Where to go this week: July Helsinki 2020

Even in the exceptional summer of 2020, there is plenty to do and experience in Helsinki. Pienten Helsinki brings together events and tips for this different summer of 2020. Regular "Where to go this week" articles are not being published, but summer tips are being collected under this article throughout the summer. The article will be updated weekly.

To the library with children

Libraries and library services will return to near normal starting June 1, 2020. More information and library-specific exceptions can be found on Helmet's website.
Note: Viikki library is closed for renovations and the brand new Herttoniemi library is now located in Hertsi shopping center.

Ode to Nature exhibition in Oodi Central Library's Brygga space from June 1 to September 31, 2020 (at least).

Museums with children

Museums will open in early June after the exception period and museum visits with children are possible again. It's worth familiarizing yourself with special instructions for visits on the museums' websites. In Pienten Helsinki's Museum Buddy and Me article series, we peek into a few child-friendly museums.
Pienten Helsinki also recommends following the Hupsistarallaa blog and Terhi's tips for museum visits with children throughout Finland.

Swimming

Find tips from Pienten Helsinki for child-friendly swimming beaches in the Swimming? article. The Swimming spots for hot days article brings together tips for public pools and other swimming spots that often remain free of blue-green algae.

Playgrounds and play areas

32 of Helsinki's city playgrounds are open during the 2020 summer season. Regular supervised activities will not be organized in playgrounds during summer 2020, with the exception of school children's summer camps, for which separate registration is required. Sand toys, splash pools, or pedal cars, for example, will not be available this summer—only the playgrounds' fixed play equipment will be available. Regarding indoor facilities, only restrooms can be used. More detailed instructions for the exception period can be found on the Summer at the Playgrounds page.

Helsinki's playgrounds' summer lunches begin on June 1, 2020 at 12 o'clock.

Children's traffic city

Children's traffic city summer season begins on June 1, 2020 at 12 o'clock. More information and instructions on the traffic city's Facebook page.

Adventuring in nature

Along with Pienten Helsinki's few day trip articles, a strong recommendation for nature tips goes to the Nature Moments blog and Mira's excellent hiking tips. Pienten Helsinki's Helsinki places article also has, for example, tips for park trip destinations.

Hara island off Kaivopuisto is also open in summer 2020. Free entry, a small fee is charged for the shuttle boat ride.

On the Espoo side, a nature destination worth recommending is Villa Elfvik. The area around Elfvik has easy-access nature trails, bird towers, and grazing horses in coastal landscapes.

Children's orienteering courses

Children's orienteering courses are available from June 1 to July 31, 2020 in Paloheinä, Pirkkola, Maunula, Laakso, Lauttasaari, Oulunkylä, Herttoniemi, and Uutiala. Maps and instructions can be found on Helsinki Orienteering's website.

Animals in the city

From Pienten Helsinki's Animals in the City article you can find the best tips on where sheep, chickens, cows, and other farm animals live in Helsinki and neighboring cities.

Korkeasaari Zoo opens its doors with special arrangements on June 1, 2020 at 10 a.m. Admission fee applies

Linnanmäki

Linnanmäki amusement park opens its summer season with special arrangements on June 12, 2020. Around midsummer, the amusement park had excellently considered the exception period and there was plenty of space to move around.

Please note the current restrictions and
the guidelines of different venues during the exception period.

ALSO REMEMBER:
Pienten Helsinki's Summer in Helsinki series!

JULY 2020

Week 29

Summer lunch menu for this week at Helsinki's open playgrounds:
Mon 13.7. Chicken risotto
Tue 14.7. Cheese fish soup
Wed 15.7 Beef soup
Thu 16.7. Vegetable cream soup
Fri 17.7. Meat soup
Allergy information can be found here

Annantalo's summer events and registration instructions for week 29 can be found in the venue's event calendar.

Karelian Summer Cottage Children's Day is celebrated on Friday 17.7.2020 from 2-7 PM. Pre-registration is especially requested for the pie workshop.

Children's traffic city summer 2020 with special arrangements.

Päivälehti Museum's Seven Dog Brothers exhibition from June 1 to December 31, 2020. Free entry, also open on Mondays.

