Pienten Helsinki
March events for small families
Updated 10.3.2018What kid-friendly activities can be found in Helsinki? Where to go with small children on weekends? What to do on a rainy day? Small Helsinki’s weekly series finds activity tips and recommends family-friendly places in Helsinki and the surrounding area. The target audience on the website is preschool children and families with children.
Small Helsinki’s Where to go this week articles are also published in 2018 no later than Mondays and offer tips on what’s happening in the city for families with children. The tenth Where to go this week article of 2018 takes you to, for example, the Instrument Rally, admiring the Snow Queen Orchid at the Winter Garden, marveling at fighter jet fly-overs, and the Opera House’s open doors day. The Bravo! international children’s and youth theater festival also takes over the cultural centers of the capital region with its program on 10.-18.3.2018. In addition to the end of Korkeasaari’s bears’ winter hibernation, a sure sign of spring is the change from winter horse rides to spring horse rides ;).
The article’s cover photo is from Haltiala farm, where you can watch cows almost year-round.
TIP: Follow Small Helsinki! ;)
Monday » | Tuesday » | Wednesday » | Thursday » | Friday » | Saturday » | Sunday »
MONDAY 5.3.2018
Events:Story time at Puistola library at 10.
Toddler time at Maunula library at 9.30.
FOR BABIES: Nursery rhyme time at Maunula library at 10.30.
Story yoga at Paloheine library at 10.15.
MLL family café meets on Mondays in the foyer area on the first floor of the Itäkatu family center at 9.30-11.30. The family café, open to all families with small children, is a place to come at your own pace to play, spend time, and get to know other families in the same life situation. Read more on the family center’s Facebook page.
Puppet theater music classes at Sampo gallery hall every Monday at 10 and 11. Fee (€8/session or €70/whole spring). Read more on Puppet Theater Sampo’s website.
Art clinic for 3-6 year-olds at Annantalo on Monday at 10 and 12.30. This week’s theme at the clinic is a large shell drawn in charcoal. You can participate in the art clinic weekly or occasionally, but you should arrive on time. Read more about this wonderful Art Clinic on Annantalo’s website.
TIP for Vantaa FOR BABIES and parents: Babies’ museum Monday at Vantaa City Museum on Monday at 10. More information on the event’s Facebook page.
TIP: Haltiala farm animals farm is open year-round and cows also go outside in the cold months. It’s worth visiting Haltiala to watch the cows, play in the excellent playground, and walk in beautiful scenery. The restaurant Wanha Pehtoori, which operates in connection with the farm, also serves year-round. The sheep area opens around Easter time, when you can admire newborn lambs up close.
TUESDAY 6.3.2018
Events:Story time at Kallio library at 9.30. Story time at Malmi library at 9.30. Story time at Kannelmäki library at 9.30. Story time at Herttoniemi library at 9.45. Story time at Töölö library activity room at 10.15.
Dancing story time at Kallio library at 9.30.
Story yoga at Paloheine library at 17.
Reading dog at Töölö library at 18.
Library 10 features the sixth children’s own art exhibition, when class 2 C of Tehtaankatu primary school brings a breath of the art world into the library’s everyday life and the children’s section’s exhibition space. The class’s motto about the exhibition is “We start from the idea that every work is worth exhibiting”. You can enjoy the 2 C class exhibition during the library’s opening hours until 25.3.2018. Children’s own art exhibition activities is reportedly a unique concept of its kind in Finland, and any child can have an exhibition. More information about the event and Library 10’s exhibition activities.
Silent Books exhibition at Pasila library 6.3.-22.3.2018. Picture books without text, but full of story power that can be read at all language levels. Silent Books exhibition opening will be held on Tuesday at 17. Workshops for children (advance registration required). Read more on the library’s website.
Family ball play continues at Pallomylly indoor hall at Myllypuro sports park. In family ball play, all children under 9 years old play on soft artificial turf with their own adult. Free play, acrobatics, running, or even learning to walk. Family ball play on Tuesdays at 9.30-11.30 and 16-18. Free admission for everyone in the morning ball play, afternoon ball play costs adults the Pallomylly single ticket (€3.50).
Art clinic for 3-6 year-olds at Kanneltalo on Tuesday at 10. This week’s theme is the children’s city. The art clinic meets at Kanneltalo three times and you can participate weekly or occasionally, but you should arrive on time. Read more about this wonderful Art Clinic on Kanneltalo’s website.
