Christmas week activities in Helsinki

What kid-friendly activities can you find in Helsinki? Where to go with small children on weekends? What to do on a rainy day? Pienten Helsinki's weekly series searches for activity tips and recommends child-friendly places in Helsinki and the surrounding area. The website targets children under school age and their families.

Just one week until Christmas Eve, and in families celebrating Christmas, excitement is high. Fortunately, festive Helsinki offers atmospheric events and other activities for small children and families this week too. The carousel at St. Thomas’s Market runs until Friday, the Winter Garden is in full bloom, and many of Helsinki’s playgrounds will hold rice pudding parties next week. A trip to, for example, Helsinki’s market halls is also a nice tradition with children before Christmas.

Remember also these tips at the end of the article where you’ll find more ideas and activity suggestions for the week.

Pienten Helsinki does not publish the Where to go article during Christmas holidays, but you should check activity and event tips for the holidays from the Christmas in Helsinki article, where you’ll find a comprehensive collection of tips for families for the Christmas and New Year period.

MONDAY 18.12.2017

Events:

Story time at Puistola Library at 10 a.m.

Fallkulla Farm Animals is open daily until Epiphany from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Workers’ Institute Christmas pop-up workshop at Stoa cultural centre gallery on Monday from 12 p.m.–3:15 p.m. Read more on Stoa’s website.

Christmas concert at Jätkäsaari Library at 5 p.m. Young singers, kantele players and harpists from Helsinki Conservatory perform Christmas carols and atmospheric music. Free admission.

Jamkids Christmas at Myllykylä Village Hall (Ryynimyllynkatu 1, Myllypuro) at 6 p.m. Read more on Jamkids’ website.

Circus Helsinki Ball Game - whole family Christmas show in Suvilahdessa (Sörnäisten rantatie 22) on Monday at 6 p.m. Tickets 10€/5€. Read more on Circus Helsinki’s website.

Ballet school Christmas performance at the Opera House at 6 p.m. Tickets 10€ - 20€. Read more on National Ballet’s website.

TIP: Want to move with children? In Helsinki you can ice skate on artificial ice and at ice hall public sessions, cross-country ski at indoor ski halls, and exercise at nearby sports facilities. Read Pienten Helsinki’s tips for low-threshold sports activities with children!

TUESDAY 19.12.2017

Events:

Story time at North Haaga Library at 10 a.m.

Winter Garden fills with Christmas coziness and decorations, and you can enjoy the Christmas atmosphere until Epiphany. Sytkyt puppet theatre presents The Nutcracker at the Winter Garden between Christmas and New Year. The performance is free and suitable for all ages. First puppet theatre performance on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Read more on City of Helsinki’s website.

Sampo puppet theatre concert Christmas comes jollily at Arabian youth center on Tuesday at 10 a.m. The performance is suitable for all ages. Tickets 11€. Read more on Sampo’s website.

Rice pudding party and Christmas carols and carolers at Malmitalo on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Read more on Malmitalo’s website.

Reading dog Hasse at Vuosaari Library children’s department from 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Festive joint singing evening at Oulunkylä Library at 6 p.m.

TIP: Movie tip: Hay Hat, Blanket Bottom and Rubens’ Brothers and The Moomins’ Winter Magic are approved for all ages and are excellent for a first cinema experience. Now showing in cinemas!

WEDNESDAY 20.12.2017

Story time at Arabianranta Library at 9:30 a.m. Story time at Käpylä Library at 10 a.m. In Swedish: Story hour in Swedish at Bocksbacka Library at 10:15 a.m.

Puppet Theatre Sampo’s Wonderful Christmas performance at Sampo on Wednesday at 10 a.m. The performance is suitable for all ages. Tickets 11€. Read more on the puppet theatre’s website.

Sampo puppet theatre concert Christmas comes jollily at Maunulatalossa on Wednesday at 10 a.m. The performance is suitable for all ages. Tickets 11€. Read more on Sampo’s website.

FOR BABIES and parents: BabyKino at Töölö Library at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Read more about BabyKino at Töölö Library which is currently elsewhere, on the library’s website.

At Vuotalo’s Wednesday gallery workshop you can make festive candles this time from 4 p.m.–7 p.m. Read more on Vuotalo’s website.

Reading dog Doris at Tapulinkaupunki Library at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting café at Rikhardinkatu Library from 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m. Puppet Theatre Sytkyt presents a festive puppet theatre performance of The Nutcracker to Tchaikovsky’s music. Read more on the library’s website.

Circus Helsinki Ball Game - whole family Christmas show in Suvilahdessa (Sörnäisten rantatie 22) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Tickets 10€/5€. Read more on Circus Helsinki’s website.

