In addition to the seasonal lights that light up around the city, the rest of the year will be illuminated by a new light event Path of Light on 3-6 December. The event weekend offers 14 new light art works and plenty of related events: circus, puppet theatre and fire art. Some of the light works will be left to bring cheer to city residents after the holidays. The Path of Light works can be viewed in any order during the walking tour. The route length is 10,000 steps. The event and routes are free and accessible.
We also recommend taking part in the self-guided Light Orienteering from 3 December to 9 January. The city adventure in the Old Town area takes you through the centuries of Turku and lights up the city's lights with a game. The length of the route is approximately 2.5 km.
The guided Christmas Walk tour introduces you to the Finnish Christmas traditions and takes you around the main sights of Turku Christmas from the Turku Cathedral Christmas tree to the Brinkkala balcony. Tickets for the Christmas Walks must be booked in advance. The Walks take place on Saturdays before Christmas and also on Boxing Day 26 December.
Christmas exhibitions, market bustle and Christmas activities
Turku City museums offer experiences like the Christmas Dinner Table exhibition at the Pharmacy Museum and Qwensel House, the Little Elf’s tours at Turku Castle and the Christmas in the Old Days event at Kuralan Kylämäki Village. At the Christmas workshops in the Adventure Park Seikkailupuisto, Vimma Activity Centre and Kuralan Kylämäki Village, you can make gifts, cards, candles and Christmas decorations. At the Turku Main Library, Christmas is made into comics.
Markets and bazaars are also part of the Christmas festivities. You can find hand-made products and delicacies at the familiar Christmas booths set up at the Old Great Square on the four weekends before Christmas, on Saturdays and Sundays between 27 November and 19 December from 11.00 to 17.00. The New Design Christmas Market will also move to the Old Town area, to the old Rettig factory on 27-28 November. The largest Christmas bazaar in Finland will attract people to the Fair Centre on 4 December, and the Turku Voluntary Fire Brigade Building will be filled with handicrafts and delicacies on 12 December. More details about Christmas bazaars around the city can be found in the Turku Region event calendar.
In the centre of Turku, you can get into Christmas cheer by joining the Christmas Path theme day events. There is plenty to do at the Elves’ Night event on 4 December and at the Elf Children’s activity workshops on 18 December. You can also walk around the city centre and admire the elf door displays in shop windows. The social media Christmas calendar reveals surprises and offers every day. On the Yliopistonkatu pedestrian street, the artisans’ Christmas stalls are open until Christmas Eve. During the Christmas season, Hansa Shopping Centre will open a Museum Store for the museums in the area, which will be open until 23 December.
Let the music lead you to Christmas
Turku invites city residents to the Independence Day concerts on 6 December at 12 and 15.00. The concert is led by Honorary Conductor Leif Segerstam, and Hanna-Leena Haapamäki will be the soprano soloist. The latter of the concerts can also be viewed live online at tfo.fi/live.
Children from the Turku region will sing and play in the new Hei joulu! children’s musical at Turku Cathedral at the beginning of December. The musical tells the story of the journey to Christmas and is suitable for the whole family.
For many of us, watching the animation The Snowman has become an integral part of our Christmas tradition. Now it can be experienced in a new way at the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra concerts on 15 and 17 December. The animation projected in the Concert Hall is enriched by a live performance by the orchestra.
Top soprano Karita Mattila sings her own Christmas favourites accompanied by pianist Iiro Rantala at the Karita’s Christmas concert at the Concert Hall on 18 December.
Christmas peace near and far
This Christmas, the parishes of Turku and Kaarina will sing the most beautiful Christmas songs for the 49th time. The popular Kauneimmat joululaulut sing-along events will be held several times until the Epiphany on 6 January.
The atmospheric Lucia Day prayer meeting will be held at the Turku Cathedral on 13 December at 17.30. The Lucia procession can also be seen e.g. at the Christmas Market at the Old Great Square 19 December
The joint message of peace of the churches is broadcast to the world from the Ecumenical Christmas in Turku event on 16 December at 18.00 in the Turku Cathedral. The theme of the event, Shared earth, shared responsibility, shared hope, aims to draw attention to the prevention of climate change. Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation WMO, will deliver the humanitarian message. Soprano Helena Juntunen and the chamber choir Nova will perform at the event. Olli Mustonen will lead the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. The event is free of charge.
