Pienten Helsinki
Activities for children during the first week of May
What child-friendly activities can be found in Helsinki? Where to go with small children on weekends? What to do on a rainy day? Pienten Helsinki's weekly column searches for activity tips and suggests family-friendly places in Helsinki and the surrounding area. The website targets children under school age and families with small children.
Where to go this week continues with a slightly modified concept. The article lists the highlights of the week's events and the week's most interesting activity tips. It also includes highlights from Pienten Helsinki's new articles and news. The future of the page is still open, but we will continue with this concept for the spring.
New on Pienten Helsinki: May Day in Helsinki and What if it rains on May Day articles help with planning the programme for May Day Eve and May Day!
Secret tip! The cherry blossom park at Roihuvuori and the cherry trees in the Japanese-style garden at Roihuvuori will blossom into pale pink flowers any moment now. So Roihuvuori's cherry blossom parks are certainly not bad outing destinations or May picnic spots in the coming days – here's a secret tip for you!
NEW: Urban trails for families
In the coming months, Pienten Helsinki will publish a new type of city tourism concept when hospitality management student Heidi Säynätkari creates urban trails for families in some Helsinki neighbourhoods as her thesis project. We are now looking for interviewees for this work. Would you be willing to participate in a short interview about family tourism and help Heidi complete her work? Read Heidi's greetings and more information about the thesis project and urban trails in Finnish and English. www.pientenhelsinki.fi/kaupunkipolut
Important citizen initiative! Pienten Helsinki exceptionally highlights an important citizen initiative on behalf of all small daycare children. Please sign the citizen initiative for more precise definition of staff-to-child ratios in early childhood education. Read more here. Feel free to share the link as well!
Tuesday »| Wednesday »| Thursday »|
Friday »| Saturday »| Sunday »
MONDAY 29.4.2019
Events at libraries
Story times and children's events at Helmet libraries in the Helsinki metropolitan area for Monday can be found in the Helmet event calendar.
Events at playgrounds
Playground events can now also be found in the City of Helsinki's event calendar. You can browse Monday's events here.
Events and activity tips
Traditional May Day concert and procession at Lahnalahti playground on Friday at 9.30-10.30. Check the procession departure point and more details about the event on the playground's Facebook page.
Albertin olohuone is a meeting place open for families with children and seniors in Kamppi. Open on Monday 9.30-15. Read more on Helsinki Mission's website.
Vantaa: Children's own story dance evening celebrating International Dance Day at Children's Culture Centre Totem in Vantaa on Monday at 9.30 and 11.30. Free admission, but advance registration is requested. More information on the event's Facebook page.
MLL Dad Cafe at Iso-Antti playground in Itäkeskus on Mondays 10-12. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Art Advisory for 3-6-year-olds at Malmitalo on Monday at 10. This week at the art advisory, dream companions are made. You can participate in the art advisory weekly or occasionally, but you should arrive on time. No advance registration required. Read more about the Art Advisory service on Malmitalo's website.
Puppet theatre music class at Sampo arcade gallery on Monday at 10 and 11. Paid event (€8/session or €80/whole season). Read more on Puppet Theatre Sampo's website.
For babies: Baby Monday at Kunsthalle at 13-15. The event introduces the Young 2019 exhibition under the guidance of art educators Liini Laes and Iisa Juva. All babies under one year old with their parents are welcome to Baby Monday. Babies have their own colour play session. Tickets €12 / €8 / Museum card. More information on Kunsthalle's website.
MLL Ruoholahti-Jätkäsaari May fun at Ruoholahti playground on Monday 16-18. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Museums open on Mondays include Helsinki City Museum and Children's City, Amos Rex and Päivälehti Museum.
You'll find the Remember also these - tips to exhibitions and more link tips at the end of the article!
TUESDAY 30.4.2019
May Day Eve
Events at libraries
Story times and children's events at Helmet libraries in the Helsinki metropolitan area for Tuesday can be found in the Helmet event calendar.
Events at playgrounds
Linnunrata playground's May Day party on May Day Eve 10-12. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Maunula playground's Family May Day on Tuesday 10-12. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Playground events can now also be found in the City of Helsinki's event calendar. You can browse Tuesday's events here.
