Helsinki marks holiday end with cultural events around transport stops

The surroundings of the tram and metro stops in the centre of Helsinki and the Helsinki Central Railway Station will be transformed into stages, gig spots and street theatres to delight people on the first day of school on Thursday.

The performances will be held between 7.30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m., said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Monday.

The programme includes performances in the vicinity of the Lasipalatsi, Vanha Ylioppilastalo (Old Student House), Mikonkatu, Aleksanterinkatu, Senaatintori (Senate Square), Johanneksenkirkko (St. John’s Church), Kampintori, Fredrikinkatu, Erottaja and Central Railway Station tram stops.

In addition to this, performances will take place in the platform area of the Helsinki Central Railway Station, on the upper level of the metro entrance in Citycenter, in the Opintoputki tunnel at the University of Helsinki metro station and in the central circle of the Kamppi shopping centre.

In the morning, the street theatre performance group Orkestar Strada will perform a piece featuring masque, clowns, music and dance in front of Lasipalatsi. Freestyle rap will be performed in Senate Square, on Aleksanterinkatu and in Kampintori Square. Violin duo Suvi Oskala and Emilia Lajunen will delight the audience with danceable songs at the Old Student House.

In the afternoon, Timo Brass Band will be moving between the Mikonkatu and Railway Station tram stops. FIMU’s salsa pairs will put on a dance show in the platform area of the Helsinki Central Railway Station.

Fauna Humana’s “human animals” will be messing about and charming people in the Kamppi shopping centre in the morning. The programme also includes a recitation by Mirjami Heikkinen and music played by DJ Ipalipa.

The event is organised with separate coronavirus recovery funding, which aims to revitalise the centre of Helsinki and support the employment of freelancers in the cultural sector.

The event is produced by the City of Helsinki in partnership with Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (Helsingin seudun liikenne – HSL).

Citycenter, Kamppi Helsinki, Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd and VR are involved in making the event possible.

The event is subject to weather conditions.