Finland’s centenary of independence kicks off on New Year’s Eve in Helsinki

New Year's Eve, December 31st 2016 marks the commencement of Finland's 100 years of independence celebrations. The main event of the “Finland 100” grand opening is in Helsinki, in the heart of the capital city, at the Töölönlahti Bay and Kansalaistori Square. Celebrations will reach its climax at midnight with a great firework show. The Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle will broadcast the opening day’s atmosphere live to the whole of Finland. All Finns and friends of Finland are invited to be part of this historic moment, opening the independence centenary together.

“This year the New Year’s Eve is genuinely historic: Finland’s independence jubilee year begins in the heart of the republic at the Töölönlahti Bay in Helsinki with events and programme especially planned for the centenary year opening,” says Pekka Timonen, General Secretary for the centenary committee.

“The grand opening marks the beginning of the most remarkable anniversary of our generation. Finns and friends of Finland have built an enormous centenary programme which entails more than 2,000 different projects. The centenary celebrations reach even beyond Finland’s borders: the big year is celebrated in 70 different countries,” Timonen continues. 

Finland is going to celebrate its independence centenary throughout 2017 in Finland and abroad. Thousands of projects, good deeds, resolutions and events will be held in its name. In addition to the grand opening ceremony in Helsinki, the centenary year is celebrated in festive atmosphere all over the country.   

Finland 100 block party

Instead of celebrating the New Year’s Eve at Senate Square in Helsinki, the festivities take place around Töölönlahti Bay and Kansalaistori Square. Finland 100, The City of Helsinki, The Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle and local organisers around Töölönlahti Bay and Kansalaistori Square create co-operatively an all-day celebration, which entails numerous events offering something for everyone of all ages. The opening party will reach its climax at midnight at Kansalaistori Square and Mannerheimintie. Due to the giant Finland 100 block party, part of Helsinki’s main road, Mannerheimintie will be closed in both directions to all traffic from Kiasma to Finnish National Opera and Ballet from 8 pm onwards.

The Finnish TV Broadcasting Company Yle will broadcast the opening day’s atmosphere to whole Finland. Radio Suomi and Radio Vega are following the events during day time, TV1, Yle Areena and Radio Suomi are broadcasting live from the Kansalaistori Square from 10 pm until 01 am.  YleX and Yle X3M are also taking part in the Finland 100 grand opening via radio and social media. The live recording can be seen on Yle Areena’s Finland 100 channel throughout the centenary year.

More detailed information concerning the grand opening programme can be found in the end of the press release.

More info:

finland100grandopening.fi, #finland100kickoff

Finland 100: General Secretary for the centenary Pekka Timonen, pekka.h.timonen (at) vnk.fi, tel. +358 503 374 386 and Head of Communications Päivi Pirttilä, paivi.pirttila (at) vnk.fi, tel. +358 407 053 323, Prime Minister’s Office

City of Helsinki: Development Director Laura Aalto, laura.aalto (at) hel.fi, tel. +358 405 079 660, Helsingin Markkinointi Oy

Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle: Producer Markku Mastomäki, markku.mastomaki (at) yle.fi, tel. +358 408 691 295

Finland 100 grand opening programme in Helsinki

The celebrations around Töölönlahti Bay and Kansalaistori Square begin at midday on New Year’s Eve. The Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle will broadcast the opening day’s atmosphere to whole of Finland