Ode to Nature exhibition in Oodi Central Library's Brygga space from June 1 to September 31, 2020 (at least).

Skate Container at Eläintarha skate park from June 1 to August 1, 2020. Equipment available for loan against deposit.

From Pienten Helsinki's Animals in the City article you can find the best tips on where sheep, chickens, cows, and other farm animals live in Helsinki and neighboring cities.

Museum tips even for rainy days during summer 2020 can be found in the Going to the Museum with Children article.

ESPOO
Children's Culture Center Aurora offers summer programs for children. Free entry.
- Explore self-service trails in Aurora's courtyard: Play games that involve color and shape exploration and build an amazing Mighty Cabin. Target age around 2-10 years old. Recommended with adult supervision.
- Art workshop activities at Aurora on weekdays from Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Weekly programs and more detailed instructions can be found on Aurora's website.

Week 30 (July 20-26, 2020)

Summer lunch menu for this week at Helsinki's open playgrounds:
Mon 20.7. Archipelago char soup
Tue 21.7. Broiler sausage pasta
Wed 22.7. Ground meat soup
Thu 23.7. Sweet potato and potato cream soup
Fri 24.7. Chicken, vegetable and pasta pan
Allergy information can be found here

Annantalo's summer events and registration instructions for week 30 can be found in the venue's event calendar. Free entry.

For example, Annantalo's Tuesday 21.7.20 program:
10 a.m.-2 p.m. garden work party
10 a.m.-3 p.m. free courtyard activities; characters, yard games, butterfly disco
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Underwater world workshop
2 p.m. City Festival Orchestra
5:30 p.m. City Dances - Samba

Museum tips even for rainy days during summer 2020 can be found in the Going to the Museum with Children article.

Children's traffic city summer 2020 with special arrangements.

Päivälehti Museum's Seven Dog Brothers exhibition from June 1 to December 31, 2020. Free entry, also open on Mondays.

Ode to Nature exhibition in Oodi Central Library's Brygga space from June 1 to September 31, 2020 (at least).

Skate Container at Eläintarha skate park from June 1 to August 1, 2020. Equipment available for loan against deposit.

From Pienten Helsinki's Animals in the City article you can find the best tips on where sheep, chickens, cows, and other farm animals live in Helsinki and neighboring cities.

Week 31 (July 27-August 2, 2020)

Summer lunch menu for this week at Helsinki's open playgrounds:
Mon 27.7. Clear broth char soup
Tue 28.7. Turkey root soup
Wed 29.7. Chicken, vegetable and pasta pan
Thu 30.7. Vegetable risotto
Fri 31.7. Sausage soup
Allergy information can be found here

You can harvest peas from Haltiala fields again free of charge for personal use.

The final week! Children's orienteering courses are available from June 1 to July 31, 2020 in Paloheinä, Pirkkola, Maunula, Laakso, Lauttasaari, Oulunkylä, Herttoniemi, and Uutiala. Maps and instructions can be found on Helsinki Orienteering's website.

Final week! Skate Container at Eläintarha skate park from June 1 to August 1, 2020. Equipment available for loan against deposit.

Annantalo's summer events and registration instructions for week 31 can be found in the venue's event calendar. The program includes workshops and Taskari, a dance version of musicals. Free entry.

At Children's traffic city you can drive around this summer too, though with special arrangements.

Museum tips even for rainy days during summer 2020 can be found in the Going to the Museum with Children article.
Päivälehti Museum's Seven Dog Brothers exhibition from June 1 to December 31, 2020. Free entry, also open on Mondays.
Ode to Nature exhibition in Oodi Central Library's Brygga space from June 1 to September 31, 2020 (at least).

Espoo: Children's Culture Center Aurora offers a variety of activities for children in summer!

Espoo: Villa Elfvik Nature Center events can be found here (note the exception period registration times).

From Pienten Helsinki's Animals in the City article you can find the best tips on where sheep, chickens, cows, and other farm animals live in Helsinki and neighboring cities.

Looking for tips for neighboring cities and
other parts of Finland? Pienten Suomi can help!

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