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What to do on May Day in Helsinki with children?
What to do and where to go with children on May Day 2023 in Helsinki and the metropolitan area?
May Day, celebrated as the festival of spring and for workers and students, is celebrated on Monday, May 1st, 2023. Spring events and May Day traditions can be experienced already on May Eve, Sunday, April 30th, 2023. Little Helsinki lists May Day events and tips for celebrating May Day with children in Helsinki and the surrounding area.
Happy May Day!
Events before May Day
Albert's Living Room May Day Party (Albertinkatu 33) on Thursday, April 27th, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
MLL's May Day Rumpus at Ruoholahti playground on Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Free entry.
Espoo: ETKOT! May Festival! At Children's Cultural Center Aurora on Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Pihlajamäki May Day Party on Friday, April 28th, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Pihlajamäki Youth Center.
Playground Loru's May Day Party (Central Library Oodi, Töölönlahdenkatu 4) at Oodi's Maija Hall on Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Linnanmäki Amusement Park opens on April 28th, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. Free entry, some rides for small children are free but otherwise rides are paid.
MLL Kontula's May Day Carnival at Kontulankaari 24 on Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free entry.
May Day Floats at Malmi Primary School's Kesälä branch (Silkokuja 7) on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free entry.
Spring Spinning at Puistola's Corner (Nurkkatie 2) on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free entry.
A Bit Wilder May Day Disco - May Kids Disco for Children and the Young at Heart at Stoa's small hall (Turunlinnantie 1) on Saturday, April 29th, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. At this wilder May Day disco, you'll groove to DJ Lazy Jake's rhythm with disco, funk, and soul beats. This is a dance invitation for little ones and older children who enjoy all kinds of music. You can use the full dance floor of Stoa's music hall to get a bit wilder with your May Day celebration, alone or with your whole family or group together. At the event, you can also get into the May Day spirit by dressing up appropriately. Restaurant Skutta will serve the best May Day treats. Free entry.
Libraries and the city's playgrounds will hold May Day parties and other themed activities during the week before May Day. For more information, see the libraries' and playgrounds' own Facebook pages or the Helsinki City Event Calendar.
Little Helsinki's Where This Week article suggests daily tips for May Day week!
May Eve Events on Sunday, April 30th, 2023
Vantaa: Tikkurila May Day Markets from Saturday to Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Uutela Hut is open on May Eve, April 30th, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your own things to grill, you'll arrive ready at the hut.
Tuusula: Spring Carnival at Tuusula Sports Center on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free entry.
Espoo: May Festival! at Children's Cultural Center Aurora on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets from 12 €. Also featuring PlayCafe Park!
Vallila May Day Dances at Hartola Park on Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Free entry.
Beaver Washing and Hat Ceremony on May Eve in old Herttoniemi (corner of Majavatien and Hiihtomäentien) at 5:30 p.m. The event is organized by the Beaver Collective.
Havis Amanda Statue, or Manta Gets Her Hat at the Market Square on Sunday, May Eve, April 30th, 2023 at 6 p.m. The statue washing begins at 5 p.m. This year, the Aalto University Student Union is in charge of the hat ceremony. Expect crowds! After May Day, the Havis Amanda statue will be moved for restoration.
You can watch the Havis Amanda hat ceremony and other May Day atmosphere also via Yle Areena!
Linnanmäki Amusement Park summer season has begun! Free entry, some rides for small children are free but otherwise rides are mostly paid.
What if it rains on May Day? Ideas for rainy May Days with children can be found at Little Helsinki!
May Day Events on Monday, May 1st, 2022
May Day at home on the couch: Little Kacci's Masquerade Concert can be seen on Little Kacci on May Day, May 1st at 9:10 a.m. and it will be available on Yle Areena.
The Student Union Singers' Traditional May Day Greeting on Ullanlinnamäki on Monday, May 1st, 2023 at 9 a.m. You can also follow the broadcast on Yle Areena.
Vantaa: Tikkurila May Day Markets from Saturday to Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vantaa: MLL Aviapolis Families' May Day Party at Kartanonkoski School on May Day, May 1st, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nearby, there's Illenpuisto playground, which is familiar from the Risto Räppää movie!
Hyvinkää: Hyvinkää May Day is celebrated around Hyvinkää's market square on May Day, May 1st, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pro Bobo collaboration with Symbioosi Association!
May Day Shockelo at the Kumpula Botanical Garden (Jyrängöntie 2) on May Day, May 1st, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets 4 € (children) and 2 € (adults), lap babies free. Also featuring PlayCafe Park!
Kangaroo Fun at Helsinki Workers' May Day Event at Kansalaistori on May Day, May 1st, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. Free entry.
Myllypuro MLL's May Day Rumpus at playground Myllynsiivessä on May Day, May 1st, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free entry.
Linnanmäki Amusement Park summer season has begun! Free entry, some rides for small children are free but otherwise rides are mostly paid.
What if it rains on May Day? Ideas for rainy May Days with children can be found at Little Helsinki!
After May Day! On Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, WWF's cleanup event will be held in Kaivopuisto from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., open to all.
Picnic Spots
For a picnic! Kaivopuisto and Kaisanimenpuisto are May Day classics for picnicking, but this year you could try another of Helsinki's parks for your May Day picnic: Meilahti rose garden, Herttoniemi or Stansviken manor park, Tullisaari in Laajasalo, Mustikkamaa, Seurasaari or Lauttasaari's rocky shores are excellent alternatives.
For a nature picnic, you can head to places like Uutela, Kruunuvuorenlammella, Kivinokka, Lammassaari, or Kuusiluoto.
On the Espoo side, for example, the Villa Elfvik area, Marketa Park with picnic tables and Träskanda manor park are wonderful places.
More inspiration for destinations can be found in Little Helsinki's Helsinki Places article.
What Should We Do?
You still need to play on May Day! Tips for the best playgrounds as well as introductions to the newest playgrounds can be found on Little Helsinki. One of Helsinki's newest playgrounds is actually located at Kruunuvuorenranta!
What Should We Do Today? Little Helsinki's latest article suggests twenty easy and free destinations in Helsinki with children.
Explore Helsinki articles have ideas for things to do in Helsinki!
Also remember: Little Finland - over 700 reasons to travel in Finland with children!
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