TIP: Adventure on the West Metro with children? Read the first part of Pienten Helsinki’s Metro to the West series for child-friendly activity tips in Lauttasaari and Koivusaari.

THURSDAY 21.12.2017

Events:

Library tip to Espoo: Mud Builders children’s concert at Ison Omena Library on Thursday at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. You can get there in a jiffy by metro from Helsinki ;).

Story time at Pasila Library at 9:30 a.m.

FOR BABIES: Baby rhyme time at Puistola Library at 10 a.m.

Library tip to Vantaa: At Tikkurila Library in Vantaa Let’s Sing Together with Children event on Thursday at 10 a.m. You can bring your own instrument or borrow one from the library. Read more about this fun sing-along on the library’s website.

Puppet Theatre Sampo’s Wonderful Christmas performance at Sampo on Thursday at 10 a.m. The performance is suitable for all ages. Tickets 11€. Read more on the puppet theatre’s website.

Circus Helsinki Ball Game - whole family Christmas show in Suvilahdessa (Sörnäisten rantatie 22) on Thursday at 6 p.m. Tickets 10€/5€. Read more on Circus Helsinki’s website.

Tip for Vantaa: Light Singers at Kuusijarvi - Beautiful Christmas carols on the darkest day of the year on Thursday from 6 p.m.–8 p.m. Read more on Vantaa Parish’s website.

FRIDAY 22.12.2017

St. Thomas's Market's last day! Spin around once more on the wonderful old carousel and enjoy the Christmas market atmosphere.

Puppet Theatre Sampo’s Wonderful Christmas performance at Sampo on Friday at 10 a.m. Suitable for all ages. Tickets 11€. Read more on the puppet theatre’s website.

MadeBy Me's Elf Door self-service workshop at Tori Blocks from 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Read more on the event's Facebook page.

TIP: Theatre with children? Pienten Helsinki's theatre tips have been updated!

SATURDAY 23.12.2017

Just one night until Christmas...

Events:

Christmas cleaning at home with the whole family ;)

MadeBy Me's Elf Door self-service workshop at Tori Blocks from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Read more on the event's Facebook page.

City Museum's Children's City Grandma's place also celebrates Christmas! Museum open on Christmas Eve from 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

[caption id=“attachment_2342” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Christmas is at the City Museum’s Grandma’s place![/caption]

SUNDAY 24.12.2017

Happy Christmas! God jul!

Tips for Christmas and the period between Christmas and New Year can be found in Pienten Helsinki's Christmas in Helsinki article.

Fallkulla Farm Animals is open on Christmas Eve 24.12.2017 and Christmas Day 25.12.2017 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Christmas Eve ice skating for the whole family at Malmi Ice Hall on 24.12.2017 from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Read more on the event’s Facebook page.

Remember also these:

Tapanila area's Living Advent Calendar offers many experiences for children too. Read more on Tapanila area's website.

Fallkulla Farm Animals is open daily until Epiphany from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (also on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

Railway Station’s Ice Park opens on Monday 4.12.2017.

Christmas tree forest at the National Museum yard until 7.1.2017.

Annantalo’s Christmas calendar’s first door opens on Friday 1.12.2017 and the calendar can be followed until Christmas Eve. Every day a door lights up in the yard pavilion and reveals surprises created by Annantalo students. Read more about the Christmas calendar on Annantalo’s website.

Fortress Elf’s route opens in Suomenlinna on 2.12.2017. You can explore the self-guided route until Epiphany (7.1.2018). Also remember the paid Fortress Elf Charles tours.

St. Thomas’s Market opens at Senate Square on 2.12. and as in previous years, visitors can ride on the wonderful old carousel at the market for free. This year the square also has a stage with diverse programming for the whole family. St. Thomas’s Market continues until 22.12.2017. Read more on the market’s website.

Library 10 opens its second children’s own art exhibition. Ada Neiberg has the honor of being Library 10’s second children’s art exhibition artist, whose art fills the library’s exhibition space. The exhibition is on display from 4.12–23.12.2017 and can be admired during library opening hours. The children’s own art exhibition activity is believed to be a unique concept in Finland, and any child can organize their own exhibition. More information about the event and Library 10’s exhibition activities.

The opening of Ada Neiberg’s exhibition will be held on Tuesday 5.12.2017 at 4:30 p.m.

FOR PARENTS: The University of Helsinki Museum’s Baby in the Box exhibition sheds light on the fascinating history of the maternity package. The exhibition is on display at the University of Helsinki’s Science Corner and at the University Museum. Read more on the university’s website.

Espoo: Finland’s largest miniature railway at Sello shopping center during December–January. Exact opening hours on the Alpine Railway Enthusiasts’ website.

[caption id=“attachment_1979” align=“aligncenter” width=“1334”] Miniature railway at Toy Museum Horseshoe.[/caption]