The Air Force Acrobatic Unit Midnight Hawks greets the capital region with a flight of four Hawk jet training aircraft on Tuesday 6.3.2018. The flight is directed over Helsinki, Vantaa, and Espoo, and fly-overs will be seen over the Kaivopuisto area at 13.50. The flight program related to the Air Force’s 100th anniversary is weather dependent. Current information about the day’s events is updated on the Air Force’s Facebook page. Hearing protection is recommended for children and those with sensitive hearing.
TIP: Shopping center Kaari organizes weekly Tuesday funness, with music classes for babies and toddlers and story times for all little ones. Read more on Kaari’s website, advance registration for music classes.
TIP to Espoo: Fillariteattri’s Makkarapiruetti performance is shown at Sellosali on Tuesday at 9, 10, and 11. Tickets €5. The performance is recommended for children over 3 years old. More information and ticket reservations on Sellosalin’s website.
WEDNESDAY 7.3.2018
Events:Story time at Arabianranta library at 9.30. Story time at Lauttasaari library at 10. Story time at Oulunkylä library at 10. Story time at Pukinmäki library at 10.15.
In Swedish: Swedish-language evening story times at Berghäll library at 18.00.
Song session led by Terttu Paija at Tapulinkaupunki library at 10.
Ava and the stubborn trumpet, a theatrical story performance at Jätkäsaari library at 10. Read more on the library’s website.
Reading dog Hasse at Vuosaari library’s children’s section on Wednesday at 17.30.
FOR BABIES: Nursery rhyme time at Kannelmäki library at 13.30.
FOR BABIES and parents: BabyKino at Kallio library. You can bring your baby to movies on Wednesdays at 12 and 14.30. BabyKino’s own Facebook group can be found here, where, for example, the week’s film is published and future programs are voted on.
Wednesday’s unhurried gallery workshop where a colorful pillowcase is made at Vuotalo gallery on Wednesday at 16-18. Free admission, suitable for all ages. More information about the workshop on Vuotalo’s website.
TIP to Espoo FOR BABIES and parents: BabyKino at Iso Omenta Youth Center Vox at 10.30. Read more on the library’s website.
TIP: Kindergarten museum is open every Wednesday at 12-18.
TIP to Espoo: Children’s Cultural Center Pikku-Aurora organizes all sorts of wonderful activities for babies, toddlers, and older children. Explore Pikku-Aurora and its program here.
THURSDAY 8.3.2018
International Women's DayEvents:
Story time at Paloheine library at 9.30. Story time at Tapulinkaupunki library at 9.30. Story time at Laajasalo library at 9.45. Story time at Vallila library at 18.
Story yoga at Maunula library at 9.30.
Toddler time at Kallio library at 10. Toddler time at Paloheine library at 10.30.
Muksukins movies take over Myllypuro media library and resident house Mylläri hall on Thursdays at 10. This week’s movie is Moomins’ World: Treasure Hunt. Read more about Muksukino on the library’s page.
The new, age-appropriate, interactive exhibition of the Newspaper Museum opens on 8.3.2018. Pelle Peloton - The world’s bravest inventor will be on display until autumn 2018. Admission to the Newspaper Museum is free. Small Helsinki’s article about the museum can be found here.
Hair well, all is well! Women’s Day braiding and hair accessory crafting at Itäkeskus library on Thursday at 14-16. Read more on the library’s website.
Toy adventure or stuffed animal pajama party at Herttoniemi library. Stuffed animals can be brought for an overnight visit on Thursday and Friday and picked up on Saturday 10.3. Read more on the library’s website and follow the evening’s atmosphere on, for example, the library’s Facebook page.
Family ball play at Pallomylly indoor hall at Myllypuro sports park. In family ball play, all children under 9 years old play on soft artificial turf with their own adult. Free play, acrobatics, running, or even learning to walk. Family ball play on Thursdays at 16-17, €3.50 per adult, free for children.
TIP: Meet the producer day at Malmitalo. Come and tell your ideas or wishes to Malmitalo’s producers on Thursday at 14-18. Read more on Malmitalo’s website.
Snow Queen orchid days at Helsinki Winter Garden from Thursday to Sunday 8.-11.3.2018. The Snow Queen orchid (Coelogyne cristata) has been grown as a potted plant in Finland for over 100 years. The orchid gets its name from the beautiful white flowers that appear abundantly in early spring. The plant is native to the Himalayan mountain valleys and grows at 1000-2600 meters in height on moss-covered tree branches or on rocky outcrops. The Winter Garden also features other orchids and plants. The Snow Queen orchid days are organized by the Finnish Orchid Association. Free admission. On Thursday you can enjoy orchids at 12-15.
[caption id=“attachment_3058” align=“aligncenter” width=“1280”]
The Snow Queen orchid blooms at Helsinki Winter Garden. Photo: Finnish Orchid Association ry.[/caption]
FRIDAY 9.3.2018
Story time at Roihuvuori library at 9.45.Toddler time at Malmi library at 10.
