Events for the second week of August

Updated 11.8.2017

What suitable activities for children can be found in Helsinki? Where to go with small children on weekends? What to do on a rainy day? Small Helsinki’s weekly series looks for activity tips and suggests child-friendly places in Helsinki and the surrounding area.

The start of school brings routine back after summer holidays and with it, for example, the final playgrounds and family centers open after the break. At the same time, many summer activities have only a few weeks left open: Mustasaari closes for the summer on August 20, 2017, Fallkullan farm animal facility takes a break in August and prepares for autumn, the summer theater productions will be seen in the coming weeks. On the flip side, library story hours and many parent-child groups start and bring structure to the week. Swimming pools that have been closed for summer are also opening.

Now is also a good time to visit playgrounds and share ideas about the autumn program. Don’t be shy to tug the staff’s sleeve—the playgrounds work for the children. As the autumn program is still being finalized, playground program information has been extremely difficult to find for this week.

Registrations for various hobbies also begin in the second week of August. For example, the Workers’ Institute course registration begins in stages on August 9, 2017 at 11:00. More information here.

MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2017

Events: Puistola library's story hour starts on Monday at 10:00.

The children’s traffic city summer season continues from Monday to Wednesday, August 7-9, 9:00-15:00 as family days. The traffic city is open to children of all ages with their parents during family days. More information about the event here.

Playground: Playground Linnunrata has summer animals living in the playground for the second week of August.

Tip: Pikku-Aurora Summer Courtyard is open until Wednesday, August 9, so there’s still time to enjoy this charming children’s cultural center in Espoo.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2017

Event: The children's traffic city summer season continues from Monday to Wednesday, August 7-9, 9:00-15:00 as family days. The traffic city is open to children of all ages with their parents during family days. More information about the event here.

Playground: Playground Arabia offers expectant mothers and future fathers Masumusa music for the baby at 15:00. More information about Masumusa here.

Tip: A police boat, icebreaker, submarine, museum streetcar, tractors, cranes… These and much more can be spotted around Helsinki. Read the tips here.

[caption id=“attachment_948” align=“aligncenter” width=“2000”] You can also spot museum streetcars in Helsinki.[/caption]

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2017

Events: Käpylä library story hour starts on Wednesday at 10:00.

The children’s traffic city summer season continues from Monday to Wednesday, August 7-9, 9:00-15:00 as family days. The traffic city is open to children of all ages with their parents during family days. More information about the event here.

The swimming stadium is taken over by red-nosed clowns and the Absolutely Hilarious Clown Jump Show on Wednesday from 18:00-20:00. Tickets €5, children under 3 free. More information about the event

Playgrounds: Playground Linja celebrates the end of summer on Wednesday starting at 10:30. Check out what playground Linja is like. Playground Myllynsiipi offers autumn clothing shopping with Nosh vouchers. Check out here what playground Myllynsiipi is like.

Tip: Market Courtyards summer courtyard in the city hall courtyard is also open in August! Entrance from Katariina Street and Sofia Street.

[caption id=“attachment_60” align=“aligncenter” width=“828”] Market Courtyards summer courtyard.[/caption]

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2017

Event: Pukinmäki library story hour starts at 10:00.

Tip: Schools are starting and as a result, Töölönlahti playground is quiet at least in the morning. So go climbing, spinning on the carousel, and swinging on the monkey swing! The park is a good place for three to four-year-olds and up, and there’s a small playground in Töölönlahti for the very little ones. The adjacent Finlandia Hall ground floor café or the Music Center are good snack spots, both have a working childcare room and plenty of space for strollers ;)

[caption id=“attachment_945” align=“aligncenter” width=“2000”] Töölönlahti playground.[/caption]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

Tip: Friday is library day! Have you visited the wonderful Nordic Library and especially its children's section? Here you can play, read, and draw in a world of your own. Library book borrowing is possible with the Nordic Library's own card, which you can get on the same visit. The selection of books, films, and magazines for both children and adults is excellent and of high quality! Books and other materials are available in all Nordic languages. The library is located on Kaisaniemenkatu Street, right above the University of Helsinki metro station.

