From taking part in air guitar to sauna-heating and wife-carrying competitions, right here’s our checklist 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 Country.
Sock Run
On the subject of knitting, Finland loves its wool socks. As the Nordic nation can be recognized for its well-known runners, what higher than operating in woolen socks on snowy trails by means 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 akin to scorching juice and soup, and tickets to the native swimming corridor the place contributors can heat up within the sauna, the world-renowned Finnish steam bathtub.
When & the place: February 18, 2023, Orivesi
Sledding Nordic Style
The Kicksled World Championships spotlight the basic Finnish tackle sledding, which includes a wood chair on the entrance and lengthy skis on the underside. Kicksled racing is a severe sport in Finland, and in the course of the annual occasion – this 12 months 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. At the Annual Reindeer Racing Championships spectators benefit from the thrill of seeing opponents flying on their skis behind the reindeer competing on a 1,000-metre lengthy observe. It takes severe talent and plenty of racers have been practising since they have been youngsters.
When & the place: March, 25-26, 2023, Inari
Ski and Sauna
The extremely unique Swimming Suit Skiing 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 purpose is to place a smile on the faces of contributors in winter, whereas giving them the distinctive expertise of alternating cold and hot and in addition inspiring them to strive one thing new which retains the spirit alive.
When & the place: March, 9, 2023, Jämsä
Purl Jam
Heavy metallic lovers and handicrafters unite as Finland hosts the annual Heavy Metal Knitting World Championships. In the Nordic nation, there are greater than 50 heavy metallic bands for each 100,000 individuals and 1000’s of enthusiastic knitters who’re metallic 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 Hot
In Finland, the birthplace of the sauna, heating up the steam bathtub is an artwork. At the Sauna Heating World Championships competing groups purpose to warmth up a tent sauna to a goal temperature as rapidly as attainable. Teams are inspired to decorate as much as entertain the viewers and different opponents, with the perfect outfits awarded. Cooperation, good crew spirit, and a constructive mindset are all that’s wanted.
When & the place: July 8, 2023, Jyväskylä
Playing Dirty
A great sporting match within the mud attracts individuals from world wide to the Swamp Soccer World Championships each summer season. The standard occasion is attended by practically 200 groups, with greater than 2,000 gamers from totally 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 pals and sports activities golf equipment.
When & the place: July 14-15, 2023, Hyrynsalmi, close to Oulu
Wake-up Calls
In the coastal city of Naantali within the Finnish Archipelago, the annual Sleepy Head Day Festival includes a vary of occasions across the theme of sleepy heads – those that sleep late on today are considered lazy and non-productive for the remainder of the 12 months. The day begins with an early-morning wake-up name for the Official Sleepy Head of the Year, a star, 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
Did you realize 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 provides up a full of life expertise for the entire household, whether or not spectating or competing. There’s a spread of classes, together with one for novices, 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 headline-grabbing competitions that happen in Finland, the World Wife Carrying Championship is on the prime of the checklist. Organized in Sonkajärvi yearly since its inception in 1992, the race is received by the primary one over the end line carrying their partner. The fun-loving occasion attracts a great deal of onlookers annually and the prize is the spouse’s weight in beer.
When & the place: June 30-July 1, 2023, Sonkajärvi
Tree Huggers Unite
Every summer season nature lovers collect collectively in Levi, Finnish Lapland, to see who can greatest categorical their ardour for timber 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
Playing for Peace
The legendary Air Guitar World Championships make the worldwide press yearly for its curious, fun-loving method that sees individuals from world wide strumming their imaginary devices on stage. The objective of the annual occasion, which has been organized in Oulu since 1996, is to advertise world peace. According to the organizers, if everybody on the earth have been taking part in an air guitar, nobody would be capable to maintain a gun.
When & the place: August 23-25, 2023, Oulu