Finland
Events in Finland
The
Finnish Way of Life -
Easter
Traditions
Christmas
in Finland.
I
Remember Christmas
Juhannus
Santa
Claus
Korsholm
Music Festival 26.6.-3.7.99, Mustasaari
Kuopio
Dance Festival,
Wife
carrying World Championships 3.7.1999, Sonkajärvi
Events
in Lohimaa, Tervo
Jazz
is Infinite Joy - Raahe Rantajazz, Raahe
Time
of Music 8.-14.7.1999, Viitasaari
Naantali
Music Festival 11.-23.6.99, Naantali
Kuopio
Triathlon 24.7.1999, Kuopio
Sata-Häme
Soi Accordion Festival 30.6.-4.7.1999, Ikaalinen
Ilomantsi
- Events, Ilomantsi
Lappeenranta
- Events, Lappeenranta
Events
in Naantali, Naantali
Finland
Icemarathon 2000, Kuopio
Midsummer's
Day (Juhannus) is the most important annual event for Finns. People leave
cities and towns for summer cottages to celebrate the longest day of the
year. Bonfires are lit and lakeside merrymakers swim and row boats. Enthusiastic
alcohol consumption is also a feature of midsummer partying.
The
Pori Jazz Festival in July is one of the country's most popular festivals,
but the Savonlinna Opera Festival, held at medieval Olavinnlinna Castle,
is the most famous.
Some
of the best (and the most international) festivals are the most remote:
check
out chamber music in Kuhmo, or folk music in Kaustinen (near Kokkola).
For
rock, there are big festivals during the Midsummer weekend, and big annual
events, such as Ruisrock,
the
longest-running of rock festivals, at Turku in July.
On
the lighter side, check out the Sleepyhead Day, where on 27 July the laziest
person in the towns of Naantali and Hanko is thrown into the sea.
Finland's
strangest event is the annual wife-carrying championship held every July
in tiny Sonkajärvi.