The best summer events in Finland – spending tips for July

Festival summer in full swing

The Finnish summer is full of interesting festivals, which bring foreign stars and domestic hits to the stage. Classics on the July festival calendar include Ruisrock, Ilosaarirock and Pori Jazz. There are also smaller festivals in almost every municipality – just choose the one you like!

4.–6.7. Jysäri, Jämsä
4.–6.7. Rantajamit, Lohja
5.–6.7. Madfest, Iisalmi
5.–6.7. Wanaja Festival, Hämeenlinna
5.–6.7. Tuhdimmat Tahdit, Tampere
5.–7.7. Ruisrock, Turku
6.7. Park blues, Järvenpää
12.–20.7. Jazz Pores, Pores

11.–13.7. Suomipop festival, Jyväskylä
11.–13.7. Suomipop festival, Oulu
12.–13.7. Suonenjoki Strawberry Carnival, Suonenjokii
12.–14.7. Ilosaarirock, Joensuu
18.–20.7. Tikkurila Festival, Vantaa
18.–20.7. Tamperfest, Tampere
18.–20.7. Race & Rock, Seinäjoki
19.–20.7. Slot Festival, Turku
19.–20.7. Karjurock, Uusikaupunki
19.–20.7. Riot Festival, Hämeenlinna
19.–20.7. Twin City Festival, Tornio
19.–27.7. Rockoff Festival, Åland
25.–27.7. Kuopiorock, Kuopio
25.–27.7. Down By the Laituri, Turku
25.–27.7. Raahe Rantajatsit, Raahe
26.–27.7. Qstock, Oulu
26.–27.7. Jytäkesä Go-Go, Helsinki
27.7. Karmarock, Harjavalta

Music, art and city parties for every taste

In addition to festivals, the streets and cities of Finland are filled with various city events and music parties in July. Seinäjoki’s traditional Tango Market and Savonlinna’s Opera Festival are annual events familiar to many, but in addition to them, you can enjoy music festivals in Valkeakoski and Joroin, for example. The Närpiö Tomato Carnival is also worth experiencing, if you happen to be nearby.

1.6.–14.9. Allas Live gigs, Helsinki
16.6.–31.8. Mänttä Art Weeks, Mänttä
3.–5.7. Backas Puistokeikat, Vantaa
3.–6.7. Tomato carnival, Närpiö
3.–6.7. Hauho Music Festival, Hämeenlinna
3.–9.7. Jyväskylä summer, Jyväskylä
5.7.–4.8. Savonlinna Opera Festival, Savonlinna
5.–6.7. Tavastia Truck Weekend, Hämeenlinna
5.–7.7. Hanko Regatta, Hanko
6.–7.7. Joutsa’s idle days, Joutsa
8.–14.7. Kemiönsaari Music Festival, Kemiö
8.–14.7. Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Kaustinen

Risto Savolainen

10.–14.7. Seinäjoki Tango market, Seinäjoki
11.–14.7. Heinävesi music days
17.–21.7. Sastamala Gregoriana – Days of Old Music, Sastamala
12.–13.7. Bättre Folk cultural festival, Hailuoto
12.–13.7. Kangasala Fest – Wine, Food & Music
12.–14.7. What’s what’s what’s festival, Urjala
12.7. and 26.7. New Tampere city festival, Tampere
19.–28.7. Joroinen Music Days, Joroinen
22.–27.7. Siilifolk, Lake Siilinjärvi
22.–28.7. Hailuoto music days, Hailuoto
24.–27.7. Kotka Meripäivät, Kotka
25.–28.7. Tyovvaen Music Event, Valkeakoski
24.–28.7. Lemi Music Festival, Lemi
26.–28.7. City jazz, Hämeenlinna
26.–28.7. Salo Circus Festival, Salo
28.7–1.8. Black & White Theatre Festival, Imatra

Events for all ages

Many festivals require an age of 18, but there are also many events that the whole family can participate in. Joensuu’s Ilovaarirock invites even older festival-goers to a musical nostalgia trip. Summer theater performances suitable for children can be attended by the whole family.

