Events for the first week of October

The first week of October offers children’s cultural events and physical activities for little ones. As usual, the program includes library story times, story yoga and rhyme sessions for babies. Additionally, there are plenty of activity tips for neighboring cities: Espoo is hosting the Kutitus festivals, Sipoo has children’s music events throughout the week, and Vantaa offers cultural programs for children.

Playgrounds and family centers continue their weekly programs, and parks offer activities in the mornings for babies, toddlers, and parents with children at home. The indoor facilities of playgrounds are available to families even when there are no organized activities. Feel free to step in and ask the staff for more information!

Starting now, Little Helsinki highlights events especially suitable for babies and parents with the text FOR BABIES in the event listing, when the nature of the event is baby-friendly. The goal is to encourage activities and hobbies with babies and to celebrate Baby Day.

MONDAY 2.10.2017

Story time at Puistola Library at 10 a.m.

Toddler session at Maunula Library story room at 9:30 a.m.

FOR BABIES: Baby rhyme session at Maunula Library story room at 10:30 a.m. FOR BABIES: Baby rhyme session at Kontula Library at 10 a.m.

At Annantalo Art Clinic this week’s theme is Senses in the realm of wool. The art clinic is designed for children aged 3-6 in home care. Admission is free. There are two clinic groups on Monday, starting at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Read more about Annantalo art clinics here.

Tip: Have you already seen and experienced Annantalo’s new Dreamweaving exhibition? The exhibition is on display at Annantalo until mid-December and can be viewed free of charge during the building’s opening hours. Read more from Annantalo’s website and check out pictures here.

TUESDAY 3.10.2017

Reading dogs at Töölö Library at 6 p.m. Read more on the library’s website.

Family ball games take over Pallomylly indoor hall at Myllypuro Sports Park and invite all children under 9 years old to move on soft artificial turf with an adult. Family ball games include free play, acrobatics, running, or practicing walking. Family ball games on Tuesdays 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. Free admission for children, adults pay Pallomylly’s single entry fee of 3.50€. Read Little Helsinki’s article about Helsinki city sports events here for more information about family ball games and how to get to Pallomylly.

Puppet Theater Center Poiju’s Snow Man’s Heart performance at Annantalo at 10:15 a.m. A heartfelt performance about the importance of compassion and the power of friendship. Tickets 10 €. Read more on Annantalo’s website.

Helsinki Baltic Herring Market continues until Saturday at Market Square. Programs and herring delicacies for the whole family. Read more on the Baltic Herring Market website.

[caption id=“attachment_1647” align=“aligncenter” width=“2000”] Baltic Herring Market at Market Square until Saturday.[/caption]

Tip for Vantaa: Toddler Tuesday event takes over Jumbo shopping center 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Read more on Toddler Tuesday’s Facebook page.

Tip: New on Little Helsinki’s website: Baby Helsinki, which brings together tips for baby’s first year in one place!

WEDNESDAY 4.10.2017

Story time at Arabianranta Library at 9:30 a.m. Story time at Kontula Library at 9:30 a.m. Story time at Käpylä Library at 10 a.m. Story time at Lauttasaari Library at 10 a.m. Story time at Oulukylä Library at 10 a.m. Story time at Maunula Library at 10 a.m. Story time at Pukinmäki Library at 10:15 a.m.

FOR BABIES: BabyKino in Espoo! Iso Omena Library is hosting a BabyKino screening on Wednesday 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Read more about BabyKino on the library’s website.

Korkeasaari Day is celebrated on Wednesday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and admission to the zoo is free during this time. Read more about the day on Korkeasaari’s website.

The children’s art festival Kutitus starts in Espoo, featuring performances for different ages, workshops, and exhibitions. Events are mainly at Espoo Cultural Center in Tapiola. Ticket prices for performances are 8-12 €, but there is also free programming. Little Helsinki recommends checking out at least the Swan - A Musical Tale performance and many interesting workshops. Explore Kutitus’s program on the festival’s own website. The Kutitus art festival ends on Sunday 8.10.2017.

Tip for Sipoo: Mini-Kirlittan is back at Söderkullan Library with a family concert Raka Bananer at 6 p.m. The bilingual performance is free. Read more about the Mini-Kirlittan concert on the Sipoo municipality events page.

THURSDAY 5.10.2017

Story session at Tapiola Library at 9 a.m. Story session at Paloheinä Library at 9:30 a.m. Story time at Laajasalo Library at 9:45 a.m. Story time at Vallila Library at 6 p.m.

FOR BABIES: Story massage at Maunula Library at 9:30 a.m. Story yoga at Maunula Library at 10:15 a.m.

Muksukino at Resident House Mylläri hall at 10 a.m., organized by Myllypuro Media Library. This week’s movie is Paddington.

[caption id=“attachment_1634” align=“aligncenter” width=“1334”] Muksukino on Thursdays at Resident House Mylläri hall at Myllypuro shopping center.[/caption]

Reading Dogs Börje and Pikku-Bruno available at Suutarila Library at 2 p.m.

Theater Rollo’s Read, Sing Write! performance at Kanneltalo searches for words and combines letters on Thursday at 10 a.m. The performance is suitable for children over 5 years old. Tickets 10 €. Read more on Kanneltalo’s website.

Theater Horseshoe’s Ghost Party performance at Annantalo at 10 a.m. Tickets 11.50 €. The performance is suitable for children over 3 years old. Read more on Annantalo’s website.

Finland 100 Illustration Art Classics exhibition arrives at Rikhardinkatu Library and presents original illustrations from the most important Finnish children’s book illustrators from the turn of the 1900s. The exhibition is open during library hours. Illustration Art Classics at Rikhardinkatu Library until 29.10.2017. Read more on the Great Reading Adventure website.

