Helsinki Christmas Market opens on Dec 6

The Helsinki Christmas Market will be held at the Senate Square on December 6 to December 22, with 72 domestic craft professionals and small producers as well as 12 restaurants and other food vendors taking part.

Visitors will again be entertained with a carousel placed at the centre of the market, said the City of Helsinki in a press release.

The opening day’s programme on 6 December includes joint signing and crafts.

The most beloved Christmas songs, sung from 2.00pm onwards on the opening day will be interpreted into sign language. On weekends, Santa Claus will personally collect last-minute Christmas gift requests from visitors. There will be a bingo, in which the prize is a vegetarian Christmas ham, and Christmas karaoke by Singa. Tori Quarters will offer mulled Christmas wine Glögi hopping and Christmas tree orienteering.

The product and food vendors of thee Helsinki Christmas Market have been selected considering their responsible production and operating methods. The Helsinki Christmas Market offers sustainable alternatives to mass-produced gifts and decorative items.

The market’s vendors comprise small local producers and providers as well as producers of regional specialties such as honey produced locally in Helsinki neighbourhoods, traditional Finnish fish pasties and other delicacies from the Finnish province of South Savo, fish products from the Åland Islands, and cheeses.

The Finnish Red Cross Container offers a variety of recycled goods as gifts for visitors to choose from for their loved ones. The gifts can also be wrapped at the container. The proceeds go to the Finnish Red Cross disaster fund. Helsinki Christmas Market vendors can also donate their surplus goods to the Hursti charity, which benefits local people in need. In addition to their Christmas shopping, Helsinki Christmas Market customers can also buy gifts from the market to be passed on to low-income families.

The heart of Helsinki Christmas Market is the market’s cosy culinary section. On offer will be hot drinks, traditional Christmas delicacies and new items from first-rate Helsinki restaurants.

In addition to organic and local foods, catering services focus on vegetarian and vegan options. The market seeks to minimise food waste, and surplus food can be salvaged with the ResQ Club app.

The Helsinki Christmas Market emphasises recycling and ecological values. The event fights food waste, fosters charitable activities, supports local producers, and promotes responsible Christmas gifts. The market is accessible.