From enjoying air guitar to sauna-heating and wife-carrying competitions, right here’s our record of unconventional occasions celebrating Finland that may take you to new locations and experiences – and put a smile in your face within the World’s Happiest Nation.
Sock Run
On the subject of knitting, Finland loves its wool socks. Because the Nordic nation can also be recognized for its well-known runners, what higher than operating in woolen socks on snowy trails by way of the forests? The annual Woolsock Run Finnish Championship options competitions of various lengths starting from 3k to 6k and 12k, with on-site necessities comparable to scorching juice and soup, and tickets to the native swimming corridor the place individuals can heat up within the sauna, the world-renowned Finnish steam bathtub.
When & the place: February 18, 2023, Orivesi
Sledding Nordic Fashion
The Kicksled World Championships spotlight the basic Finnish tackle sledding, which encompasses a picket chair on the entrance and lengthy skis on the underside. Kicksled racing is a severe sport in Finland, and throughout the annual occasion – this yr marks the thirty second anniversary – a spread of different actions together with skating and winter tenting spherical out the lively weekend.
When & the place: March 10-11, 2023, Multia, Central Finland
Races with Reindeer
In Finnish Lapland there are as many individuals as reindeers – about 180,000 – and the furry four- legged animals are a standard a part of life and tradition within the Arctic. On the Annual Reindeer Racing Championships spectators benefit from the thrill of seeing rivals flying on their skis behind the reindeer competing on a 1,000-metre lengthy monitor. It takes severe talent and plenty of racers have been practising since they had been kids.
When & the place: March, 25-26, 2023, Inari
Ski and Sauna
The extremely unique Swimming Go well with Snowboarding occasion was born from the wild concept by two girls of mixing their favorite actions: chilly remedy within the type of snowboarding carrying little greater than a swimsuit and taking a scorching sauna. The occasion’s goal is to place a smile on the faces of individuals in winter, whereas giving them the distinctive expertise of alternating cold and hot and in addition inspiring them to attempt one thing new which retains the spirit alive.
When & the place: March, 9, 2023, Jämsä
Purl Jam
Heavy steel lovers and handicrafters unite as Finland hosts the annual Heavy Steel Knitting World Championships. Within the Nordic nation, there are greater than 50 heavy steel bands for each 100,000 individuals and 1000’s of enthusiastic knitters who’re steel heads, which is why combining the 2 genres offers for a really entertaining and quirky present.
When & the place: July 7, 2023, Joensuu
Some Like It Scorching
In Finland, the birthplace of the sauna, heating up the steam bathtub is an artwork. On the Sauna Heating World Championships competing groups goal to warmth up a tent sauna to a goal temperature as shortly as doable. Groups are inspired to decorate as much as entertain the viewers and different rivals, with the very best outfits awarded. Cooperation, good staff spirit, and a optimistic mindset are all that’s wanted.
When & the place: July 8, 2023, Jyväskylä
Enjoying Soiled
A great sporting match within the mud attracts individuals from around the globe to the Swamp Soccer World Championships each summer time. The favored occasion is attended by almost 200 groups, with greater than 2,000 gamers from completely different international locations. Onsite leisure together with Swamp Rock provides to the fun-loving competitors that’s open to everybody from corporations to teams of buddies and sports activities golf equipment.
When & the place: July 14-15, 2023, Hyrynsalmi, close to Oulu
Wake-up Calls
Within the coastal city of Naantali within the Finnish Archipelago, the annual Sleepy Head Day Pageant encompasses a vary of occasions across the theme of sleepy heads – those that sleep late on today are regarded as lazy and non-productive for the remainder of the yr. The day begins with an early-morning wake-up name for the Official Sleepy Head of the Yr, a celeb, who’s thrown into the Baltic Sea at 7 am. A variety of occasions across the theme together with a market with artisan merchandise, a parade, and a cake competitors.
When & the place: July 27, 2023, Naantali
Going for Gold
Do you know that Finland has a gold rush historical past? In Finnish Lapland, on the Tankavaara Gold Village, you will get acquainted with the story, or take part within the European Gold Panning Championships close by. The annual occasion presents up a energetic expertise for the entire household, whether or not spectating or competing. There’s a spread of classes, together with one for rookies, and the winner in every class is the panner who finds all of the hidden gold nuggets first.
When & the place: July 20-23, 2023, Tankavaara
Wives Up
Among the many headline-grabbing competitions that happen in Finland, the World Spouse Carrying Championship is on the prime of the record. Organized in Sonkajärvi yearly since its inception in 1992, the race is gained by the primary one over the end line carrying their partner. The fun-loving occasion attracts a great deal of onlookers every year and the prize is the spouse’s weight in beer.
When & the place: June 30-July 1, 2023, Sonkajärvi
Tree Huggers Unite
Each summer time nature lovers collect collectively in Levi, Finnish Lapland, to see who can greatest categorical their ardour for bushes on the Tree Hugging World Championships. The cuddly competitors is all about tapping into the advantages that forests have for thoughts and physique in Europe’s most forested nation – near 75 % of Finland’s land space is roofed by forest.
When & the place: August 19, 2023, Halipuu Forest, Kittilä, Finnish Lapland
Enjoying for Peace
The legendary Air Guitar World Championships make the worldwide press yearly for its curious, fun-loving method that sees individuals from around the globe strumming their imaginary devices on stage. The purpose of the annual occasion, which has been organized in Oulu since 1996, is to advertise world peace. In line with the organizers, if everybody on the planet had been enjoying an air guitar, nobody would be capable of maintain a gun.
When & the place: August 23-25, 2023, Oulu