Pienten Helsinki
Find New Year 2023 tips here!
New Year 2022 with Children in Helsinki and the Metropolitan Area
What to do and where to go with children on New Year's Eve? Where are fireworks held? New Year 2022 will be celebrated this year in various atmospheres, as most events have been cancelled. However, fireworks will be held in Helsinki's neighboring municipalities and cities early in the evening, while in Helsinki and Espoo they will be at midnight when the year changes. Pienten Helsinki lists fireworks, as well as tips and ideas for what to do with children on New Year's Eve and during the days between Epiphany.
NOTE! Always verify the latest event information and
any changes from the organizer's website.
New Year's Fireworks 2022
Where can you see New Year's fireworks in Helsinki and the metropolitan area?
Public fireworks displays are organized on New Year's Eve, 31.12.2021, according to current information, at least at:
- Kerava's Aurinkomäki at 6 PM
- Sipoo's Nikkilä in Jokilaakso at 6 PM
- Kirkkonummi town center at the sports park at 6:30 PM
- Järvenpää's Rantapuisto at 7 PM
- Porvoo at the Art Factory square at 7 PM
- Nummela town center at 7 PM
- Espoo's Otaniemi at midnight at 12 AM
- Helsinki's fireworks display will be fired this year when the year changes from three different locations dispersed: from Töölönlahti, Tervasaari, and Malmi. The fireworks will be fired higher than usual so everyone throughout the city can see them.
Additionally, many Helsinki neighborhoods have organized unofficial, resident-organized fireworks during the early evening and evening. More information can be found in your neighborhood's Facebook groups.
For example, in these places residents have previously organized informal community fireworks for families with children around 6-8 PM:
NOTE! This information is from previous years.
- Lauttasaari at Kasinonranta beach area
- Vartioharjussa at Varjakanvalkama near the beach
- Herttoniemi at the cliff at the end of Majavatien
- Arabianranta at Toukola beach park
- Kruunuhaka at Siltavuorenranta
- Kulosaari at Kluuvi Park
Note! Neighborhood joint fireworks are not official events, so each person is responsible for their own fireworks, safety, and waste collection.
Things to Do on New Year's Eve with Children
Helsinki City's Uniko New Year's Watch Party can be watched on Helsinki Channel 31.12.2021-1.1.2022.
Uutelan Star Trail is a different way to celebrate the New Year! Uutelan Star Trail can be experienced on the Uutelan shore route, and this year a mobile map guides visitors to the trail checkpoints, so there are no trail markers in the field. The Uutelan Star Trail starts from the forest path next to Kahvila Kampela and ends at the Niemenapaja cooking shelter, which also has a grilling area (bring your own wood).
In Espoo, the change of year and the beginning of the Espoo 50 celebration year are celebrated with glittering windows at Träskända Manor. The illuminated Träskända Manor delights park visitors until 4.1.2022. On New Year's Eve 31.12.2021, the windows sparkle until late at night (until 1:00 AM). Pienten Helsinki recommends a trip to the magnificent Träskända Manor Park!
Find New Year 2023 tips here!
Things to Do and Experience During New Year and Epiphany
Seurasaari Christmas Trail
At the self-guided Seurasaari Christmas Trail you can go on adventures using checkpoints even during the Christmas holidays. Part of the Seurasaari Christmas Trail can also be experienced virtually.
Fortress Elf Route in Suomenlinna
The Fortress Elf Route in Suomenlinna 27.11.2021-6.1.2022.
The Fortress Elf Route is a self-guided task trail where you can follow the elves' activities in different parts of the winter fortress. Maps and signs guide you to points that each tell stories of the Suomenlinna elves' activities. The route starts from Rantakasarmi tourist information.
Fortress Christmas in Suomenlinna until 6.1.2020.
Uutelan Star Trail
Uutelan Star Trail is ready to be experienced again on the Uutelan shore route! This year a mobile map guides visitors to the trail checkpoints, so there are no trail markers in the field.
To the Library
Libraries remain open despite new restrictions; only library events have been cancelled. More information about library opening hours for New Year and Epiphany can be found on Helmet's website.
Lights in the City
Helsinki's parks, streets, and buildings are illuminated to bring light to the darkness and Christmas atmosphere to the city. Keskuskatu's illuminated Christmas trees, Espa Park's lights and animal figures, Aleksanterinkatu's Christmas street lights and numerous Christmas lights and various Christmas decorations in many shopping centers and their surroundings shine brightly.
