Carnival of Light 14.-24.10.2021
The traditional Carnival of Light will be held at the Linnanmäki amusement park from 14th to 24th October, 2021. For a week and a half, Linnanmäki will be filled with light, colours and a carnival atmosphere. There will be fun characters and live music.
Sirkus Finlandia 2021
Sirkus Finlandia offers traditional circus performance featuring acrobatics, magicians, circus clowns etc. at Kaisaniemi Park.
Korkeasaari autumn vacation
On the autumn holiday, October 16-24.10.2021, you can enjoy outdoor activities at Korkeasaari, get acquainted with the animals on guided tours and adventure on independent routes, researching e.g. how the animals prepare for the approaching winter.
Spend your autumn vacation getting your creative juices going
The numerous workshops organised by the museums offer activities for the whole family as well as unique experiences. At the Helsinki Art Museum HAM, you can get acquainted with the Syksyn Hehku-workshop. In the workshop you will be taught to paint with acrylic paints using palette knives only. HAM’s Saturday workshops are open to everyone and the techniques and themes vary according to the exhibitions. In the Sisäinen minäni-workshop, the participants will draw and paint a self-portrait with oil pastel chalks and watercolours without looking at the paper.
Annantalo will transform into a construction site of art, where you can use the saw, hammer some nails and make use of the carpenter's bench, for example. In the Timber! workshop, you will learn to hammer a nail and have sawdust fly everywhere. Wooden blocks give rise to gravity-defying towers, ships, diverse animals, and a small nation of trees. And help, a big flood has covered the city! Come help the rescuers and build roads and bridges for them. A more detailed program of the day's workshops can be found on Annantalo's website.
On the event day of the Annantalo Family Day exhibition, you can join the workshops and experience the performances of the My Childhood exhibition. On Sunday 24th of October My Childhood hosts a Family Day at Annantalo. Family Day is an open event of workshops and performances connected to the exhibition. The program includes a workshop about lullabies in different languages connected with the sound installation Un(Rest) by Alejandro Olarte & Outi Korhonen; a performance in the installation Sandbox by Josef Ka and Next to Kin, a participatory performance for families by Olga Spyropoulou & H Ouramo.
An array of experiences at the Vuosaari House
During the autumn holidays, school children are offered free art courses at the Vuosaari House as well other activities such as, movies and game nights. An event created and produced by young people: various workshops on drums, visual arts, make-up and circus, among others. At the end of the day, we’ll relax by watching a film: the animated film Horton is full of sympathy. The story gives an energy boost to everyone! The event is organized by: Girls' Living Room, Circus Magenta, Vuosaari Youth Work Unit, Weekend for the Climate ry. and Vuotalo.
In Helsinki with kids
Grid card list
Enjoy beautiful nature in Helsinki
Grid card list
Finland is the most forested country in Europe, thus ensuring that you can reach greenery and the calm of nature within minutes without venturing too far even from the Helsinki centre. Even though Helsinki is the biggest city in the country if you wish to go down to the woods there are plenty of places you can easily reach where you can experience the Finnish forest at its peaceful best.
In Finland we believe that nature is good for you. Being in nature has a positive influence on your physical and mental health, lowering your blood pressure, reducing stress and soothing your mind. Helsinki is one of the few capital cities in the world where the real nature is so close to its inhabitants. You can easily move around the city by bike but the metro is also a great way to get from the city centre out into the nature.
Seaside Helsinki
Your local guide
Grid card list
All MyHelsinki.fi content is based on personal and genuine recommendations. The tips you see don't include paid brand endorsements or sponsored content.
Autumn vacation at Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Suomenlinna beckons you to come and enjoy the island in its autumn glory. There you can go on a hike i, eat well and enjoy the culture. The magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site offers something for everyone. The ferry ride to the islan only takes about 15 minutes.
Fallkulla and Haltiala
Fallkulla Livestock Farm offers activities for young people aged 9-17 throughout the autumn holiday. The offered programme allows you to e.g. take care of the animals, to clean the pens and to bake. At the Fallkulla livestock farm, goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens, ducks, minipigs, ponies and cows await you. On the Haltiala farm, the animals are still grazing outside during the autumn holidays, so they can be marveled at and admired by the whole family.
Time at the playground for the little ones
Helsinki's playgrounds have a variety of programs for young children. Activities at the playgrounds are free of charge and you do not need to register. You can heat your own snacks and make coffee or tea.
City sports venues
Get a sweat going at the Liikuntamylly or other places around the city. At the Liikuntamylly, the program includes fun and versatile activities such as climbing, various ball and racket games, as well as calm and fast-paced gymnastics. Helsinki's four swimming pools are open normally during the autumn holiday week. There are four swimming pools managed by the City of Helsinki in different parts of the city; Itäkeskus, Jakomäki, Yrjönkatu and Pirkkola.