Under the Christmas Lights

The traditional Grand Opening of Christmas is celebrated in Turku during the last weekend in November, on Saturday 25th. At the same time, the Christmas season begins, offering joyful Christmas spirit and a variety of events all the way until Saint Knut's Day, January 13th. At the Grand Opening of Christmas, you can expect a Christmas parade and eagerly awaited guests from Korvatunturi (Santa Claus's magical home), as well as the lighting of the sparkling Christmas lights of the Finland's number one Christmas tree and the Turku city center!

The programme of the Grand Opening of Christmas

  • At 15:45: Cathedral's Christmas Tree Celebration.
  • At 16:45: Christmas Parade leaves from the Library Bridge and goes along the Aura River, crossing the Kristiinankatu street and Yliopistonkatu pedestrian street to the market square.
  • The Christmas lights in the city center are lighted.
 

The traditional Grand Opening of Christmas brings light and creates a cozy Christmas atmosphere throughout the Turku city center.

The Grand Opening of Christmas starts with the Cathedral's Christmas Tree Celebration at Turku Cathedral at 15:45. The program includes, among other things, Christmas music. After the pastor's speech, the celebration culminates when the lights on the Cathedral's Christmas Tree are lighted to illuminate the Christmas season.

After the Cathedral's Christmas Tree Celebration, a Christmas parade led by Santa Claus proceeds across the Yliopistonkatu pedestrian street to the Market Square, where the Snow Queen will light the Christmas lights in the Turku city center.

This year, the Christmas lights will be lighted in Turku for the 75th time, as they were first lighted in 1948 on Yliopistonkatu street, between Aurakatu and Humalistonkatu streets. The Christmas street immediately acquired a permanent position among the Christmas celebrations of Turku residents and the grand annual opening became a long-awaited event for everyone in the city.

At the Market Square, the Christmas opening culminates with a delightful programme for the whole family.

Welcome to join in and start the countdown to a magical Christmas together with family and friends!

The event is free.