25.6.–30.7. Children’s summer workshop on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Korsmani talo, Pori
3.7. Hayhattu, Vilttitsusu and Pamela-täti summer theater premiere, Riihimäki
3.–6.7. Children’s summer, Jyväskylä
5.–6.7. Ilovaarirock, Joensuu
6.7. The premiere of the summer theater “Miina and the furry friend”, Nurmes
12.7. Limuset, Iisalmi
12.7. Peter Pan summer theater premiere, Nurmijärvi
12.7. Premiere of the Ronja Ryövärintytär summer theater, Valkeala
14.7. Tatu ja Patu pihalla summer theater premiere, Tampere
20.7. Mukulafest, Rauma
20.7. Summer event at Korttia, Askola

Domestic oddities

Finland is known around the world for many specialties, which also includes the World Championships in euconry. The world champion of this special sport will emerge again in July.

In Vesanno, Reiskat is pulled on and football is played for the World Cup title, while in Pudasjärvi, you can ski in the High-heeled flower dress mudskiing. In addition to these special events, St. Michel Ravit is organized in Mikkeli and bog kickball is played in Hyrynsalmi.

Eukonkanton’s World Cup competitions

5.–6.7. Eukonkanton World Championships, Sonkajärvi
4.–7.7. Imatranajo, Imatra
12.–13.7. Swamp Soccer World Championships, Hyrynsalmi
13.7. High-heeled floral dress swamp skiing, Pudasjärvi
13.–14.7. St. Michel Ravit, Mikkeli
18.–20.7. Reiska-MM, Vesanto
26.–27.7. Volleyball World Championships, Haukivuori
29.7. and 3.8. Mölkyn SM-Neluri, Lahti

The summer theater has an atmosphere

Many summer theater shows premiered already in June, but there are still plenty of new things to watch. We collected some July premieres below.

In Pälkäne, Rekkamies, which tells the story of Matti Esko’s life, will be seen in the premiere. A mind-wrecker is staying in Tampere, in Orimattila you can get into the atmosphere of Agatha Christie’s detective story and in Jyväskylä you will see the musical Heathers for the first time in Finland.

29.6. My wife is another country premiere of the summer theater, Raasepori
3.7. The premiere of the summer theater next to Nuoti, Kiuruvesi
4.7. Happy times, Mielensäpahoittä summer theater premiere, Tampere
4.7. Rekkamies summer theater premiere, Pälkäne
4.–6.7. Emergency wedding day summer theater, Puumala
5.7. In 1985, the premiere of the Remix summer theater, Nakkila
6.7. Tootsie – the unbeatable lyyl summer theater premiere, Seinäjoki
6.7. Kuolema Niililla summer theater premiere, Orimattila
6.7. Kellokoski’s princess summer theater premiere, Salo
7.7. Premiere of Kulkurin walssi summer theater, Ristiina
12.7. Midsummer dances summer theater premiere, Lieto
14.7. Fiddler on the Roof summer theater premiere, Pyhäranta
19.7. Heathers summer theater premiere, Jyväskylä
20.7. The premiere of the Do you want to be a cottager summer theater, Kalajoki?

For thirsty revelers

In July, beer and wine lovers are spoiled with various events. At Kuopio’s wine festivals, you don’t just enjoy food and wine, because the domestic artistry also offers entertainment. Beer can be tasted in Lahti, Iisalmi and Helsinki as well.

28.6.–6.7. Kuopio Wine Festival, Kuopio
4.–6.7. Large Beers Small Breweries, Lahti
12.–13.7. Beers, Iisalmi
17.–20.7. Big Beers Small Breweries, Helsinki
26.–27.7. Kokkola Wine Festival, Kokkola
26.–27.7. Espoo Wine Festival, Espoo

Ella is a freelance writer for whom travel is a passion and a way of life.
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