July activity tips in Helsinki for children.

What activities can you find in Helsinki during the summer holidays in July? Where to go with young children on a city vacation or weekend? And what to do on a rainy day? Little Helsinki's weekly series finds activity tips and recommends child-friendly places in Helsinki and the surrounding area.

 

The July holiday season brings a slight dip in event offerings, especially for activities specifically aimed at children. Summer’s regular attractions are abundant in the city, and for rainy days, for example, libraries with excellent children’s sections serve visitors in July as well. This week’s event list consists, again, of a few organized events and more casual tips for Helsinki as well as a few suggestions for Espoo and Vantaa, plus a trip tip to Kotka to admire the tall ships at The Tall Ships Race and Children’s Maritime Days.

Have you heard of Sisä-Hatu? Or visited Katrineberg Manor?

 

[caption id=“attachment_256” align=“aligncenter” width=“2048”] The Tall Ships Race takes over Kotka July 13-16, 2017. Photo from Helsinki from 2013.[/caption]

Some of Helsinki’s playgrounds are on holiday, but there are open parks throughout the city. It’s worth checking the opening hours of your local playground on the playground activity pages. Park catering also continues into August, and this week’s menu can be found here. It’s worth following playgrounds’ Facebook and website pages actively, as lots of open, guided activities are organized for everyone.

This week’s playground program highlights include art-focused activities. On Monday, two playgrounds celebrate National Visual Arts Day (see details below). Art Buddies’ open workshops are held on Tuesday, July 11 at Kipinä Playground and on Wednesday, July 12 at Kannelmäki Playground. This week’s program features an art trail.

On Thursday, Roihuvuori Playground takes a trip to Korkeasaari. Children not yet of school age can participate in the trip with an adult. For more information about the playground, advance registration is recommended. On Thursday, the Traditional Games Martti-mobile also visits Mellunmäki Playground and entertains children. Many playgrounds have grills available for public use on Fridays.

 

Monday to Saturday, July 10-15. Helsinki Cup, a football tournament, takes over Helsinki, with children and young people from all over Finland and the world playing exciting matches in sports parks throughout the city. You can watch the matches from the stands for free. The Helsinki Cup schedule can be found here.

The official Love The Ball centers are located next to the old ice hall and Käpylä fields, offering lots of programs and various activities. This is a great place to visit if you want to experience the atmosphere of a sports festival or dream of playing football. The tournament opening ceremony is held at the Ice Hall field on Monday, July 10, ending with fireworks at 9 p.m. More information about Helsinki Cup and program offerings can be found here. Free admission.

[caption id=“attachment_250” align=“aligncenter” width=“1136”] Painting.[/caption]

Monday, July 10. National Visual Arts Day is celebrated, and children can participate in this flag day celebration at Tapuli Playground and Rudolf Playground, where they paint collaborative artworks starting at 10:30 a.m. More information about the event can be found here. Part of Finland 100-year program. Free admission.

Tuesday to Sunday, July 11-16. Pukinmäki Art School presents Fallkullan Farm’s theater stage production of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved classic The Little Prince. Tickets 5 euros (cash payment). Detailed information about the performance and show times can be found here.

Tuesday, July 11. Puppet Theater Sytkytin’s summer fairy tale at the Winter Garden at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission to the performance and the Winter Garden is free. The Winter Garden is not wheelchair accessible, so a baby carrier is a good option for the smallest visitors. More information at Puppet Theater Sytkyt.

Tuesday, July 11. Käpylehmä Orchestra performs in Espoo at Olarinaukio Resident Park at 10:30 a.m. Käpylehmä Orchestra is a beloved children’s orchestra that sets the poetry of author Kaarina Helakisa to music. More information about the event can be found here. Free admission.

Wednesday, July 12 at 4:30 p.m., cheerful folk music can be heard on Espa Stage when Hellä Hermanni & Kylmät Väreet take the stage. Free admission. More information about Espa Stage’s program can be found here.

[caption id=“attachment_68” align=“aligncenter” width=“768”] Pikku Pavu Orchestra can be heard at Children’s Maritime Days on Friday in Kotka.[/caption]

Trip tip outside Helsinki: Thursday to Sunday, July 13-16. Children’s Maritime Days are celebrated in Kotka, along with a celebration of large sailing ships when The Tall Ships Race arrives in Kotka. There are lots of programs for children besides ship spotting. For example, Eikka Ekoveikka (Thursday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.), Pikku Pavu Orchestra (Friday at 2 p.m.), Giggling Cackler (Saturday at 3:30 p.m.), and Nalle’s Adventure Backpack (Sunday at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.). Free admission. Children’s programs mainly on the East Pier stage. More information about Children’s Maritime Days and The Tall Ships Race in Kotka. The Tall Ships Race is definitely worth experiencing!

