves play is seen at Puotila Summer Theater stage. Performance on Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets €12. Read more on Puotila Summer Theater's website.
Summer theater: Tompeli at Tervasaari Summer Theater on Sunday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets €14, under 2-year-olds free, also family ticket packages available. Read more about the performance on the theater's website.
Summer theater: Laajasalo Summer Theater presents: Pekka Mörkö. Kylämetsä association's summer theater brings Gösta Knutsson's Pekka Mörkö to the stage in Laajasalo. Performance on Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets €15, under 2-year-olds free. Read more on Kylämetsä association's Facebook page.
Remember also: Park Hideaway adventure continues around the city!Tip for Espoo: Villa Elfvik’s Adventure Forest is a fun nature trip for the whole family, where you travel at the children’s pace. Bring small snacks and dress according to the weather. Trip through Elfvik’s landscapes on Sunday 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free admission, no advance registration required. More information on Villa Elfvik’s website.
TIP: Do you know Helsinki’s places? Rose Garden and Meilahti Arboretum are now in full bloom! Meilahti Arboretum and Rose Garden are wonderful places to visit with children as well. More Helsinki places can be found here.
Remember also these:
Helsinki Pride has lots of programming for families too, such as family cafés, baby meet-ups and concerts. The event's full program can be found here.Mustasaari Summer Island’s regular ferry service began on 5.6.2018 and you can take a trip to the island from Taivallahti beach until August. Read more about Mustasaari here. Mustasaari is open on Midsummer Eve, closed 23.-24.6.2018.
Children’s traffic city holds an open family day during the summer season on Fridays and Sundays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., when children of all ages practice in traffic city under an adult’s guidance. On other weekdays there is guided traffic education for children born in 2013 and older. Read more on the Children’s Traffic City website. Free admission. Traffic City is closed during the Midsummer weekend!
Espa Stage features almost daily various concerts and performances during the summer. Read more and check out the summer concert schedule on the Helsinki Culture Department’s website.
Fallkullan farm animal farm is open throughout the summer daily 26.5.-26.8. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Read more on the farm’s website. Also Linnunrata playground in Helsinki, Manor Museum Glims in Espoo, and Katrinebergin Manor in Vantaa have farm animals as summer guests!
Helsinki City Museum and Children’s City open from 4.6.2018 onwards at 9 a.m. during the summer season. A great playground for early risers! Read more from the museum’s website. The Children’s City also features an illustrated art exhibition 29.5.–31.8. by illustrator Jenni Isotoff, Dream Mäykkynen & Helsinki. At the Children’s City, during the summer there’s as usual small self-directed paper crafts for families every day. Starting June 1st, paper city fox chains and other decorations with Helsinki animals are made. More information on the city museum’s website.
Linnanmäki amusement park is open daily and Lintsi stage features programming almost daily. Check the more detailed June opening hours on the amusement park’s website.
Current museum tips in Small Helsinki’s museum news article.
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