Late July activity ideas in Helsinki with children

Updated 29.7.

What activities can you find in summer Helsinki in July? Where to go with small children during a city vacation or weekend? What to do on a rainy day? Pienten Helsinki’s weekly series seeks activity tips and recommends child-friendly places in Helsinki and the surrounding area.

Summer Helsinki is now at its best and children’s events are being organized more and more towards the end of summer, especially on weekends. The event rush of August weekends hasn’t arrived yet during the last week of July, but for example, Skidit Festivals, one of Helsinki’s largest children’s events, will take over the city this coming Saturday. There is plenty of self-directed activities to find in Helsinki and on sunny days, playing in parks or a trip to a swimming beach can be major experiences for little ones.

This week’s activity tips are again, in July fashion, partly focused on freer activities, but there are already more actual events on the list than in previous weeks. Also remember these -tips can be found in Helsinki this week.

In August there is again an extremely large selection of events for children and an updated list of upcoming events can be found here.

The playgrounds' summer

Some Helsinki city playgrounds and family centers are still on summer break, but many are also returning to regular operation. Open playgrounds can be found throughout the city and in warm weather, most parks have a swimming pool or other water play opportunities. It's worth checking the opening hours of your local playground from the playground activities pages. Free park meals for under 16-year-olds continue into August and this week's menu can be found here.

During the last week of July, playgrounds again offer a diverse range of organized programs and the week includes a holiday.

For example, Myllynsiivi, Mustakivi, and Ruoholahti playgrounds celebrate water week with water-related programming throughout the week. Herttoniemi playground has Tuesday programming with berry jam play (!) at 10:30 and 1 p.m. (the announcement recommends bringing blueberry-resistant clothes). Tuesday through Thursday, Kurkimäki playground creates environmental artworks under the direction of Taidekaverit. Wednesday, Filpus playground has a felt flea market where you can shop or sell your own items. Many playgrounds celebrate Thursday as Unicorn Day with related events and festivities. A list of Unicorn Day events can be found below under Thursday. Friday, Tuorinniemi playground has a grill burning in traditional Friday style for your own food, with fort-building crafts and water fights in the program.

It’s worth actively following playgrounds’ Facebook and website pages, as there is plenty of open, supervised activities organized.

[caption id=“attachment_414” align=“aligncenter” width=“1334”] An enthusiastic photography project of Helsinki’s playgrounds has begun. Photo from Linja playground.[/caption]

Pienten Helsinki’s enthusiastic challenge to introduce all of Helsinki’s playgrounds and play areas with pictures and words has begun and the first introductions of play areas and playgrounds can be found here.

Things to do in Helsinki

Monday 24.7. you should head to Espoo and the children's cultural center Pikku Aurora, as Monday features a garden song evening and picnic for small and big kids from 6-7 p.m. Wonderful activities and atmosphere on a summer evening. Also check Pikku Aurora's program offerings for other days, with summer programs available on weekdays. The cultural center also offers plenty of self-directed activities both outdoors and indoors. More information about the children's cultural center can be found here.

Monday street basketball event at Kannelmäki Sports Park from 4-8 p.m. According to event information, the event suits the whole family and smaller children get their own basketball-themed program and raffles. Street basketball events are organized by the Finnish Basketball Association and entry is free. More information about events can be found here.

Tuesday 25.7. Annantalo has partly returned from its summer break and on A.lava at Annantalo’s back courtyard, a story based on Marjatta Kurenniemi’s narrative about Käkkärämänty will be performed. Performances start at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Free and accessible entrance. Annantalo’s front courtyard has a summer courtyard where you can take a break. More information about the performance can be found here.

[caption id=“attachment_582” align=“aligncenter” width=“1267”] Annantalo’s A.lava.[/caption]

Tuesday a street basketball event is held at Vuosaari Aurinkoranta from 4-8 p.m. According to event information, the event suits the whole family and smaller children get their own basketball-themed program and raffles. Street basketball events are organized by the Finnish Basketball Association and entry is free. More information about events can be found here.