Events and activity tips
More tips on May Day Eve events and activity suggestions in Pienten Helsinki's May Day article!
WEDNESDAY 1.5.2019
May Day
Events at libraries
May Day, libraries closed.
Events at playgrounds
May Day, playgrounds closed.
Events and activity tips
Happy May Day!
More tips on May Day Eve events and activity suggestions in Pienten Helsinki's May Day article!
THURSDAY 2.5.2019
Events at libraries
Story times and children's events at Helmet libraries in the Helsinki metropolitan area for Thursday can be found in the Helmet event calendar.
Events at playgrounds
Playground events can now also be found in the City of Helsinki's event calendar. You can browse Thursday's events here.
Events and activity tips
Albertin olohuone is a meeting place open for families with children and seniors in Kamppi. Open on Thursday 9.30-15. There will be a feature about this place on Pienten Helsinki too, as our team fell in love with it! Read more on Helsinki Mission's website.
Fallkullan farm is open to the public on Thursday 10-18. Free admission.
In Espoo for babies and parents: Pram meet-up at Kamu on Thursday at 12. Free admission. More information on Espoo culture service's website.
Bank Museum open doors at Aleksanterinkatu 36 B on the first Thursday of the month 15-17. Free admission to the museum. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
FRIDAY 3.5.2019
Events at libraries
Story times and children's events at Helmet libraries in the Helsinki metropolitan area for Friday can be found in the Helmet event calendar.
Events at playgrounds
Playground events can now also be found in the City of Helsinki's event calendar. You can browse Friday's events here.
Events and activity tips
New! Albertin olohuone is a meeting place open for families with children and seniors in Kamppi. NOW ALSO open on Fridays 9.30-15. Read more on Helsinki Mission's website.
Naperokino in Annantalo on Fridays at 10. Age recommendation: 0-3 years old with an adult, older children also welcome. Free admission to the films. More information on Annantalo's website.
Colourful everyday workshop at Stoa on Friday 10-12. The workshop is open to everyone. Read more on Stoa's website.
Fallkullan farm is open to the public on Friday 10-18. Free admission.
SATURDAY 4.5.2019
Events at libraries
Story times and children's events at Helmet libraries in the Helsinki metropolitan area for Saturday can be found in the Helmet event calendar.
Events and activity tips
Battle of the towers, a playful bird spotting competition held on Saturday 5-13 in bird towers around Finland. Read more on BirdLife Finland's website.
Summer pasture release at Viik teaching and research farm on Saturday 10-13. The research farm's cattle are let out to their summer pastures and there's lots for little ones to experience on the farm. Parking spaces are extremely limited in the farmyard. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Spring fun at Ulvila playground on Saturday 10-13. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Tatu and Patu - family day at Roihuvuori library on Saturday 10-14. More information on the library's website.
Espoo: Little Aurora Saturday workshops creating imaginative plants for the garden 10-14. Read more on Aurora's website.
Also a flea market! Rose's day adventure at Linja playground on Saturday 10-15. Programme includes pony riding, face painting and fishing, treats from the café, and a free flea market. Also on site: a cargo bike expert and the opportunity to test drive bikes. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Espoo: Mr. Heinämäki's barn orchestra performing at Espoo's Ruskatalo on Saturday at 11. Tickets €6. Read more on Espoo culture service's website.
Espoo: Moomin family spring outing in the Oittaa outdoor area on Saturday 11-14. The outing is partly self-guided, so you can join at any time during the event. Note! The route follows forest paths, so it is not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Cream of the crop! Theatre at Päivälehti Museum's Pekka the Bushy-tailed exhibition on Saturday at 11.30, 13 and 14.30, when Laajasalo's Villa Theatre guides visitors through the museum's exhibition. The characters are also available to meet between performances. The performances are presented in both Finnish and Swedish. Free admission. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Take a peek at what the Päivälehti Museum's Pekka the Bushy-tailed new exhibition looks like! The exhibition is open on Saturday 11-17.
