Where to go with children in Helsinki? What child-friendly activities can be found in Helsinki this week? Pienten Helsinki's weekly Where to go this week series finds tips and suggests child-friendly events and activities in Helsinki and the surrounding area.

The cover image of the article is from Lux Helsinki, which starts on Tuesday and continues until Sunday. In Lastenlehdon park, a Twist & Shine artwork will be built specifically for children, where you can create your own artwork from glowing blocks.
The cover image rights are owned by Lux Helsinki / Helsinki Events Foundation.

Current topics

  • Where to go this week? From Christmas to Epiphany in Helsinki article contains many tips for celebrating Epiphany as well!
  • To sledding hills? Helsinki finally got snow, and the link will lead you to a list of Pienten Helsinki's team's favorite sledding spots!
  • Ice skating? The popular article about public skating times at ice halls in the Helsinki metropolitan area has been updated!
  • Artificial ice rinks open in Helsinki are Oulunkylä, Brahe, Johanneksenkentän, Kontulan and Lassila artificial ice rinks, as well as Lauttasaari artificial ice rink. In Espoo, for example, Tapiola ice garden is open. Freezing of several natural ice rinks is also underway! Current condition information for the rinks can be found in the ulkoliikunta.fi map service.
  • The Lighthouse Keeper's Route in Suomenlinna from November 28, 2025 to January 29, 2026. You can get the map of the Lighthouse Keeper's Route from Suomenlinna's visitor center, located in the light pink Rantakasarmi near the HSL ferry pier.

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026

Events and
activity tips

  • Play area Loru in the Central Library Oodi has programs on Monday:
    - 10:30–11:00 Loru's songs for all ages
    - 14:00–14:30 Creative movement for all ages
  • Children's events at Helmet libraries can be found on Helmet's event page.
  • Manta Christmas Market is open until January 6, 2026 next to Market Square, around the Havis Amanda statue. Free admission.
  • SOLI Winter Wonderland K-pop event at Tiivistämö in Suvilahdas on Monday, January 5, 2026 from 3-7 PM. Tickets €10.
  • Espoo: Light artwork: Borealis (Dan Acher) in the Tapiola Ice Garden area on Monday and Tuesday from 4-8 PM. Free admission. Pienten Helsinki recommends! You can also ice skate here!
  • Espoo: Moonlight skating on Matinkylä artificial ice rink on Monday from 8-10 PM. Free admission.
  • Helsinki MUSEUMS open on Mondays include the Moomin and Pippi Longstocking exhibition, Helsinki City Museum and Children's City, Tram Museum, TAHTO and Amos Rex. During the holiday break, the Natural History Museum is also open on Mondays. More museum tips with children can be found in Pienten Helsinki's theme article!

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026

Epiphany

Events and
activity tips

  • Where to go this week? From Christmas to Epiphany in Helsinki article contains many tips for celebrating Epiphany as well!
  • Manta Christmas Market is open until January 6, 2026 next to Market Square, around the Havis Amanda statue. Free admission.
  • Fallkulla farm animal facilities indoors are open to the public on Epiphany, January 6, 2026 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Free admission.
  • Espoo: Light artwork: Borealis (Dan Acher) in the Tapiola Ice Garden area on Monday and Tuesday from 4-8 PM. Free admission. Pienten Helsinki recommends! You can also ice skate here!
  • Lux Helsinki takes over the city from Tuesday to Sunday, January 6-11, 2026 from 5 PM to 10 PM (on Wednesday and Thursday some works are also illuminated in the morning from 7 AM to 9 AM).
    The works are located in the heart of Helsinki from Citizen Square to Hietarantori, Old Church Park, and up to Espa stage. The "Stop time!" themed light art also spreads to Kanneltalo and ten central art galleries. Free admission.

    In addition to the Lux artwork suitable for the whole family, this year two works specifically designed for children are included:
    - An animated narrative artwork projected on the Annantalo wall is Ukrainian artist Evgenija Gross's thanks to the Finnish people for helping those fleeing the war
    - In Lastenlehdon park, a Twist & Shine artwork will be built, where you can create your own artwork from glowing blocks. Lux Helsinki is creating the work on a larger scale (more blocks) than has been done in any other city before.
  • Helmet libraries are mostly closed on Epiphany, but for example the Central Library Oodi is open on Tuesday from 12-6 PM.
  • The play area Loru in the Central Library Oodi is closed on Epiphany.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026

