Pienten Helsinki
May Day events for children in Helsinki
May Day, celebrating spring, workers, and students, is celebrated on Wednesday, May 1st, 2019. Spring events are held starting on May Eve, April 30th, 2019. Little Helsinki lists May Day events and tips for celebrating with children in Helsinki and the surrounding area. The list is updated, so you can also suggest your own event to the list (mari (a) pientenhelsinki.fi).
Secret tip! The cherry trees at Roihuvuori cherry park and Roihuvuori Japanese-style garden will burst into delicate pink blossoms any moment now. So Roihuvuori cherry parks are actually great excursion destinations or picnic spots for May Day celebrations in the coming days, here's a secret tip for you!
Monday, April 29th, 2019
Traditional May Day concert and procession at Lahdenlahti playground on Friday at 9:30-10:30. Check the procession starting point and more details about the event on the playground's Facebook page.
MLL Ruoholahti-Jätkäsaari May Day party at Ruoholahti playground on Monday at 4-6 p.m. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Many playgrounds organize May Day celebrations and other themed activities. For more information, check your local playground's Facebook page or Helsinki's city event calendar.
May Eve Tuesday, April 30th, 2019
What if it rains on May Day? Find Little Helsinki's tips for a rainy May Day here!
Many playgrounds organize May Day celebrations and other themed activities. For more information, check your local playground's Facebook page or Helsinki's city event calendar.
Linnunrata playground May Day celebration on May Eve at 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Maunula playground Family May Day on Tuesday at 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Linnanmäki amusement park is open on May Eve from 1 p.m.-9 p.m. and features children's May Day program and Opening Carnival atmosphere. Linturi entry is free.
Pihlaksen Vappu 2019 on May Eve at Pihlajamäki youth center from 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Activities and entertainment for all ages. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Family tradition May Day park at Säätytalo park (Ritarikatu 9) in Kruununhaka on May Eve from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Balloons and May Day treats for sale, children's concert program (4:30 p.m.), dancing and DJ, face painting, pony riding, and much more. The event is organized by the Vironniemi daycare support association. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Espoo: Vappunen! festival at Pikku-Aurora children's culture center on Tuesday from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Read more on the event's Facebook page. Tickets €5, children under 2 free. NOTE! Be quick getting tickets, as the evening's main performer is the Pikku Pappu orchestra!
Vallila May Day dances 2019 at Hartola park on Inarintie on May Eve from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free entry and suitable for all ages. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
According to rumor, the old Herttoniemi Beaver Statue will be crowned with great ceremony on May Eve starting at 5:30 p.m. (Hiihtomäentie 32).
Havis Amanda statue will be crowned on Tuesday, May Eve, at 6 p.m. The statue washing begins at 5 p.m. This year, Aalto University Student Union is in charge of the crowning. Expect crowds! Read more on the event's Facebook page.
May Day Wednesday, May 1st, 2019
What if it rains on May Day? Find Little Helsinki's tips for a rainy May Day here!
Vantaa: MLL Aviapoliksen Children's traditional May Day event at Illenpark on Wednesday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Illenpark is familiar from the Risto Räppää film and offers lots of fun programs for the whole family. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Fallkullan farm is open on May Day from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Read more on Fallkullan's Facebook page. Entry to the farm is free.
Children's May Day spectacle 2019 at Kumpula botanical garden on May Day Wednesday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This year's Children's May Day spectacle explores the Ice Age world. Tickets €4/€2. Read more on the event's website.
Helsinki Workers' May Day celebration at Railway Square has programs for children on May Day from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Vantaa: Vaarala May Day on May Day from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. The event features performances by the Kangaroo Bunch duo and Magic Petteri, among others. More information on the event's Facebook page.
May Day celebrations at Myllynsiivet playground in Myllypuro on May Day from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Fun activities for little ones in the playground environment. The event is organized by MLL's Myllypuro association. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Children's May Day! event at Kuukivi theater in Laajasalo on May Day from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Tickets €5 for children, children under 1 year and adults free. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Linnanmäki amusement park is open from 1 p.m.-9 p.m. The amusement park hosts Opening Carnivals and the carnival program can be found on Linnanmäki's website.
Children's May Day Carousels at Traktori playground in Malmi on May Day from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Hyvinkää: Hyvinkää May Day event in Hyvinkää city center on Wednesday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The program includes large May Day markets, communal picnics around tables, and hobby vehicle May Day Cruising, plus other programs. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Many cafés and restaurants also serve on May Day, so it's worth asking about reservation slots, especially outside the city center. At least Kahvila Puhuri (open on May Day from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.) and Puhvetti (open on May Day from 12 p.m.-5 p.m.) in Lauttasaari, Cafe Monami at Rastilanmäki Manor, and Kahvila Kampela in Vuosaari's Aurokinlahti are open without reservations. Restaurant Stansvik's café in Laajasalo serves without reservations (brunch fully booked) and in Arabianranta Kaffila Bokvillani celebrates May Day.
Other ideas for celebrating May Eve and May Day with families
Finnish Nature Center Haltia in Nuuksio, Espoo, is open on May Day from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. You can grill your own picnic food in the yard shelter as a May Day picnic. Admission charge for exhibitions, museum card accepted!
For picnicking: Kaivopuisto, Tähtitorninmäki, and Kaisaniemenpuisto fill up with May Day celebrants, so with small children you can head to places like Lenininpark next to Linnanmäki, Koffin park, Mustikkamaa rocks, Stansvik manor park, or the Lauttasaari south end outdoor area. Herttoniemi manor park, Seurasaari, or Tervasaari also work. For peaceful May Day picnicking in nature, you can visit Uutela, Kallvik, and Sipoonkorpi National Park's Ponun perinnepostia nature trail.
Linnanmäki opens its gates on Friday, April 27th, 2019 at 4 p.m., and this year too, entry to the amusement park is free. The youngest can ride some park rides for free. During May Day, Linnanmäki hosts Opening Carnivals and the carnival program will be updated soon on Linnanmäki's website.
Korkeasaari as May Day tradition and eating packed lunches at the island shelter? This is possible too, as Korkeasaari Zoo is open on May Day. Ferry service to Korkeasaari begins from Market Square on May Day May 1st, 2019. Admission charge.
TIP: Helsinki's places are child-friendly Helsinki gems with lots of insider tips and the beginning of a directory of Helsinki locations. Maybe you'll find different activities for May Day from these places?
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