Järvenpää: From caterpillar to butterfly - Family festival is a family festival organized by Järvenpää culture and museum services at Järvenpää art museum and Järvenpää house (concert by the band Tuulihattuja ja tuhatjalkaisia!) on Saturday 11-16. Museum events require museum admission, otherwise free admission. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Espoo: Arctic animals - children's event at Haltia Nature Centre in Espoo on Saturday 12-15. Free admission to the event. Read more about the interesting programme on Haltia's website.
I want to tell you a story - event where visiting storytellers from Snellman University's speech and drama arts programme present six self-written stories at Herttoniemi manor on Saturday 4.5.2019 at 13 and 14.30. Free admission. More information on the Tarinalyhty Facebook page.
SpringFest on Saturday at Nuta in Herttoniemenranta 14-17. The event is designed for the whole family. Read more on the Asukastalo Ankkuri Facebook page.
DC-3 classic aircraft arrives at Malminta airport for the summer on Saturday around 15.40. There is a viewing platform at the airport from which you can watch the aircraft arrive. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Spring children's clothing and equipment flea markets in the Helsinki metropolitan area are listed behind one link.
SUNDAY 5.5.2019
Events and activity tips
Fallkullan farm is open to the public on Sunday 10-15. Free admission.
Flea market! Aleksis Kiven street Sunday flea markets are starting!
In Espoo: Badger's forest story time at Villa Elfvik nature house on Sunday at 11. More information on Elfvik's website.
Espoo: Mr. Heinämäki's barn orchestra performs in Espoo at Saunalahti school on Sunday at 11. Tickets €6. Read more on Espoo culture service's website.
Mosa village festival awakens at Tapanila square on Sunday 11-14. The day's full programme on the event's Facebook page.
Helsinki fire department's fire museum at Erottaja fire station is open on Sundays 12-16. Admission €2, children under 15 free. Read more on the City of Helsinki's website.
Journey to the sounds of the world - performance at music theatre Kapsäkki on Sunday at 13. Tickets €10 / €15. The performance is recommended for children over 4 years old. Tickets and more information on Kapsäkki's website.
Bokvilla spring carnival at community house Bokvilla in Arabianranta on Sunday 13-17. More detailed information on the event's Facebook page.
Dance to the beat of children's music orchestra Päistikka on Sampo Sundays at 15. Tickets to the concert cost €12. More information on Puppet Theatre Sampo's website.
Sipoo and Porvoo: Children's literature festival Sana/Barnlitteraturfestivalen Ord in Sipoo and Porvoo 5.5.-11.5.2019.
Remember also
Linnanmäki has opened its gates for the 2019 season again. The opening carnival continues until 12.5.2019. The amusement park area has free admission and little daredevils have free amusement park rides. Lintsilla also has lots of activities during the opening carnival.
North Helsinki Art School students' spring exhibition at Malmitalo 25.4-11.5.2019. More information on Malmitalo's website.
In Espoo: Toy Museum at Horseshoe new Board game fun special exhibition. Museum admission fee applies.
Exhibition: Take a peek at what the Päivälehti Museum's Pekka the Bushy-tailed new exhibition looks like!
Exhibition: Future Laboratory at Annantalo 1.3.-31.12.2019. The exhibition is open according to Annantalo's opening hours. Read more on Annantalo's website.
Children's art festival Spring Kutitus in Espoo 17.3.-4.5.2019.
Sipoo and Porvoo: Children's literature festival Sana/Barnlitteraturfestivalen Ord in Sipoo and Porvoo 5.5.-11.5.2019.
Helsinki places article is a lifesaver on boring days with children!
Pienten Helsinki as an app on your phone!
Pienten Helsinki now also works as a PWA app. You can install Pienten Helsinki on your Android or iPhone simply by opening the page in Chrome or Safari browser and selecting Add to home screen from the share menu. A PWA app differs from a traditional app in that it doesn't need to be separately installed from the App Store or equivalent. Essentially the content is exactly the same as in the browser, but the page loads faster.
Pienten Helsinki doesn't require registration to work now, nor will it ever.
Follow Pienten Helsinki:
Pienten Helsinki on Facebook!
Pienten Helsinki on Instagram!
Pienten Helsinki on Twitter!