The centuries-old tradition continues when Turku of Finland once again declares Christmas Peace on December 24 at 12 noon, in front of the crowd gathered at the Old Great Square. You can also get into the peaceful Christmas spirit at the Main Library, which will be open on until 17.00 on Christmas Eve.
The New Year's celebration starts at Kupittaa with snow activities, the Sports Wonderland and, at 18.00, with the children's fireworks display from the outdoor swimming pools. At midnight, you will see a traditional fireworks display from Samppalinnanmäki.
Christmas 2021 events in Turku
Note! Changes possible.
Please follow the current restrictions, the organisers' instructions and arrive at events only if you are healthy. Remember corona pass.
Opening of the Christmas season 27 November
Family lantern procession, Turku Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival, Fairytale Christmas Opening at the city centre and the opening weekend of the Old Great Square Christmas Market. Christmas lights will be lit all over the city.
Christmas Path:
27 November Christmas Parade and Fairytale Christmas opening at Yliopistonkatu
4 December Night of the Elves
18 December Elf children’s workshop day
joulunpolku.fi
Old Great Square Christmas Market
From 27 November to 19 December on four weekends before Christmas on Saturdays and Sundays at 11.00-17.00.
suurtorinjoulumarkkinat.fi
Christmas Walk
Christmas Walks on Saturdays from 27 November to 26 December at 13.00. Reservations in advance from tourist information or online shop kissmyturku.fi
Hei joulu children’s musical
1 December at Turku Cathedral A journey to the first Christmas. Also on 2 December at 16.00 and 4 December at 10.00.
heijoulu.fi
Moles’ December
1-24 December A daily changing story window in the alley of the Market Hall.
turku.fi/valonpolku
Light Path light event
3-6 December The new event weekend is full of light artwork and plenty of related activities.
turku.fi/valonpolku
Light Orienteering
From 3 December to 9 January A city adventure that takes you around the Old Town and through the centuries of Turku. The length of the route is approximately 2.5 km.
turku.fi/valonpolku
Kauneimmat joululaulut, the Most beautiful Christmas Songs
from 3 December to 6 January The most beautiful Christmas songs ring out once again at the sing-along events in the parishes of the Turku region.
turunseurakunnat.fi
Turku City Independence Day concert
6 December at 12.00 and 15.00. The latter concert can be viewed online at tfo.fi/live.
Used book market in the main library
8 December 12.00-18.00 Find books you can give as presents or enjoy yourself.
Liikuttava lahja Christmas concert
9 December at 18.00 in the Cathedral. The collection conducted by athletes goes to support physical activities for children from lower-income families.
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Lucia Day prayer meeting
13 December at 17.30 in Turku Cathedral. Lucia and her ladies and the children's choir of the Swedish-speaking parish sing.
The Snowman concerts
The Snowman animation accompanied by the TFO on 15 and 17 December at 17.30 and 19 at Turku Concert Hall
Karita Mattila: Karita’s Christmas
18 December at 19.00. In the much-expected Christmas concert, Karita Mattila is accompanied by pianist Iiro Rantala.
Ecumenical Christmas in Turku
16 December at 18.00. Recording is available on Yle TV1 before the Declaration of Christmas Peace. Free access.
Christmas at the Main Library - CANCELLED
Come and enjoy the calm Christmas atmosphere and maybe borrow a book gift. The Turku Main Library is open on Christmas Eve on 24 December from 11 to 17.00.
Turku of Finland declares Christmas Peace
24 December at 12 noon. Protocol Manager Mika Akkanen reads the Declaration on the balcony of the Brinkkala House. The Declaration of Christmas Peace can be followed on television, radio and the Internet. No live event.
New Year in Turku - CANCELLED
December 30, at 13-16 Forecasts for the new year, Pharmacy Museum and Qwensel House.
On 31 December at 15.00 Exercise Wonderland and fun snow activities at Kupittaa, children’s fireworks at 18.00.
At 24.00, midnight, traditional fireworks from Samppalinnanmäki.
Epiphany skating - CANCELLED
6 November from 11 to 15: 30 at Parkin kenttä
More Christmas events can be found at www.turku.fi/joulu
More information:
turku.fi/valonpolku
turku.fi/vapaa-aika
turunseurakunnat.fi/joulu
turku.fi/joulunpolku
suurtorinjoulumarkkinat.fi