Waterfront Walkway Day

Location: Cafe Merenneito terrace

Mermaids from the Finnish mermaiding association Suomen merenneitoharrastajat Ry jump out of the water for a moment so that you can come and say hello to them. You can ask them anything you want to know about mermaiding. Naturally, you will meet the mermaids at Cafe Merenneito, meaning mermaid in Finnish.

Do you venture to have your picture taken with a mermaid?

Suomen merenneitoharrastajat Ry has been established in 2020 and currently has about 50 members. The association is dedicated to promoting mermaiding and building a sense of community. Enthusiasts of all ages and walks of life are welcome. All you need to take up mermaiding is being able to swim and having a few other basic skills. In the beginning, the necessary equipment can often be leased. As mermaiding is a diving sports, it is important to know the correct techniques and safety issues.

Where: Cafe Merenneito terrace

On Cafe Merenneito terrace, you can dance your heart out when the city sports instructors lead people to a dance at the pier! The dance at the pier will begin at 12 noon with an instructed dance warm-up. After this, feel free to dance on the terrace to the rhythms of humppa and waltz. The dance lasts about 45 minutes. 

You don’t need a partner to join the dance, so you can come and work on your dance moves alone or with your friends! Please note that the instructed part of the dance event can only accommodate a limited number of participants.

The sports instructors of the City of Espoo will act as instructions at the dance at the pier. The music will be performed by the band Rytmikonkarit.

Location: Matinkylä beach, north   

Petteri Rimpinen and Tuomas Suoniemi, who both play in the top professional ‘Liiga’ ice hockey league in Finland, will be signing autographs. You can also try your hand at ice hockey stick handling on our drill track. 

Kiekko-Espoo is the Espoo residents' own Liiga team, to which they were promoted last season. Kiekko-Espoo is Europe’s largest ice sports club, with more than 3,000 members. Kiekko-Espoo’s juniors include boy and girl hockey teams and ringette teams. Our community is constantly growing, so we heartily welcome you to Kiekko-Espoo! The new Liiga season will begin in September 2025.  

Location: Matinkylä beach, north

Come and try Cornhole! Cornhole is a classic outdoor game that brings together friends and families, and calls for throwing skills, precision and strategy. In the game, players throw bags at a wooden board and try to hit the hole in the board.

Kiekko-Espoo’s league players and influencer Tytti Tyrkkö (@jaatynytbanaaniofficial) will be at the Cornhole point between 12 and 12.30 p.m. Challenge the athletes and Tytti for a game of Cornhole and win a prize! 

The point is operated by Cornhole Finland(external link, opens in a new window), an organisation founded by firefighters from Espoo. Cornole Finland promotes and develops Cornhole as a game for all ages and skill levels.

Location: Matinkylä beach, north

At Cave Entertainment’s activity station, you can experience what virtual reality (VR) feels like! This is a game in which players use a lightsaber – like the ones you see in the Star Wars universe – to hit blocks they see in front of them to the rhythm of the music played. Come and try what VR glasses are like and listen to good music.

Cave Entertainment is an event organiser specialising in gaming services and a piloting partner of the City of Espoo’s Exercise Through Games project.

Location: Matinkylä beach, north

Come and play a game of Mölkky with us! At the Matinkylä-Seura society’s point you can also learn about the unbuilt area of the waterfront walkway in Nuottaniemi, about the project to turn Miessaari into an area for recreational use, and about Matinkylä’s new online city trails. 

The station is organised by the local society Matinkylä-Seura ry(external link, opens in a new window). Matinkylä-Seura society is a residents’ association operating in Matinkylä, Espoo. We act as a link between the residents of the area and as a guardian of common interests.

Location: Matinkylä beach, north

All hobby horse enthusiasts, welcome the hobby horse track! The track is suitable for both beginners and more experienced hobby horse riders. You can borrow a fast and vigorous or a calm hobby horse to test the track. You can also bring your own hobby horse. Can you clear the track without dropping the obstacles?

At Espoon Latu ja Polku(external link, opens in a new window) society’s stand, children can learn to make little cows out of conifer cones.  

Location: Matinkylä beach volleyball net

Espoo Lentis will provide instruction on volleyball and beach volleyball. Come and try out volleyball with your friends and family! 