Kotka also has beautiful parks and playgrounds in the parks. See a video of Kotka’s parks here.

Friday, July 14 at Children’s Traffic City, family days are celebrated during summer every Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when you can explore the traffic city and learn about traffic rules under the guidance of an adult. Free admission.

At Mustasaari recreational center, Summer Cat’s music time continues on Friday at 11:30 a.m., and you can spend a summer day on the island lounging, playing, and petting sheep. More information about Mustasaari from the Helsinki Parish Union can be found here. Ferry fee applies.

[caption id=“attachment_259” align=“aligncenter” width=“1071”] Guard Parade in summer 2016.[/caption]

Summer Fridays in central Helsinki feature a Guard Parade at 12:30 p.m. and MIL-Espa concert at 2 p.m. on Espa Stage. The Guard Parade departs from Senate Square, marches via Market Square to the Main Guard, and from there along Esplanade to Casern Square. Definitely worth seeing and entertaining. From 2 p.m. on the Espa stage, you can hear the Navy Band. More information about the Guard Parade and MIL-Espa concerts can be found here. Free admission.

For Saturday I haven’t found event tips during this summer holiday period, but from the Also Remember These highlights below, you’ll find activities for all tastes. These also work on weekends!

Sunday, July 16. Allas Sea Pool family Sundays are celebrated next to Market Square from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program pays special attention to children. Admission 12€/6€. More information about the event can be found here.

Also Remember These

For a rainy day: How about going to the movies? For a small child, a trip to the cinema can be a big adventure. At least Onneli and Anneli and the Mysterious Stranger and Bamse and the Witch’s Daughter are suitable for preschoolers.

[caption id=“attachment_252” align=“aligncenter” width=“852”] Children’s City is where you’re allowed to play.[/caption]

This week’s museum tip: the timeless Children’s City at the Helsinki City Museum at Senate Square. A separate article about Children’s City here. Always free admission.

For animal lovers: If Fallkullan and Haltiala farms seem too familiar, you should head to Seututie in Vantaa to explore Katrineberg Manor’s petting farm. Katrineberg is home to sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, and a rooster. The manor has a food rescue café offering varying, free refreshments. Rumor has it there’s a playroom for children upstairs in the manor. The petting farm is open in July Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but you can also visit the petting farm at other times (don’t feed the animals yourself). More information about Katrineberg Manor and the petting farm can be found here. Free admission.

[caption id=“attachment_260” align=“aligncenter” width=“1126”] At the chicken house.[/caption]

Swimming? Tuorinniemi Beach in Herttoniemenranta is an ideal location for children: Next to it is Tuorinniemi Playground, whose play area has just been renovated and offers park lunch for children under 16 throughout the summer at noon. On sunny days, you can easily spend several hours here. The beach also has an ice cream stand. The playground menu can be found here.

[caption id=“attachment_249” align=“aligncenter” width=“1136”] Sisä-Hatu in front of Lauttasaari.[/caption]

For outdoor walks and adventures, you can head to Lauttasaari, Särkiniemi at the southern tip of Vattuniemi and Veijaryvuori parks. A nice beach route can easily be done with strollers, the views are beautiful, and the park’s central area features the city’s beach, playground, and new beach café. The bravest can find a wading route to the nearby Sisä-Hatu island during low water, where you’ll find ancient rock carvings and unique Helsinki views ;)

For urban adventures? Do you know where to find an exciting transparent glass floor? Or a fish tank right in the city center? Where can you play arcade games or board games downtown even on rainy days? Or climb on the Töölönlahti waterfront?

(Answers to the above: Tennis Palace, Stockmann 4th floor, Library 10, and Töölönlahti newly renovated playground next to Finlandia Hall)

[caption id=“attachment_255” align=“aligncenter” width=“852”] #spotaseals![/caption]

Seal spotting! The four-meter seal statues designed by Stefan Lindforss and decorated by various Finnish artists have spread throughout Helsinki for everyone’s enjoyment, and finding all ninety seals in the hustle and bustle of the city is quite a task. Fortunately, you don’t need to spot them all in one day, and tips about locations can be found here. Little Helsinki challenges everyone to seal spotting! Spot one or more artworks and share your photos of spotted seals on Instagram. #spotaseals #hejhylje. More information about the project promoting Baltic Sea protection can be found here. Seals are hiding in Helsinki through late summer.

For music and dance lovers: Mimi and Kuku are this week’s performers at Linnanmäki amusement park. For the youngest, there are also free amusement park rides for some rides designed for children that don’t require a ticket. The amusement park area has free admission.

A compilation of summer highlights and upcoming events can be found here.

Little Helsinki has moved, activity tips and event listings can now be found at www.pientenhelsinki.fi

See you there!

 

Missing an event from the list? Tip it to others in the comments below or by email to [email protected]

For current event information about Helsinki playgrounds, you can email or contact Little Helsinki through Facebook.