Helsinki hosts Nat´l Parade on Flag Day

The national parade on the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces will be held in Helsinki on Saturday, said the Finnish Defence Force.

Along the review of troops and pass in review, the programme will also include an equipment display, and the Finnish Defence Forces’ summer tour concert, among others.

Themed Readiness at all times – Finnish Defence Forces as a safeguard for Finland, the parade will be participated by units from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, National Defence University, Finnish Border Guard, as well as representatives from national veterans’ and national defence associations.

Altogether, the parade will be attended by up to more than 1,600 personnel, over 40 vehicles and 15 aircraft, as well as an inter-agency canine detachment.

The parade will be reviewed by President Sauli Niinistö accompanied by Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, General Timo Kivinen.

The field devotional will be given by Field Bishop Pekka Särkiö, and the parade troops will be commanded by Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki.

The review of troops will be held at the Senate Square at 12:00 o’clock with the units aligning to position at the Senate Square from 11:15 onwards.

The review of troops will also include the vehicles of the pass in review with mounted crew. The vehicles assumed position at the Senate Square on Friday evening.

The pass in review will start at 13:30 on Mannerheimintie with its start line at the intersection of Simonkatu – Kaivokatu to advance in the direction of Musiikkitalo. The review site for the pass in review will be in front of Musiikkitalo.

The parade event will also include, for the first time, a new pre-series armoured 6x6 personnel carrier recently procured for the Army.

The pass in review will also be attended by an inter-agency canine detachment. The flypasts of the pass in review will include Army NH90 transport helicopters, and Hughes MD500 light helos, as well as FiAF Hornet multirole fighters, and Hawk jet trainers. The flypasts will cause noise above the Helsinki area.

At Kansalaistori, an equipment display by the Finnish Defence Forces and other agencies will be available all day with opportunity for familiarisation with the equipment featured in the pass in review.

At the South Harbour, Navy vessels as well as other agencies’ vessels, boats and relating equipment will be on display.

At Kansalaistori Square, the day will culminate in the Finnish Defence Forces’ summer tour concert featuring the Air Force Big Band with Heikki Silvennoinen as the soloist, the Guard’s Combo with Souls of Women as the soloist, as well as the Show Band of the Finnish Defence Forces’ Conscript Band.

The parade arrangements will be the responsibility of the Guard Jaeger Regiment. The parade will be moderated by presenter, YouTuber Jalmafi, Second Lieutenant (Res.) Jalmari Karvinen.

The Parade will affect traffic control arrangements considerably in the city centre.

People are advised to avoid moving by vehicle in the city centre during the parade events since part of the streets and adjoining areas will be reserved for the parade.