Pienten Helsinki
With children during Christmas and New Year's break in Helsinki
Tips for the 2019 Christmas week and break can be found here.
And children's New Year's highlights here.
During the Christmas and New Year's break in Helsinki, you can go on adventures, experience and see all sorts of things. In addition to event tips, Pienten Helsinki's Christmas in Helsinki article suggests day trip destinations and other independent adventure ideas all the way to Epiphany. At the end of the article also tips for celebrating New Year in Helsinki with children.
Things to do
Sledding in Seurasaari on Boxing Day 26.12.2018 13-16 (fee applies). Additionally you can ride a sled lift 10-14. At the celebration field there are grilling spots where you can grill and eat your own food, and the island's café also serves outdoor enthusiasts.
Read more from Seurasaari Foundation's Facebook page.
Fallkulla farm animals is open during the break until 6.1.2019 daily 10-15. Entry to the farm is free. Read more from Fallkulla's website.
Winter Garden fills with Christmas decorations and you can enjoy the Christmas atmosphere all the way to Epiphany. During Christmas, Winter Garden hosts programs: Christmas concerts, Christmas carols and children's puppet theatre performances. Check Winter Garden's special opening hours from the City of Helsinki website. Free entry.
Sytkytim puppet theatre performance Pessi and Illusia – the Forest Christmas can be seen at Winter Garden during the Christmas and New Year's break. Admission to the performance is free and it is suitable for all ages.
Sytkytin puppet theatre performances at Winter Garden Christmas 2018:
26.12.2018 at 13 and 15
28.12.2018 at 13
5.1.2019 at 13 and 15
6.1.2019 at 13 and 15
Fortress Elf Trail in Suomenlinna until 6.1.2019. Read more about the self-guided elf adventure from Suomenlinna's website.
Suomenlinna Fortress Christmas offers experiences and Christmas atmosphere until 6.1.2019. A nice destination for the whole family with plenty to see and wonder at! Read more and check the opening hours of the island's services from Suomenlinna's website.
Manta Markets around the Havis Amanda statue until 9.1.2019. Read more from the event's Facebook page.
To the museum
Most museums in Helsinki are open during the Christmas and New Year's break. Check the exact opening hours from the museums' own websites under "special opening hours".
Amos Rex and the teamLab exhibition's last weeks will certainly draw crowds to Lasipalast square. However, the exhibition is worth experiencing, so queuing is worth it. Stroller access from Lasipalast square. Admission fee.
Helsinki City Museum and its Children's City is always a safe choice for a small museum visit. You also play with history here! Free entry.
Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden enchants in winter darkness. Admission fee.
The National Museum lets you marvel at Finnish history and play in the museum's Vintilä. Admission fee.
Natural History Museum is a must-visit museum destination with children. Admission fee.
At the Newspaper Museum you can for example marvel at typewriters, faxes and other old newspaper tools, browse old newspapers and learn about newspaper work in many ways. Free entry.
Hotel and Restaurant Museum and Theatre Museum at Kaapelitehtaat have plenty to do and experience for children. Admission fee.
Also remember: Toy Museum Horseshoe and House Museum Glims in Espoo!
To the museum with children? Read Pienten Helsinki's My Museum Friend and Me article series, where we explore Helsinki museums with children.
To get around
Uutela hut is also open during the break and offers ready-made fires for grilling and warming food in the middle of beautiful Uutela nature. More detailed opening hours can be found on the hut's Facebook page.
Ice Park at Rautatientori is open during the Christmas and New Year's break and you can skate every day. Fee applies. Read more from the Ice Park's own website.
Skating is possible at least on several city fields on cold days. Skating on natural ice fields is free, artificial ice fields have a small entry fee. Read more about fees and opening hours from the City of Helsinki website.
Current ice conditions can be found at ulkoliikunta.fi service (change activity to skating).
Cross-country skiing on outdoor trails is possible in at least a few places in the Helsinki area, current trail information can be found at ulkoliikunta.fi service.
At the ski hall in Kivikko, you can also ski during the break, so skis received as gifts can be tried right after Christmas. Fee applies. Read more about Christmas opening hours and fees from the City of Helsinki website.
Swimming pools throughout Helsinki are also open during the Christmas and New Year's break. Fee applies. Check the more detailed opening hours of the swimming pools from the City of Helsinki website.
Sledding hills for example in Paloheinä, Kivikko Sports Park, Kaivopuisto as well as Myllypuro's Alakivenpuisto invite you to go sledding, if only the snow stays on the ground.
Downhill skiing is possible even in South Finland, current slope information can be found at Ski.fi service.
On hikes you can venture even in winter! Sipoonkorpi, Nuuksio, Luukki, Talosaari, Lammassaari and even Suomenlinna are wonderful hiking destinations in winter too. Pack snacks in your backpack and warm clothes! Read tips for hiking destinations for example in Pienten Helsinki's day trip articles.