Wednesday 26.7. performances continue at Puotila Summer Theater with Mr. Hakkarainen’s big sports performance at 1 p.m. There are also other performances this week, with the schedule available on the summer theater’s website. The performance is suitable for ages 3+. More information and ticket reservations for performances can be found here. Tickets 12 €.

Wednesday you can also pop by, for example, a petting farm to admire the animals. More information about petting farms in the capital region can be found in Pienten Helsinki’s tip bank.

[caption id=“attachment_520” align=“aligncenter” width=“2000”] Katrinebergin petting farm in Vantaa’s Seutula.[/caption]

Thursday 27.7. Unicorn Day is celebrated and in honor of the day, many Helsinki playgrounds organize themed programming. Unicorn Day programming is organized at least in the following playgrounds: Tervapääsky, Herttoniemi, Linnunrata, Maunula, Rudolf, Tuorinniemi, Maasälpä, and Mustakivi.

Note! The list includes those Unicorn Day celebrating playgrounds for which event information about Unicorn Day programming was found. It is therefore possible that Unicorn Day is celebrated in other parks as well: If you notice a park missing, please comment in the comment section or send a message and I’ll add the information here too.

Thursday the Basketball Association’s street basketball continues and this time you can play at Meilahti Sports Park from 5-10 p.m. More information about events can be found here.

Summer Fridays you can see the guard parade in downtown Helsinki at 12:30 p.m. and a MIL-Espa concert at 2 p.m. on Espa stage. The guard parade departs from Senate Square marching through Market Square to the main guard station and from there along Esplanade to Kasarmintori. Worth seeing and entertaining. This Friday 28.7. Espa stage features the Guard Band, which also performs at Independence Day celebrations, starting at 2 p.m. More information about the guard parade and MIL-Espa can be found here.

Espa stage’s program also features Friday Inga Söder’s concert at 4 p.m. Espa stage has diverse daily programming in the summer, with more information about the stage’s program available here. Near Espa stage you’ll also find the Torikorttelit’s summer courtyard (photo at the beginning of the article), where there’s fun activities for children and relaxing areas for adults. This is an excellent place to eat a picnic.

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

The Children’s Traffic City celebrates family day every Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when you can go driving around the traffic city under your own adult’s guidance and learn about traffic rules. Free admission.

Saturday 29.7. Stone courtyards echo in Sörnäinen when Skidit Festivals 2017 takes over Kaikukatu’s block four from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is plenty of programming and performers for all tastes. Festival tickets cost 13.50 €, family ticket 42 €. More information about Skidit Festivals and performers can be found here.

[caption id=“attachment_578” align=“aligncenter” width=“360”] Skidit Festivals 2017. (photo borrowed from www.skiditfestarit.fi)[/caption]

In Vantaa, Tiksi Block Party takes over Tikkurila on Saturday 29.7 and the event makes Pienten Helsinki’s list especially because of the children’s programming. Children’s Tiksi Block Party is held in the sheltered courtyard behind Tikkurila Church from 12-4 p.m. Fun activities for kids available! More information about the event and children’s programming can be found here. Free admission.

Mini-Finland adventure at Seurasaari Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. takes you on an exploration tour of Finland in miniature. Seurasaari’s buildings have fun tasks like playing the kantele and carding wool, and by completing tasks you collect stamps on maps. The event suits the whole family. You can also explore the summer Seurasaari on your own. More information about the event can be found here. Admission with museum ticket, children under 7 free with an adult. Mini-Finland adventure continues until 13.8.2017.

Korkeasaari celebrates International Tiger Day. More information from the zoo’s website. Admission charged.

Saturday you can barbecue again at Koffin Park when Grillaamo takes over the park and also brings music to the location. More information about the event can be found here. Free admission.