Story yoga at Arabianranta library at 10.
FOR BABIES: Babies’ rhyme time at South Haaga library at 10. FOR BABIES: Babies’ rhyme time at Malmi library at 11.
Toy adventure or stuffed animal pajama party at Herttoniemi library. Stuffed animals can be brought for an overnight visit on Thursday and Friday and picked up on Saturday 10.3. Read more on the library’s website and follow the evening’s atmosphere on, for example, the library’s Facebook page.
Art clinic at Mellunmäki playground at 10. Theme: centaurs and other strange creatures. Read more about the Art Clinic on Stoa’s website. No advance registration required.
MLL family café now also meets on Fridays at the foyer area on the first floor of the Itäkatu family center at 9.30-11.30. The family café, open to all families with small children, is a place to come at your own pace to play, spend time, and get to know other families in the same life situation. Read more on Small Helsinki’s Facebook page.
Naperokino at Annantalo on Fridays at 10-12. This week’s theme is imagination. Read more about Naperokino on Annantalo’s website.
Harakka cooks porridge - puppet theater concert at Puppet Theater Sampo on Friday at 10. Tickets €12. More information and ticket reservations on Sampo’s website.
TIP to Espoo: Dogs’ Kalevala - music story time at Iso Omenta library at 9.30 and 10.30. More information on the library’s website.
Snow Queen orchid days at Helsinki Winter Garden from Thursday to Sunday 8.-11.3.2018. Free admission. On Friday you can enjoy orchids at 12-15.
TIP to Vantaa: In Vantaa at Tikkurila library Let’s sing together with children event on Friday at 10. You can also bring your own instrument or borrow one from the library. Read more about this fun group singing time on the library’s website.
TIP: Changing tables mapped! Small Helsinki’s latest article in the Baby Helsinki series lists reliable baby changing facilities throughout the capital region.
SATURDAY 10.3.2018
Events:Story time at Munkkiniemi library at 11.
Toddler time at Roihuvuori library at 10.30.
Children’s author and illustrator Pipsa Pentti visits Herttoniemi library at 11. Read more on the library’s website. Children’s Lego Saturday at Puistola library at 11-14. Children’s science Saturday at Library 10 on Saturday at 12-14.
Töölö music school students’ concert at Töölö library at 12. More information about the concert on the library’s website.
Bravo! - international children’s and youth theater festival takes over the cultural centers of the capital region with its program on 10.-18.3.2018. Explore the festival and its program on Bravo!’s own website.
Maunula Sports Fun on Saturdays at 9-10.30 until 7.4.2018 at Maunula sports hall. Joint sports activity for the whole family, with things to do for the very little ones too. Free admission for children, €3.50 for adults. More information on the Helsinki in motion website.
Bravo! festival family day at Kanneltalo at 10-14. Read more about the day’s diverse program on Kanneltalo’s website.
Open doors day at the Opera House on Saturday at 10-15. Lots to experience, see, and do for small and large. You are welcome to just visit to enjoy the atmosphere, even if you don’t participate in workshops or guided tours. Explore the day’s program on the Opera’s website.
Instrument Rally, Pop & Jazz Conservatory’s instrument demonstration event on Saturday at 10.30-14. Location: Pop & Jazz Conservatory (Hämeentie 133) and the program is aimed at 0-9 year olds. Read more on the organizer’s website.
Family day at Kaapelitehdas three museums on Saturday at 11-15. Combined ticket to the event’s museums €12, under 18-year-olds free, museum cards also accepted. Read more about the day’s program on the event’s Facebook page.
Snow Queen orchid days at Helsinki Winter Garden from Thursday to Sunday 8.-11.3.2018. On Saturday you can enjoy orchids at 12-16. Free admission.
Bravo! festival family day at Kiasma at 12-19. Read more about the day’s diverse program on the children’s theater festival’s own website. Some programs are paid.
Saturday workshops at Kiasma in March-April on Saturdays at 13-16. Workshops suitable for children over 3 years old to adults run on a non-stop basis and the workshop theme changes weekly. Kiasma admission fee. Read more on Kiasma’s website.
Runaway - theater comedy for children at Musiikkiteatteri Kapsäkki on Saturday at 13. Tickets €12.50/€22.50. Read more and book tickets on Kapsäkki’s website.
Malmitalo’s Kino Helioksen shows Supermarsu (suitable for all ages) on Saturday at 14. Tickets €6. More information on Malmitalo’s website.
