Helsinki hosts dozens of free events and activities for children and young people during winter break

There are dozens of ways you can spend your break week in Helsinki, both indoors and out. Events aimed at families with children and young people will be organised in various parts of the city. In addition to youth centres, the venues will include local sports facilities, libraries, cultural centres and museums.

Traditional Helsinki Winter Bash relocates to Olympic Stadium

The city will host a winter break opening event for the entire family on Saturday, 19 February at 10:00–13:00 at Malmi sports field. Among other things, the event programme will include hand-led pony rides and a magic show. Malmi volunteer fire brigade will present their fire truck and the skating track will be open.

The traditional winter holiday event for the whole family – Helsinki Winter Bash – will take place in urban environment this year, as the legendary Olympic Stadium and its surrounding areas in Töölö will set the stage for the event. In previous years, the event has been organised in Paloheinä. As usual, the event will be free-of-charge with plenty of things to do. Helsinki Winter Bash will be held at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday, 22 February at 15:30–18:30. Paw Patrol members Marshall and Chase will be the stars of the event.

Ice skating rinks and ski tracks will be open for everyone to enjoy throughout the winter break week and also the city’s swimming pools will be open. Instructions for self-guided winter holiday orienteering will be available at Helsinki Central Library Oodi and Vuosaari House, among other places.

Sports, excursions, art, games and crafts available for young people

Tiivistämö in Suvilahti will host a variety of music- and dance-based activities for young people throughout the winter break week. At Tiivistämö, you can, for example, jump into a dance video machine, participate in a DJ workshop or watch films on the history of the hip hop culture. On Friday, 25 February, Tiivistämö will live stream the performances of two upcoming young rap artist on Helsinki Channel. The Sexmane & Pessa live stream show will start at 18:30 and include also artist interviews in addition to the performances. Furthermore, the first 200 lucky people will get the chance to see the show live at Tiivistämö.

During the winter break, local youth centres will organise various excursions, events, workshops and other activities planned by young people themselves. Youth centres will also host open evenings where you can play games, cook, watch films and hang out with old and new friends.

Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of manga in Malmitalo’s Manga Heaven room, designed and implemented by young people. In addition to a drawing workshop and book tips, Malmitalo will also host a manga film screening. At Kannelmäki Youth Centre, you can make natural cosmetics of ordinary household materials.

During the winter break week, libraries will organise story time, crafts and detective missions for the youngest members of the family. Older children can enjoy, for example, console and boardgames available in libraries. At the Incredibox beatbox workshop organised in the libraries of Itäkeskus, Kontula and Vuosaari, you can try out an easy-to-use music-making app. 

Under 18-year-olds always have free admission to HAM Helsinki Art Museum and the Helsinki City Museum. The City Museum’s ‘Dear Tallinn’ exhibition is open until 27 February. 

See the entre winter break activity offering at nuorten.helsinki/talviloma.