 

Sunday 30.7. On Hara Island in front of Kaivopuisto, a family marine biology hike is organized from 12-3 p.m. The program sounds extremely interesting and comprehensive even to adult ears about marine biology. Have you heard about algae worms or do you know what algae cuts are? Or when have you last caught water lice with a net? To Hara Island, a shuttle ferry leaves from Ullanlinnan Wharf at Kaivopuisto (Ehrenströmintie 3). Round trip ferry ticket costs 5 € for adults, 2 € for children and seniors. Free access to Hara Island and hikes. More information about the Hara Island hike can be found here.

Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fairy School in Espoo in the nearby nature of Villa Elfvik is aimed at the whole family and you can also participate in the Fairy School with a stroller. You’ll need weather-appropriate clothing, small snacks, and plenty of fairy spirit. More information about Fairy School can be found here.

Sunday the Pax Festival brings programming for big and small at Alppipuisto from 1-10 p.m. The Finnish Peace Association’s annual festival is a picnic-style event for the whole family and children have their own concert. More information about the Pax Festival program and event schedule can be found here.

Don't forget these either

This week's museum tip is Päivälehti Museum's "Five Wonderful Treasures" exhibition, which suits summer and is great for small children because of its interactive nature. You can read more about Päivälehti Museum from the third part of Pienten Helsinki's museum series here.

[caption id=“attachment_495” align=“aligncenter” width=“1000”] Päivälehti Museum’s “Five Wonderful Treasures” exhibition.[/caption]

To outdoor excursions with museum scenery you can go to Seurasaari, where in addition to tame squirrels, there are plenty of old buildings, beautiful landscapes, and even swimming spots. Entry to Seurasaari is free, separate admission charged for the museum buildings on the island. More information about Seurasaari can be found here.

Swimming? Kivinokan beach with urban views is nice with children. More about Kivinokas and other child-friendly swimming beaches in Helsinki can be found in Pienten Helsinki’s tip bank.

Summer excursion to Helsinki’s islands? To Pihlajasaari between Lauttasaari and Kaivopuisto you can reach by shuttle ferry from Ruoholahti or from Merisatamanlahti near the Carousel café. Pihlajasaari’s nature and other island activities as well as a wonderful beach are at their peak as a summer excursion destination. At Pihlajasaari you can even fish (bring your own rods). The island has a nice café-restaurant. Round trip ferry costs 7.50 € for adults and 4.50 € for children (7-16 years) and seniors, children under 7 free with adults. More information about Pihlajasaari.

Marine adventures? The Mustasaari Activity Center at Seurasaarenselkä is always a nice destination and the island’s sheep are captivating. Child-friendliness beyond compare. Here you also have a swimming beach and children’s playground, plus a praised Sunday brunch - you have to try this sometime this summer! Entry to the island is free, but round trip ferry from Taivallahti costs 4 € for adults and over 10-year-olds, under 10-year-olds free with an adult. Note that the ferry only accepts cash! More information about Mustasaari can be found here.

To Linnanmäki? This week’s performer at Linnanmäki can be heard from Monday to Sunday with the Rokki-Kokki Duo. Free entertainment for small kids is also available on about ten amusement park rides and in two different play areas. Entry to Linnanmäki’s amusement park area is free. More information at Linnanmäki Amusement Park.

[caption id=“attachment_366” align=“aligncenter” width=“1334”] Linnanmäki fun.[/caption]

Want to play in a sandbox downtown? Helsinki’s downtown Torikorttelit’s small but even more inviting summer courtyard for small and big adventurers can be found in the city hall’s interior courtyard. Here you can build sandcastles! The downtown area also has numerous other playgrounds, and information about these can be found in increasing quantities in Pienten Helsinki’s playground series. Check out what Suomenlinna’s playground looks like.

Have you noticed Pienten Helsinki's new Tip Bank, where tips are collected under different themes for little ones under Helsinki's roofs? You can find the Tip Bank here.

Is an event missing from the list? Suggest it to others as a comment here or by email to [email protected]

Current event information for Helsinki playgrounds should be sent by email or through Pienten Helsinki’s Facebook.