Pienten Helsinki
What to do on May Day in Helsinki with children?
What to do and where to go with children on May Day 2024 in Helsinki and the metropolitan area? What May Day events are organized in Helsinki and the metropolitan area?
May Day, also known as the celebration of spring, workers, and students, is celebrated on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024. Spring events and May Day traditions can be experienced already on May Day Eve, Tuesday, April 30th, 2024. Little Helsinki lists May Day events and tips for celebrating May Day with children in Helsinki and the surrounding area.
Happy May Day!
Events and tips for May Day Eve, April 30th, 2024
Vantaa: Tikkurila May Day Markets on May Day Eve and May Day from 9am-4pm. Free admission.
May Day Celebration at Loru playground at the central library Oodi on the 3rd floor at 10:30am-12pm.
May Day at Lasippalatsi Square from Monday to Wednesday.
Laa Laan May Day Fun at MLL's Perhutalo Unikko (Pukinmäki) on Tuesday at 3pm-6pm. Free admission.
Kaisaniemi May Day Carnival at Kaisaniemi Park on May Day Eve, April 30th, from 3pm-7pm. The event is organized by the kindergarten class at Vironniemi daycare. Free admission.
Kauniainen: Grani May Day Fun for families on May Day Eve, April 30th, from 3pm-7pm at GrIFK sports hall and ice rink. Free admission.
Stoa May Day Discos and more May Day events at Stoa on May Day Eve, April 30th, 2024 from 3pm-7pm. Skidit Disco from 6pm-7pm (tickets 6 €). Partially paid (Skidit Disco).
AnnanHouse: Helter Skelter May Day. A family disco at Annantalo on May Day Eve, April 30th, 2024 from 4pm-7pm. Free admission.
Vallila May Day Dancing at Hartola Park on Tuesday, April 30th, 2024 from 4:30pm-9pm. Free admission.
Espoo: Vappunen! Festival at Children's Culture Center Aurora on Tuesday, April 30th, 2024 from 5pm-8pm. Tickets from 13 €. Also featuring PlayCafe Park!
Beaver Washing and Signing on May Day Eve at old Herttoniemi (corner of Majavatai and Hiihtomäentie) at 5:30pm. The event is organized by Majavakollektiivi.
A bit of a different May Day tradition! Same Party, Different Place. Havis Amanda statue, the Manta, is under repair, so this May Day will feature a different signing ceremony at Citizens' Square. The creation by Aalto University students will be crowned at Citizens' Square with traditional festivities at 6pm. The program begins at 4:30pm. Free admission.
The event will be broadcast live on Helsinki Channel starting at 4:30pm and on Yle Areena.
Linnanmäki Amusement Park opens its summer season on May Day Eve! The amusement park's bear statue will be crowned on May Day Eve at 6pm. Free admission, some rides for small children are free but most rides are paid.
May Day events and tips for May 1st, 2024
The University Students' Association choir's traditional May Day greeting at Ullanlinna Hill on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024 at 9am. You can also watch the broadcast on Yle Areena.
Vantaa: Tikkurila May Day Markets on May Day Eve and May Day from 9am-4pm. Free admission.
Vantaa: MLL Aviapolis Family May Day Celebration at Kartanonkoski School yard on May Day, May 1st, 2024 from 10am-12pm. The neighborhood has Illenpuisto playground, which is familiar from the Risto Räppääjä movie!
Children's May Day Festival on May 1st from 10am-2pm at Steiner Daycare Aurinkoinen's yard in Pikkuhuopalahti (Korppaanpolku 5). Free admission.
Braku's May Day at Brahe Playground on May Day from 10am-3pm. The event is organized by class 3A of Aleksis Kivi Elementary School. Free admission.
Hyvinkää: Hyvinkää May Day is celebrated in the Hyvinkää Market Square area on May 1st, 2024 from 10am-3pm. Free admission.
May Day Fun at Kumpula Botanical Garden (Jyrängöntie 2) on May 1st, 2024 from 10am-5pm Tickets 4 € (children) and 2 € (adults), lap infants free. Also featuring PlayCafe Park!
May Day at Lasipatatsi Square from Monday to Wednesday.
Fire Museum at Erottaja Fire Station is open on May 1st, 2024 from 12pm-4pm. Small admission fee.
Linnanmäki Amusement Park opens its summer season on May Day Eve! Free admission, some rides for small children are free but most rides are paid.
After May Day:
WWF's May Day Cleanup Workday at Kaivopuisto on Thursday, May 2nd, 2024 from 7am-10am.
Picnic Spots
Time for a picnic! Kaivopuisto and Kaisanimenpuisto are May Day classics for picnics, but this year you could try a different Helsinki park for your May Day picnic: Meilahti Rose Garden, Herttoniemi or Stansviken Manor Park, Tullisaari in Laajasalo, or even Mustikkamaa, Seurasaari, or Lauttasaari rocky beaches.
For nature picnics, you could head to, for example, Uutela, Kruunuvuori Lake, Kivinokka, Lammassaari, or Kuusiluoto.
New grill spots have been built, for example, in Laajasalo at Tullisaari Manor Park and Stansviki. You need to bring your own charcoal/firewood. Older grill spots can be found at, for example, Uutela, Seurasaari, and Kallahdenninemi beach in Vuosaari. Check the opening hours of Uutela Hut and Paloheinä's new hut in advance.
On the Espoo side, for example, the Villa Elfvik area, Marketanpuisto with picnic tables, and Träskanda Manor Park are lovely spots.
More inspiration for outing spots can be found in Little Helsinki's Helsinki Spots article.
What should we do?
You still need to play on May Day! Find all of Little Helsinki's playground tips behind this link.
What should we do today? Little Helsinki's latest article suggests twenty easy and free destinations in Helsinki for children.
Helsinki Secrets article reveals small and large secrets about Helsinki!
Explore Helsinki articles offer ideas for things to do in Helsinki!
Also remember: Little Finland - over 700 reasons to travel in Finland with children!
#littlehelsinki
