Eurovision Song Contest brings hundreds of events to Helsinki streets

The Eurovision Song Contest is set to be a massive festival more than a week long, if plans by the City of Helsinki and its partners come to fruition.
      A programme schedule made public on Wednesday includes about 350 different events, many of which are free of charge. A Eurovision programme leaflet will be distributed to nearly half a million homes in the Helsinki region by early May.
     
"The Eurovision Contest in Helsinki will come closer to ordinary residents than in any host city before", says Eero Holstila, the top city official responsible for business activities.
      Pekka Timonen, the city's cultural director, says that arrangements for the contest have proceeded smoothly.
     
The Eurovision Fan Centre will open at Lasipalatsi, Mannerheimintie 22-24 on Monday next week.
      The official opening of the event will be at the Narinkka Square at Helsinki's Kamppi Center. Events at the square during the week range from karaoke hosted by Marco Bjuström to a stand up show by Ismo Leikola.
     
The week will feature many concerts with a vast array of Finnish artists. Free music will be available in the inner courtyard of Lasipalatsi, and on Senate Square from May 10th. A large video screen will show the semi-finals and finals live.
      Performers at Senate Square include 22-Pistepirkko, Laika & the Cosmonauts, Don Johnson Big Band, Jukka Poika, and Värttinä, as well as the artists Zarkus Poussa, M.A. Numminen and Kari Tapio.
      On Friday, May 11th, the streets of the centre of the city will be closed to cars for a massive Helsinki Party.
     
On the day of the finals, Saturday, May 12th, the points given by Finland will be read out at Senate Square.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Eurovision Song Contest to be shown live on giant screen in Helsinki (8.2.2007)
  Helsinki Arena to welcome 2007 Eurovision Song Contest (22.6.2006)
  Antti Jokinen directs Lordi video for Eurovision (25.4.2007)
  Heavy road construction continues in area near Eurovision Song Contest (16.4.2007)
  Hanna Pakarinen to represent Finland in Eurovision Song Contest (19.2.2007)

Links:
  Eurovision Song Contest
  Helsinki Host City website