Tip for Vantaa: At Tikkurila Library in Vantaa Singing Together with Children event on Thursday at 10 a.m. You can bring your own instrument or borrow one from the library. Read more about this fun singing session here.

Tip: Want to go nature hiking with children in Helsinki? New tips coming soon for hiking in interesting places in Helsinki. Read previous articles about Little Helsinki hiking tips.

[caption id=“attachment_1596” align=“aligncenter” width=“2000”] The next hiking tip will take you to these atmospheres and scenery. Article coming to Little Helsinki’s pages soon![/caption]

FRIDAY 6.10.2017

Toddler session at Malmi Library at 10 a.m. FOR BABIES: Baby rhyme session at Malmi Library at 11 a.m.

Huutsi Kuutsi children’s music session at Kontula Library at 9:30 a.m.

Teddy Night at Tapanila and Itäkeskus Libraries. You can bring your own plush toy for a sleepover at the library and pick it up Saturday morning. Plush toys are offered adventures, stories, treats and giggles by nightlight. For more information about teddy night sleepovers see here.

Annantalo’s Naperokino continues and offers a cinema experience of their own for the little ones (0-3 years). Short films can be watched on Fridays throughout the fall from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. This week’s theme is adventure, travel, and journeys. Read more about Naperokino on Annantalo’s website.

Children’s art clinic can be visited this week at Cultural Center Stoa 10 a.m.-12 p.m. This week’s theme is molding creatures. The art clinic is designed for children aged 3-6 in home care. No advance registration needed, admission is free. Read more about Stoa’s Art Clinic here.

Tip: On Little Helsinki’s website you can now also find a list of upcoming children’s goods flea market events. This weekend you can go shopping at a couple of children’s goods flea markets.

SATURDAY 7.10.2017

Story session at Vuosaari Library at 10:30 a.m. Story time at Munkkiniemi Library at 11 a.m.

Toddler session at Roihuvuori Library at 10:30 a.m. Rimjam wordplay in Swedish at Töölö Library at 11 a.m. Shadow theater workshop at Kontula Library at 11 a.m.

Töölö Music School Students’ Concert at Töölö Library at 12 p.m.

Oil Tank 468 at Kruunuvuorenranta is open to the public again and this unique location and Helsinki from a new perspective can be explored this weekend. On Saturday, Oil Tank 468 is open 6-9 p.m. The event has appealed to children in previous years and kids can freely explore, for example, the tank’s fascinating sound world. The location and the tank itself are also easily accessible with strollers. Free admission. Read more about Oil Tank 468 here.

[caption id=“attachment_1424” align=“aligncenter” width=“2738”] Oil Tank 468.[/caption]

Tip for Vantaa: Family Saturday at Art House Totem dives into a fairy tale 2-4 p.m.

Tip for Espoo: Children’s Kutitus festival program day at Tapiola Library offers great programming and activities for the whole family 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free admission.

Espoo: Small Culture Center Pikku-Aurora’s China Visits Pikku-Aurora themed Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Read more here. Free admission.

Tip for Sipoo: Mimmit 10-year anniversary concert at 3 p.m. at Villa Lilla in Sipoo Nikkila. Tickets 10 €. Read more on Villa Lilla’s website.

SUNDAY 8.10.2017

A great whole-family sports event Sports Fun fills Sunday mornings at Sports Mill in Myllypuro 9-10:45 a.m. Free fun sports and diverse sports trials. Free admission for children, 3.50 € for adults (Sports Mill entrance fee). Bring your own lock for the locker and indoor sports clothes. Strollers can be left at Sports Mill’s entrance. More information about the event here. Also read Little Helsinki’s article about sports events. This is absolutely fun shared activities for the whole family and the best thing for your child to do.

[caption id=“attachment_1257” align=“aligncenter” width=“4032”] Sports Fun moves the whole family.[/caption]

Espoo Kutitus festival’s Space Disco and Costumes at Espoo Cultural Center offer a great way to spend Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Put on your Frozen dress or Star Wars outfit and head to Tapiola. DJs Matti Airaksinen and DJ Orion take care of the atmosphere. Read more about the disco on the event’s Facebook page.

Kolibrí: Children’s Fall Festival at Annantalo 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Featuring workshops, music, dance, stories and other fun. Kolibrí invites you to enjoy a multicultural celebration, surprises and colors and get to know language, culture and new friends and explore the world from children’s perspective. All families, grandparents, aunts, uncles and neighbors are welcome and the day ends with celebration and dancing. You can bring a costume or party dress. Read more about the fall festival on Annantalo’s website.

Mimmit 10 year anniversary concert at Malmitalo at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. (the latter is sold out). The concert features favorites from over the years and new friendship-themed songs. Tickets 6 €. Read more on Malmitalo’s website.

Art House Kirpilä’s Children’s Sunday invites children and families to Töölö on North Hesperiankatu to get to know the art house and watch a performance combining juggling, music and puppet theater called “Stubborn Objects”. You can visit the art house 12-4 p.m. and more details about the day can be found on Art House Kirpilä’s website.

Taikametsä band album release concert at Music Theater Kapsäkki at 2 p.m. Tickets 10 €. Suitable for 3-year-olds and up. Read more on Kapsäkki’s website.

Oil Tank 468 at Kruunuvuorenranta is open to the public again and this unique location and Helsinki from a new perspective can be explored this weekend. On Sunday, Oil Tank 468 is open 6-9 p.m. The event has appealed to children in previous years and kids can freely explore, for example, the tank’s fascinating sound world. The location and the tank itself are also easily accessible with strollers. Free admission. Read more about Oil Tank 468 here.