Pienten Helsinki
What to do for May Day in Helsinki with children?
What to do and where to go with children during May Day 2025 in Helsinki and the greater Helsinki region? What May Day events suitable for children are organized in Helsinki and the surrounding area?
May Day, celebrated as a spring and labor and student festival, is celebrated on Thursday, May 1st, 2025. Spring events and May Day traditions can be experienced already on May Eve, Wednesday, April 30th, 2025. May Day, May 1st, 2025 is a public holiday and, for example, libraries and playgrounds are closed at that time. Pienten Helsinki lists May Day events and tips for celebrating May with children in Helsinki and the surrounding area.
Have a happy May Day!
Events and activity tips on May Eve, Wednesday, April 30th, 2025
Vantaa: Tikkurila May Day Market on May Eve, April 30th, 2025 and on May Day, May 1st, 2025, 9am-5pm. Free admission.
Albertin olohuoneen May Day walks on Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, 9:30am-12pm.
May Day celebration at Loru playgrounds in the Maija room on the 1st floor of Oodin central library on Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, 1pm-2:30pm.
May Day event at Meilahti Church on May Eve, April 30th, 2025, 3pm-5:30pm. Free admission.
Race Horse Company's exciting circus May Day at Stoa on May Eve, April 30th, 2025, 4pm-6pm. Free admission.
Kauniainen: Children's May Day fun at the ice hockey hall and ice rink in Kauniainen on May Eve, April 30th, 2025, 4pm-7pm at GrIFK ice hockey hall and ice rink. Free admission.
AnnanHouse disco: Wild with colors - a family disco event at Annantalo on May Eve, April 30th, 2025, 4pm-7pm. Free admission.
Vantaa: May Day celebration at Children's Culture Center Toteem in Myyrmäki on May Eve, April 30th, 2025, 4:30pm-6pm. Free admission.
Vallila May Day dances at Hartola Park on May Eve, April 30th, 2025, 4:30pm-8:30pm. Free admission.
Family May Day celebration at Munkkivuori Church on May Eve, April 30th, 2025, 5pm-7pm. Free admission.
Beaver washing and painting on May Eve at old Herttoniemi (corner of Majavatien and Hiihtomäentien streets) at 5:30pm. The event is organized by Majavakollektiivi. (situation for 2025 not confirmed)
Havis Amanda statue, also called Manta, gets painted again this year at its traditional location at Market Square on May Eve, April 30th, 2025 at 6pm. The program at the square starts at 3:45pm, the statue gets washed at 5pm. This year the painting duties are done by Svenska Handelshögskolans studentkår SHS, the Hanken student organization. Expect crowds!
You can follow Havis Amanda's painting and other May Day atmosphere also through Yle Areena!
Linnanmäki amusement park summer season begins on May Eve! The amusement park's bear statue gets painted on May Eve at 6pm. Free admission, some small rides are free but otherwise rides are mostly paid.
May Day events and activity tips on Thursday, May 1st, 2025
Traditional greeting by the Student Singers on May Day on Ullanlinnanmäki on Thursday, May 1st, 2025 at 9am. The broadcast can also be followed on Yle Areena.
Vantaa: Tikkurila May Day Market on May Eve, April 30th, 2025 and on May Day, May 1st, 2025, 9am-5pm. Free admission.
Vantaa: MLL Aviapolksen family May Day celebration at Kartanonkoski school yard on May Day, May 1st, 2025, 10am-12pm. Nearby is Illenpuisto playground, which is familiar from the Risto Räppääjä films!
Brak's May Day at Brahe playground on May Day at 10am-2pm. The event is organized by the fourth grade class of Aleksis Kivi primary school. Free admission.
May Day festivals on May Day, May 1st at 10am-2pm at Steiner daycare Aurinkonen's yard in Pikku Huopalahti (Korppaanpolku 5). Free admission.
Hyvinkää: Hyvinkää May Day celebrated in the area around Hyvinkää market square on May Day, May 1st, 2025, 10am-4pm. Free admission.
May Day Shokkelo at Kumpula Botanical Garden (Jyrängöntie 2) on May Day, May 1st, 2025, 10am-5pm. Tickets 4 € (children) and 2 € (adults), babies free. Also featuring PlayCafe Park!
May Day Yard Parties at Villa Wuorio in Laajasalo on May Day, May 1st, 2025, 12pm-6pm. Free admission, refreshments are paid.
Espoo: Vappunen! festival at Aurora Children's Culture Center on May Day, May 1st, 2025, 2pm-5pm. Tickets from 15 €, children under 2 free.
Linnanmäki amusement park summer season begins on May Eve! Free admission, some small rides are free but otherwise rides are mostly paid.
Linnanmäki amusement park summer season begins on May Eve! Free admission, some small rides are free but otherwise rides are mostly paid.
Picnic spots
Time for a picnic! Kaivopuisto and Kaisanimenpuisto are classic choices for May Day picnics, but this year you could try a different Helsinki park for your May Day picnic: Meilahti rose garden, Herttoniemi or Stansviki manor garden, Tullisaari in Laajasalo, or perhaps Mustikkamaa, Seurasaari, or Lauttasaari rocky shores.
For a nature picnic, you should head out to, for example, Uutela, Kruunuvuori lake, Kivinokkaa, Lammassaari, or Kuusiluoto.
New grill sites have been built including Laajasalo Tullisaari manor garden and Stansvik. Older official grill sites can be found at Uutela, Seurasaari, and Kallahdenniemi beach in Vuosaari. You need to bring your own charcoal or firewood.
On the Espoo side, for example, the area around Villa Elfvik, Marketanpuisto park with picnic tables, and Träskanda manor garden are great spots.
More inspiration for picnic locations can be found in Pienten Helsinki's Helsinki spots article.
What to do?
You also have to play during May Day! You can find all of Pienten Helsinki's playground tips behind this link.
What should we do today? Pienten Helsinki's latest article suggests twenty easy and free destinations in Helsinki for children.
Secret Helsinki article reveals small and big secrets about Helsinki!
Adventure in Helsinki articles provide ideas for things to do in Helsinki!
Also remember: Little Finland - over 800 reasons to travel in Finland with children!
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