For example, Sipoonkorpi has an easily accessible Pony's Heritage Post trail, which leads to a grilling spot and hut for warming up. Tip based on experience: with small children, the Pony's Heritage Post trail should be walked from the beginning to the grilling spot and return the same way, not hike the full loop. You can usually find plenty of ready firewood at the grilling spot, so bring matches and snacks.
City of Helsinki outdoor recreation areas can be found at Helsinki on the Move website. Have you for example already visited Uutela's new hut or the university's arboretum in Viikki?
For day trips
Day trip destinations for break entertainment can be found within an hour's journey from Helsinki.
Atmospheric Porvoo, Lahti and Launee Family Park, Espoo's many possibilities, Loviisa's old houses and Onneli and Anneli playgrounds, in Vantaa Heureka and spa...
Animals
Fallkulla farm animals is open during the break until 6.1.2019 daily 10-15. Entry to the farm is free. Read more from Fallkulla's website.
Haltiala farm animals are partly outdoors even in winter and the farm's nice playground invites you to play.
Korkeasaari Zoo is open during the Christmas and New Year's break daily 10-16. Fee applies. Read more from the zoo's own website.
Rehndahl's Farm Animals in Kirkkonummi is open on Christmas and New Year holidays. Admission fee.
Libraries
Libraries' story times and rhyme sessions are on holiday, but children's departments offer independent reading time, play, games and even drawing. All Helsinki city libraries can be found listed on Helmet's website. Also remember the new central library Oodi.
Other activities
To the cinema: The latest Onneli and Anneli and Sleepyhead and Paw Patrol Mighty Pups are currently playing in cinemas and are suitable for children's first cinema experience. For example, Finnkino cinemas are open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve and Day.
To the circus: Dance theatre Hurjaruuth's Winter Circus Love performances continue until 13.1.2019 at Kaapelitehtaat. Fee applies. Check the schedule and ticket prices from Hurjaruuth's website.
Theatre Kitten holiday adventures at Theatre Museum 2.-4.1.2019 12-15 for holiday visitors at the museum's admission price. Read more about Theatre Kitten's holiday adventures from the museum's website.
LUX Helsinki illuminates the city again 5.1.-9.1.2019. Read more from Lux Helsinki's website, where you can see light art.
In Espoo: Finland's largest miniature railway in Sello shopping centre December-January. Exact opening hours on Alppirautatieharrastajat's website.
Helsinki places article is a lifesaver for boring days!
New Year 2019 in Helsinki with children
Children's New Year on Senate Square 31.12.2018
Children's New Year celebrations are organized by the city at Senate Square from 17-18. The program includes Maria Baric Company's theatrical fire show at 17 and children's own fireworks at 17:30. Read more from My Helsinki's website. The Senate Square fireworks are visible from far away, so good viewing spots can be found elsewhere as well (for example, Mustikkamaa, in Katajanokka near Uspenski Cathedral, Tervasaari, Tähtitorninmäki and Kruunuvuorenranta).
For adults: Helsinki's New Year on Senate Square 22-01 and the evening culminates with midnight fireworks. The celebrations can also be watched on TV1 starting at 23. More information from My Helsinki's website.
New Year dances at the Music Centre 31.12.2018 15-17. Dancing to Jorma Kääriäinen's tune, everyone from babies to grandparents are welcome. Read more from the Music Centre's website.
In many Helsinki neighbourhoods informal gatherings are organized for fireworks in the early evening. You can find more information from your neighbourhood's Facebook groups.
For example, in these places family gatherings have been organized before (check the information as some may be outdated:)
- In Lauttasaari families gather to set off early evening fireworks at Kasinonranta beach area at 19.
- In Vartioharju at Varjakankvalkamat near the beach there have been families for several years in the early evening.
- In Herttoniemi a planned family gathering at Majavatien viewpoint at around 18-19.
- In Arabianranta the traditional family gathering spot has been at Toukola beach park at 19.
- In Kruunuhaka family joint fireworks at 20 at Siltavuorenranta.
- In Kulosaari early evening family fireworks at Kluuvin park at 19.
Note! Neighbourhood joint fireworks are not official events, so everyone is responsible for their own fireworks, safety and litter collection.
Helsingin Sanomat has also listed the capital region's neighbourhood gathering places for early evening fireworks, the HS article can be found here.
Many other activities mentioned in the article are also suitable for New Year's Eve programming in Helsinki. For example, Uutela hut and Fallkulla farm animals are also open on New Year's Day.
Also remember:
New Year in Espoo brings laser art to Espoo Centre's Kirkkapuisto on New Year's Eve 31.12.2018 17:30-19.
Children's New Year Party at Art Hall Pessi in Vantaa 1.1.2019 14:30-16. The program includes Puppet Theatre Laura's fairy tale performance: Trail in the Snow. Free entry, but note that only 80 visitors fit inside.
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