Helsinki celebrates 16th Night of the Arts tonight

Programme into the small hours

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Tonight marks the 16th holding of the annual "Night of the Arts" carnival, with a cornucopia of cultural happenings large and small all over the city of Helsinki. Over 110 separate programme numbers will be arranged, starting out with events for families in the early evening and going on in the art galleries, libraries, and bookstores of the capital until the small hours.
     
Police expect a busy night and are prepared to have extra officers on hand to clamp down on disturbances if any occur. Tens of thousands of people are expected to participate in tonight’s cultural events in Helsinki.
      Last year, 500 reports of disturbances were made to the police alarm centre over the Night of the Arts, which is one fifth more than on a typical weekday. However, the number of drunken citizens has declined considerably from the mid-1990s, when the evening began to resemble the organised chaos of May Eve. The weather forecast - rain - may also dampen high spirits.
      The Night of the Arts is arranged by the Helsinki Festival, by the City of Helsinki, and by numerous private artists, associations, and companies (including Helsingin Sanomat).
     
Details of the evening's events  can be found from the Helsinki Festival site, linked below. If you are looking for things in the immediate downtown area, don't forget that the word for "City Centre" is "Keskusta". Information on late-running extra buses, trams, and trains is available (in Finnish) from the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council site.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki Night of the Arts tonight (28.8.2003)

See also:
  Local Helsinki weather forecast

Links:
  Helsinki Festival Night of the Arts
  YTV Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council

Helsingin Sanomat