[caption id=“attachment_950” align=“aligncenter” width=“960”] Adults also enjoy the children’s section of the Nordic Library.[/caption]

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

Events:

A secret garden takes over Senate Square on the Night of the Arts, but before that you need to prepare to decorate the garden’s mysterious atmosphere and everyone can participate! The street lamps surrounding Senate Square get a new look as giant flowers stretching over the garden. Plants are prepared in workshops together. The first workshop is held on Saturday at Sanoma House from 12:00-15:00. The workshops are suitable for the whole family and entry is free. Read more about the Secret Garden here.

Children’s Saturday is celebrated at Library 10 on Saturday from 12:00-14:00. The program includes animal-themed activities. Suitable for children of all ages. More information about the event can be found here.

On Children’s Saturday at Etno-Espa, Freija takes the stage at 14:00 and FlipFlop at 15:00. Etno-Espa brings a diverse range of feel-good music for everyone to enjoy right in the city center with no admission fee. Read more about Etno-Espa here.

On Saturday, you can also run the Mini Marathon at the Zoo field. More information about the event can be found here. Participation is paid.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017

Events:

Family Fall Kick-Off at Laajasalo Elementary School yard on Sunday from 11:00-14:00 raises funds for children’s safer school days. The Fall Kick-Off features diverse programming for the whole family and sells delicacies. Sports equipment flea market. Police are also present to talk about safety. More information about the event.

Vallila August celebrations are held on Sunday from 13:00-16:00 at Vallila urban garden. Programming for small and big, garden produce and other delicacies for sale as well as raffles. More information about the event can be found here.

Family-friendly nature hike Adventures in the Forest at Villa Elfvik surroundings in Espoo is organized again on Sunday from 10:30-12:30. A nature hike on children’s terms suitable for the whole family. Bring some snacks! More information about Villa Elfvik nature hikes here.

Port Festivities (12:00-19:00) are held at Jätkäsaari for the second time. At the Children’s Port Festivities from 14:00-16:00, the program includes among other things Giggling Kakkiainen (14:30), Ville Viking, fishing, and a workshop. More information about Port Festivities here.

[caption id=“attachment_731” align=“aligncenter” width=“3024”] Port Festivities are held at Jätkäsaari.[/caption]

Flow Festival’s opening afternoon on Sunday, August 13, from 13:00-17:00 can be enjoyed with a child under 10 accompanied by a paying adult. Programming for the family’s youngest is arranged at the Suvilahti festival area before the rest of the festival area opens. Paid. More information about the event.

Also remember these:

Pikku Kakkonen Anniversary Exhibition at Annantalo continues until the end of August. Open daily according to Annantalo's opening hours. See what the exhibition looks like here.

[caption id=“attachment_894” align=“aligncenter” width=“1334”] At the Pikku Kakkonen Anniversary Exhibition.[/caption]

Mini-Finland Adventure at Seurasaari continues until August 13 and is open daily from 11:00-17:00. The adventure takes you on a research trip to Finland in miniature. The buildings of Seurasaari contain fun tasks, such as playing the kantele and carding wool, and stamps are collected in maps for completing tasks. The event is suitable for the whole family. You can also explore the summery Seurasaari on your own. More information about the event can be found here. Admission with museum ticket, children under 7 free with an adult.

Etno-Espa takes over the Espa stage from August 7-16, 2017 and brings a diverse range of feel-good music for everyone to enjoy every day. Children’s Saturdays are celebrated on August 12. Read more about Etno-Espa’s program here.

Floral Helsinki 2017 fills the Music Center with flowers and flower arranging from August 10-13, 2017. At the event you can watch flower arranging live and see competitions in the field. Free entry. More information about the event can be found here. (This event tip is primarily for parents, but perhaps you could combine it with a Töölönlahti park visit so everyone has fun?)

[caption id=“attachment_919” align=“aligncenter” width=“960”] Flora Helsinki 2017 brings flower splendor to the Music Center.[/caption]

Linnanmäki amusement park features Riesa-Pelle as the week’s performer. Performances daily from Monday to Sunday. More detailed information on Linnanmäki’s pages. Free entry.

EasySport Days Monday to Wednesday, August 7-9, 2017 at Liikuntamylly in Myllypuro. Diverse sports with Liikuntamylly’s entrance fee. Primarily intended for school-age children, but a kindergartener can also exercise here with an older sibling. More information here.

Small Helsinki's August-September upcoming events list: Events for little ones under Helsinki's roofs, autumn 2017