Vanhankaupunginkoski Dam is illuminated with LED color lights from August to May. The light color changes according to the seasons (there is no complete certainty about the 2021 lighting).
Lux Korkeasaari takes place 25.12.2021-9.1.2022, when the zoo is open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM. Admission fee applies.
Lux Helsinki takes place throughout the city 5.-9.1.2022. The festival is open daily from 5 PM to 10 PM and admission is free.
Christmas Windows
Large shopping centers have traditionally decorated their Christmas windows in ways that appeal to children. The Christmas classic, Stockmann's fairy tale window in the city center is a wonderful experience this year too, and you can admire the Christmas window through Epiphany at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Keskuskatu. Also, for example, Fazer's Christmas window on Kluuvikatu is worth seeing.
Animals in the City
Haltiala's farm animal enclosure allows you to see farm animals in outdoor pens even during winter. At Falkulla, cattle and horses exercise outdoors weather permitting, usually daily around 10 AM to 2:30 PM, and at Haltiala throughout the day. According to Pienten Helsinki's information, the Haltiala play area is also open. Haltiala's indoor facilities remain closed, and Fallkulla's farm animal enclosure is closed to the public due to the exceptional situation.
Korkeasaari Zoo is open.
Lux Korkeasaari takes place 25.12.2021-9.1.2022, when the zoo is open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM. Admission fee applies.
Also read Pienten Helsinki's Animals in the City article!
Outdoor Activities and Exercise
To the Play Park
Tips for the best play parks and introductions to Helsinki's newest play parks can be found in Pienten Helsinki.
Ice Skating and Skiing
Ice skating? Many Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa artificial and natural ice rinks are open for skating! Ice skating is free this year too. Current information about rink conditions can be found on the Ulkoliikunta.fi service.
Skiing is available in parts of Southern Finland. Current slope information can be found on the Ski.fi service.
Orienteering
Tontturaili children's checkpoints can be found in Maunula 1-31.12.2021.
On the Espoo side Children's checkpoints can be found in Puolarmaari throughout December.
In Espoo flashlight orienteering is organized in Karhusaari Forest on Thursday 30.12.2021 from 3-6 PM.
Adventure in Helsinki
Have you already spotted the new Supercell game characters in Jätkäsaari?
Characters from Supercell games delight visitors at Jätkäsaarenlaituri in front of the game company's headquarters and peek out from the roofs of surrounding buildings at passersby. Near Supercell there are also several nice play parks. More information about other Jätkäsaari attractions can be read in Pienten Helsinki in the previously published Jätkäsaari article.
Uunisaari Island opposite Kaivopuisto has received a bridge connection during winter months, and on the rocky island you can gaze at the horizon and marvel at passing ships and shore waves.
For a self-guided winter trip far away from shopping center Christmas crowds, it's worth heading out on, for example, wooden walkways to Lammassaari, to Suomenlinna Fortress, to the serenity of Kruunuvuorenlamma, or to Kivinokka trails. More tips for Helsinki adventures can be found in Pienten Helsinki's Helsinki Places article.
Explore the Local Area
You can hike even at Christmas! Sipoonkorpi, Nuuksio, Luukki and Talosaari are wonderful hiking destinations even in winter. Pack snacks and wear warm clothes!
From Sipoonkorpi you can find, for example, the easy-to-walk Tasakallio - Storträsk route and the Byabäcken nature trail, formerly known as the Punu Heritage Post route, which leads to a grilling area and a hut for warming up. Tip from experience: with small children, the Byabäcken route is best done from the beginning to the grilling area and returning via the same route rather than making a full loop. The grilling area usually has plenty of ready firewood, so bring matches and snacks.
Also worth trying is the route from Kuusijärvi to Sipoonkorpi and experience a new bridge connection to the national park.
New and interesting hiking destinations can also be found in Uusimaa Recreation Area Association's locations.
Also remember Pienten Suomi's travel tips map, where you can find suitable destination tips for winter as well! Pienten Suomi is Pienten Helsinki's little sister, suggesting things to do and experience throughout Finland. It also includes plenty of tips for the local area and day trips as well as a large list of the best play parks throughout Finland!
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