ToPo Toddler Club at Munkkiniemi Joint School hall on Saturday at 14.30-16. The club open to everyone promises fun, games, obstacle courses, and ball games. More information on the event’s Facebook page.
Towards Easter family day at Herttoniemi church on Saturday at 14.30 onwards. Read more about Herttoniemi congregation’s Facebook page.
Harakka cooks porridge - puppet theater concert at Puppet Theater Sampo on Saturday at 15. Tickets €12. More information and ticket reservations on Sampo’s website.
TIP: Children’s goods flea markets held on Saturday 10.3.2018 can be found on Small Helsinki’s website.
TIP to Espoo: Jazz for Kids – whole family jazz session at Espoo Cultural Center (Tapiola) on Saturday at 11. Read more on Espoo’s cultural services website. Free admission.
TIP to Vantaa: Group Hau puppies at shopping center Myyrmannissa on Saturday. Read more about the day’s schedule on the event’s Facebook page.
TIP to Sipoo: Traditional Winter Horse Riding at music daycare POCO in Sipoo’s Söderkullan on Saturday at 10-14. More information about the riding program on the event’s Facebook page.
SUNDAY 11.3.2018
Events:Sports Fun at Myllypuro Sports Mill on Sunday at 9-10.45. Joint sports activity for the whole family, with things to do for the very little ones too. Sports fun continues at Myllypuro on Sundays until 25.3.2018 (not 18.2.2018). Free for children, €3.50 for adults. More information on the Helsinki in motion website.
March Horse Riding and alpacas take over the area around Puotila Manor on Sunday at 11-14. Read more about the March Riding offerings on the event’s Facebook page.
Bravo! festival family day at Annantalo at 11-14. Read more about the day’s diverse program on Annantalo’s website.
Spring Horse Riding at Mellunmäki at Laakavuori primary school on Sunday at 12-14. More information on the event’s Facebook page.
Snow Queen orchid days at Helsinki Winter Garden from Thursday to Sunday 8.-11.3.2018. On Sunday you can enjoy orchids at 12-16. Free admission.
In Swedish: Children’s Sundays at Kino Engel. Children’s film screenings at Kino Engel in Swedish. Read more on the event’s Facebook page. (paid)
TIP: Fallkullan farm animals farm is also open to the public in winter: Wednesday to Friday at 10-18 and Sundays at 10-15. The youth-run café Kilikuppila also opens again, but remember to bring cash for café treats. Free admission. Read more on the Helsinki Youth Services website.
TIP to Espoo: Family day at Mankkaa school sports hall on Sunday at 10-13. At the Tapiola Gymnasts’ event, you can do self-directed exercise and acrobatics with your own adult for 2-8 year-olds. More information on the event’s Facebook page.
Also remember these:
Bravo! - international children's and youth theater festival takes over the cultural centers of the capital region with its program on 10.-18.3.2018. Explore the festival and its program on Bravo!'s own website.Snow Queen orchid days at Helsinki Winter Garden from Thursday to Sunday 8.-11.3.2018. The Snow Queen orchid (Coelogyne cristata) has been grown as a potted plant in Finland for over 100 years. The orchid gets its name from the beautiful white flowers that appear abundantly in early spring. The plant is native to the Himalayan mountain valleys and grows at 1000-2600 meters in height on moss-covered tree branches or on rocky outcrops. The Winter Garden also features other orchids and plants. The Snow Queen orchid days are organized by the Finnish Orchid Association. Free admission to the exhibition.
ESPOO: Finland’s largest miniature railway at Espoo Tapiola Hekintorin shopping mall basement floor in January-April. Exact opening hours on the Alpine Railway Enthusiasts’ website.
Previously unseen animals exhibition starting 11.1.2018 at the Nordic Library on Kaisaniemenkatu. The exhibition is based on Ulf Starck and Linda Bondestam’s picture book of the same name, which won the Nordic Council’s Children’s and Youth Literature Prize in 2017. The exhibition is on display until 28.3.2018 during the Nordic Library’s opening hours. Read more on the library’s website.
Library 10 features the sixth children’s own art exhibition, when class 2 C of Tehtaankatu primary school brings a breath of the art world into the library’s everyday life and the children’s section’s exhibition space. The class’s motto about the exhibition is “We start from the idea that every work is worth exhibiting”. You can enjoy the 2 C class exhibition during the library’s opening hours from 6.3.-25.3.2018. Children’s own art exhibition activities is reportedly a unique concept of its kind in Finland, and any child can have an exhibition. More information about the event and Library 10’s exhibition activities.
Silent Books exhibition at Pasila library 6.3.-22.3.2018. Picture books without text, but full of story power that can be read at all language levels. Read more on the library’s website.