Events and
activity tips

  • The play area Loru in the Central Library Oodi has the following program on Wednesday:
    Loru program for week 2 has not been published at the time of writing this article.
  • Children's events at Helmet libraries can be found on Helmet's event page.
  • MLL's Perhetalo Unikko (Unikkotie 8, Pukinmäki) is an open meeting place for families and children aged 0-12. Read more from the family center's Facebook page!
  • Fallkulla farm animal facilities indoors are open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 AM to 2 PM. Free admission.
  • Fire Museum at Erottaja fire station is open on Wednesdays from 12-4 PM. Small entrance fee.
  • Lux Helsinki takes over the city from Tuesday to Sunday, January 6-11, 2026 from 5 PM to 10 PM (on Wednesday and Thursday some works are also illuminated in the morning from 7 AM to 9 AM).
    The works are located in the heart of Helsinki from Citizen Square to Hietarantori, Old Church Park, and up to Espa stage. The "Stop time!" themed light art also spreads to Kanneltalo and ten central art galleries. Free admission

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

Events and
activity tips

  • The play area Loru in the Central Library Oodi has the following program on Thursday:
    Loru program for week 2 has not been published at the time of writing this article.
  • Children's events at Helmet libraries can be found on Helmet's event page.
  • Fallkulla farm animal facilities indoors are open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 AM to 2 PM. Free admission.
  • University of Helsinki Observatory at Tähtitorninmäki is open on Thursday from 12–8 PM. Museum entrance fee.
  • Lux Helsinki takes over the city from Tuesday to Sunday, January 6-11, 2026 from 5 PM to 10 PM (on Wednesday and Thursday some works are also illuminated in the morning from 7 AM to 9 AM).
    The works are located in the heart of Helsinki from Citizen Square to Hietarantori, Old Church Park, and up to Espa stage. The "Stop time!" themed light art also spreads to Kanneltalo and ten central art galleries. Free admission

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026

Events and
activity tips

  • The play area Loru in the Central Library Oodi has the following program on Friday:
    Loru program for week 2 has not been published at the time of writing this article.
  • Children's events at Helmet libraries can be found on Helmet's event page.
  • Fallkulla farm animal facilities indoors are open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 AM to 2 PM. Free admission.
  • University of Helsinki Observatory at Tähtitorninmäki is open on Friday from 12–4 PM. Museum entrance fee.
  • Lux Helsinki takes over the city from Tuesday to Sunday, January 6-11, 2026 from 5 PM to 10 PM (on Wednesday and Thursday some works are also illuminated in the morning from 7 AM to 9 AM).
    The works are located in the heart of Helsinki from Citizen Square to Hietarantori, Old Church Park, and up to Espa stage. The "Stop time!" themed light art also spreads to Kanneltalo and ten central art galleries. Free admission

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2026

Events and
activity tips

  • Children's events at Helmet libraries can be found on Helmet's event page.
  • Espoo: Aurora Game Developers Workshop and Sparkly Cloud Castles Art Workshop
    at the Children's Culture Center Aurora on Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM. Free admission.
  • Lux Helsinki takes over the city from Tuesday to Sunday, January 6-11, 2026 from 5 PM to 10 PM (on Wednesday and Thursday some works are also illuminated in the morning from 7 AM to 9 AM).
    The works are located in the heart of Helsinki from Citizen Square to Hietarantori, Old Church Park, and up to Espa stage. The "Stop time!" themed light art also spreads to Kanneltalo and ten central art galleries. Free admission
  • University of Helsinki Observatory at Tähtitorninmäki is open on Saturday from 12–4 PM. Museum entrance fee.
  • Porvoo: Children's Art Hall at Porvoo Art Hall in Taidetehdas spaces from September 12, 2025 to January 13, 2026. Open according to Art Hall opening hours. Free admission.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2026

Events and
activity tips

  • Fallkulla farm animal facilities indoors are open to the public on Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Free admission.
  • Fire Museum at Erottaja fire station is open on Sunday from 12-4 PM. Small entrance fee.
  • Last day! Lux Helsinki takes over the city from Tuesday to Sunday, January 6-11, 2026 from 5 PM to 10 PM (on Wednesday and Thursday some works are also illuminated in the morning from 7 AM to 9 AM).
    The works are located in the heart of Helsinki from Citizen Square to Hietarantori, Old Church Park, and up to Espa stage. The "Stop time!" themed light art also spreads to Kanneltalo and ten central art galleries. Free admission
  • Porvoo: Children's Art Hall at Porvoo Art Hall in Taidetehdas spaces from September 12, 2025 to January 13, 2026. Open according to Art Hall opening hours. Free admission.

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