Helsinki to ring in the New Year at the Kansalaistori square

New Year celebrations at the Kansalaistori square on 2017. Photo: Suomi100

The official New Year’s Eve celebrations in Helsinki will be held once again at the Kansalaistori square on 31 December.

Locals and visitors can ring in the New Year together while enjoying exciting performances and a massive fireworks display. The City of Helsinki is also organising a special early evening programme for kids.

“The New Year’s Eve celebrations in Helsinki will be full of fire, sparkles, excitement and a festive communal atmosphere! The Kansalaistori square is big enough for everyone, and we expect between 40 and 50 thousand people depending on the weather. Mannerheimintie will be closed to traffic as of 11pm, so merrymakers will also be able to take over one of the busiest avenues in Helsinki,” says Event Producer Susa Nokelainen.

The official New Year’s Eve celebrations in the nation’s capital can also be enjoyed throughout Finland on television. A two-hour live broadcast will be shown on Yle TV2 starting at 11pm on 31 December.

Entertainment by top Finnish artists, popular DJs, dancers and circus artists

Members of the public will be entertained throughout the evening by rock musician Anssi Kela, chart topper Reino Nordin and blues musician Erja Lyytinen. The show will also include performances by the FRII dancers and the contemporary circus troupe Agit Cirk. DJ Orion will spin the music both before and after the main show.

Helsinki’s New Year’s Eve show will be hosted by Jenni “Jenspa” Poikelus and Alma Hätönen from radio YleX.  Mayor Jan Vapaavuori will also deliver a speech. The celebrations will culminate with a massive fireworks display marking the end of the Finland 100 centenary year and the beginning of a new year.

Family programme promises a fireworks display for kids

Before the main show begins, families with children can enjoy their own special programme at the Kansalaistori square starting at 4pm. The internationally renowned Maria Baric Company will present a stunning show that combines music, fire, theatre, dance and circus. Heaven of Wishes – Interactions with Dreams was created especially for the Finland 100 centenary celebrations and is built around live fire. Throughout the past year the artists have toured around Finland listening to the wishes of ordinary people, and the fire that is lit in each performance symbolises a new dream. Before the performance, members of the public can write their own wishes inside the New Year’s Resolutions Tent. The family programme culminates with a special fireworks display for kids at 5:30pm.

New Year’s Eve in Helsinki

Sunday 31 December 2017, Kansalaistori Square

Family programme:

16:00–16:45: New Year’s Resolutions Tent
17:00–17:30: Maria Baric Company: Heaven of Wishes – Interactions with Dreams
17:30: Fireworks display for kids

Evening programme:

22:00–23.00: DJ Orion, warm-up show
23.00–00.00: New Year’s Eve Show
00.00–00.05: Fireworks display
00.05–01.00: DJ Orion

A live broadcast will be shown on Yle TV2 from 11pm to 1am, including the main show, the fireworks display and the atmosphere in the Kansalaistori square afterwards.

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Helsinki’s official New Year’s Eve celebrations are organised by the City of Helsinki. This traditional event has been held since the 1930s. The event is coordinated by Susa Nokelainen and Marianne Saukkonen and Helsinki Marketing.

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Media contacts and interview requests:

Annina Pikkumäki
Mellakka Helsinki
+358 40 575 5776
annina@mellakkahelsinki.fi

Press images for featured artists 

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