Programme at the Christmas Market

In the midst of the Christmas rush, Helsinki Christmas Market offers a delightful programme. Welcome to the market to meet Santa Claus and enjoy Christmas music and old-fashioned barrel organ!

Programme

Santa Claus
December 1, 14:00–19:00
December 2, 12:00–17:00
December 9, 12:00–17:00
December 16, 12:00–17:00
December 22, 12:00–17:00

Santa Claus takes a daily 30-minute break from 14:30 to 15:00.

Mrs. Claus
December 6, 12:00 – 16:00
December 10, 15:00–19:00

Barrel Organ Player
December 3, 14:00 and 15:00: Barrel Organ Player Pikku-Markku
December 20, 17:00 and 18:00: Barrel Organ Player Pikku-Markku

Pikku-Markku is a new barrel organ player from Helsinki, whose beautiful-sounding organ can play over a hundred different songs. He has been turning the crank since summer, so there’s plenty of enthusiasm for playing. The selection includes Christmas carols, Finnish pop songs, pop music, film music, and now also children’s songs.

Soiva Joulukortti Duo
December 1, 16:30 – 17:30
December 5, 16:30 – 17:30
December 12, 16:30 – 17:30

A duo of professional musicians who will perform well-known Christmas carols in Finnish and English at the market. Listeners can expect a moment of genuine Christmas spirit through music.

Choir – ZinZingen
December 17, 16:00

ZinZingen is a choir from Helsinki, whose repertoire is a mix of groovy and more delicate songs, with varying themes. They will bring a bright and atmospheric Christmas greeting to the market.

British Army Band Sandhurst
December 10, 12:00
December 10, 14:00

The British Army’s military band will perform traditional Christmas songs.

Carousel
Helsinki Christmas Market offers free carousel rides for people of all ages throughout the market. The carousel will turn 1,500 times during the market, and a total of 38,640 children and childlike market visitors will be able to ride.

Independence Day, December 6
The student parade arrives at Senate Square and there will be a program on the steps of Helsinki Cathedral on December 6, approximately 17:50-18:15

Lucia Parade
December 13. Coronation at Helsinki Cathedral 17:00-18:00, parade starts from in front of the church on Hallituskatu around 18:15

Work Demonstrations at the Market

Takolasi:
Work demonstration is from Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00 onwards, for about half an hour until the market closes.
Experience and see how hot glass glows, stretches, bulges, and contracts in accordance with the glassblower’s movements and breaths. At our booth, you can watch glassblowing up close, and we are happy to narrate our work and answer questions during the process.

Onnellisen sepän paja:
Daily demonstrations (half an hour is required to light and extinguish the forge at the beginning and end of the opening hours).
The booth will light up the forge every day of the market, and forging demonstrations are held daily until the last hour. The best time for market visitors interested in forging to stop by is almost anytime.

All kinds of small and necessary items are made, either for sale at the booth or even as custom orders – so you can approach the smith on duty with your own request.

Hot Chestnuts and Sweet Almonds
Come and see how chestnuts are handled and roasted. How do you recognize a ripe chestnut, and which side should be cut?