• Finnish National Opera and Ballet’s family day event from 12 pm until 3 pm entails toddlers’ performance of The Magic Flute, as well as face painting and free walking tours. (Free of charge) oopperabaletti.fi/en/ 
• Finland’s national animals are having a party at the National History Museum. Draw animals and plants in the Joutsenten juhlat ja karhujen kemut event from 3 pm until 6 pm. All of the drawn artworks will be pinned to the museum’s fence for everyone to see. (Free of charge) luomus.fi
• The Parliament’s Visitor’s Centre organises fun-filled day for children: magician Klabbis performs at 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm. The Parliament also distributes 2017 pieces of Finland’s centenary of independence wall calendars for 2017. (Free of charge)
• Children’s TV programme Pikku Kakkonen hops onto the Opera stage at Hesperia park at 1 pm and 3 pm when Katti Matikainen and Nakkirakki kick off the children’s centenary celebrations. (Free of charge)
• In the evening, from 6 pm until midnight We Love Helsinki DJs are spinning records. Early evening the DJs are playing golden Finnish schlagers and later Finnish pop, rock and disco classics. (Free of charge)
• Try gymnastics or riding a hobby horse at Töölö sports hall gym from 12 pm until 3 pm. If you don’t have your own hobby horse with you, you can always borrow one. (Free of charge) hel.fi/liikunta
• Slide on ice at Helsinki Icepark at Railway Station Square from 12 pm to 3 pm. Ice skating lessons in every half an hour and rental of skating equipment is available for all visitors. (Free of charge) hel.fi/liikunta
• National treasure hunt at The National Museum of Finland from 1 pm until 8 pm! Find new kinds of national treasures, which can be, for example a family tale, a festival memory or an object. You can also suggest your own. (Free of charge) kansallismuseo.fi
• Alvar Aalto fund arranges guided design and architecture tours at Finland Hall at 2 pm and 3:30 pm. (Free of charge). In the evening, Back to the 80’s Show & Dinner takes the party crowd for a time travel. (Entry fee).
• Try meditative crowd drawing at the Helsinki Art Museum HAM’s Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition. DJs are spinning records at the museum foyer. Museum is open from 11 am until 7 pm. (Entry fee) hamhelsinki.fi/en/
• The park stage, located in between of the Finnish National Opera house and Finland Hall, offers energetic dance music to a younger crowd. The lineup will be announced at a later date. (Free of charge)
• When the afternoon gets darker, the lights at the Hesperia Park will be lit at 4 pm. Enjoy Karri Kola’s visual installation combining light and music stretching through the whole park. (Free of charge)
• Exchange messages on an icy wall with centenary celebrators in Mikkeli and Levi. A digital ice wall is mounted at the north end of the Makasiini ruins. Send messages throughout the day from 3 pm until 1 am. (Free of charge) keskustakirjasto.fi
• Sing along independence themed songs at Helsinki City Museum’s Hakasalmi Villa at 6 pm and 8 pm. (Free of charge) hakasalmenhuvila.fi
• Traditional New Year’s concert by the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra at Helsinki Music Centre at 7 pm. (Entry fee) hebo.fi
• Kiasma Café serves à la carte dishes and light snacks in the heart of the centenary celebrations until 11 pm. (Chargeable) kiasma.fi
• Swing and swirl to the tune of Dallapé orchestra after the Bat Opera show at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet from 10 pm until 0:30 am. (Entry fee) oopperabaletti.fi/en/ 
• The opening day of the centenary celebrations culminates at the Kansalaistori Square from 9 pm onwards. A variety of Finnish musicians are performing at the Finland 100 grand opening. The lineup will be announced in December. The opening party will reach its climax at midnight, with a great firework show. Welcome to sing, dance and celebrate Finland’s centenary year! (Free of charge)

The event organisers are responsible for the event information and organising their event. Please note that information regarding all of the events is subject to change.

Finland 100 opening events on New Year’s Eve around Finland

The start of the Finland’s centenary year is celebrated around Finland. Here’s a few examples of events. Find more information from Finland 100 regional coordinators: http://suomifinland100.fi/info/?lang=en#regionalnetwork  

• Oulu starts its centenary year celebrations with several preparties around the city. Community art piece called Finland imagery (Suomikuvasto in Finnish) is being built in different corners of the city. The main opening event at Oulu Market Square consists of Sibeius’ Finlandia and firework show. ouka.fi/suomi100
• Mikkeli’s centenary year festivities at New Year’s Eve entail fun for the whole family: expect a magic show, face painting and dance performance in the afternoon. The evening is a feast for the eyes and tummy: the city provides street food and fireworks.  esavosuomi100.wordpress.com
• Kainuu starts its centenary year celebrations with music: Several choirs sing Laulusarja Kainuulle 100 -vuotiaassa itsenäisessä Suomessa.
• Porvoo celebrates the beginning of the centenary of Finland’s independence by dancing in a wintery fairytale forest at the Art Hall’s Aleksanterinaukio. The city also provides minimodisco and fireworks. porvoo.fi/suomi100

The event organisers are responsible for the event information and organising their event. Please note that information regarding all of the events is subject to change.

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Finland celebrates the centenary of its independence in 2017. It is a big year for Finland, which Finns and friends of Finland will build together. The centenary year will give rise to events, experiences and a programme of activities.

It will be celebrated all over Finland throughout 2017. The events will examine the century, present and future of Finland’s independence. Read more at suomifinland100.fi and follow suomifinland100 on social media.

#suomi100, #finland100