Espoo Lentis is a youth volleyball club in Espoo, and it is currently for girls only. Read more about our activities on our website: Espoo Lentis(external link, opens in a new window). At the moment, we are also looking for new coaches, so if you are interested in promoting physical activity among children and young people, please contact: Riitta Metsäkoivu, riitta.metsakoivu@pp.inet.fi  

Location: Matinkylä beach, north

At the activity station, you can try out how figure skaters practice outside the rink. Test your balance, jump and spin like a figure skater! The activity station also provides information on the activities of Espoon Jäätaiturit and on how to take up skating. At the activity station, Espoon Jäätaiturit also has a draw where one of the participants can win a whole season of training at the skating school free of charge in the autumn. At the activity station, Espoon Jäätaiturit also has a draw where one of the participants can win a whole autumn season of training at the skating school free of charge.

Espoon Jäätaiturit ry(external link, opens in a new window) is a top-level Finnish figure skating club and a warm-hearted community. The club welcomes people of all ages, no matter if you are an athlete aiming for the top or just enthusiastic about skating in general. The hobby begins with the Jäätaiturit skating school, where you can practice the basics of skating in your own safe group under the guidance of a competent instructor. Are you a future skating talent at Jäätaiturit?

Location: Matinkylä beach, north

Welcome to have great fun at the bouncy castle! The bouncy castle is intended for children only.

The activity is organised by Espoo’s Sports and Exercise Unit.

Location: In front of the Matinkylä beach pier

Task cards with the Espoo liikkuu logo have been hidden around the Matinkylä beach. Get your own bingo card from the City of Espoo sports instructors’ stand and find task cards with exercise-related tasks and riddles. The tasks make use of the terrain and materials found in the environment. Complete a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on your bingo card or find all task cards! 

The activity is organised by Espoo’s Sports and Exercise Unit.

Location: Matinkylä beach, south

Gymnastics for the whole family! Try your hand at rhythm gymnastics apparatuses such as balls, cubs and ribbons, with guidance provided by ESVOLI. 

TapVo will offer gymnastics lessons as follows:

10:15–10:45 a.m. Children’s dance gymnastics 

11:00–11:30 a.m. Family exercise with children aged 3–6

11:45–12:15 noon Latinmix for all ages!

12:45–1:15 p.m. Family dance 

 
Our stand will also offer other fun activities such as games!

The activity is arranged by the sports clubs Espoon Voimistelu- ja Liikuntayhdistys ESVOLI ry(external link, opens in a new window) and Tapiolan Voimistelijat ry(external link, opens in a new window).

Espoo gymnastics and sports association ESVOLI is a sports club that specialises in rhythmic gymnastics. We offer gymnastics on several skill levels. We have gymnastics lessons in various areas of Espoo and they are suitable for everyone, so joining our club is easy. In addition to children and young people’s recreational classes, ESVOLI’s daily activities include coaching competitive rhythmic gymnastics from the age of 6 to adults. We are a human-oriented operator, and for us, each individual is important as themselves.

Tapiolan Voimistelijat is the 10th largest gymnastics club in Finland. It offers a wide range of options for physical activity, group exercise for adults, physical activity classes for children and families, and dance classes for children, young people and special groups. Tapiolan Voimistelijat provides various opportunities for gymnastics, and members can take classes once or twice a week, or they can apply for the coaching teams. TapVo offers classes in aesthetic team gymnastics and dance gymnastics.

Together with Espoo’s Early Childhood Education and Espoo’s Sports and Exercise Department, ESVOLI and TapVo will organise Leiki ja liiku (Play & Move) activities in the Espoon keskus area and, from autumn 2025, also in Matinkylä.   

Location: Matinkylä beach, southern

At the Espoon Pesis activity station, you can learn about baseball skills in the form of a fun activity track. Come and exercise with the whole family!

Espoon Pesis(external link, opens in a new window) is a baseball club with a place for everyone. It provides recreational activities for people ranging from children in preschool age to adults, and team activities for those aged over 5. Of course, parents and other volunteers are also warmly welcome to join us!

Location: Matinkylä beach, southern

At the stand, you can try disc golf and putting into a disc golf basket under the guidance of the Puskasoturit disc golfers.

Puskasoturit ry(external link, opens in a new window) is an Espoo-based disc golf club established in 2006.

The club organises weekly competitions all year round on different Espoo tracks and maintains Espoo disc golf courses together with the City of Espoo.

Free field training and joint game tours and competitions are organised for young people, and free sports demonstrations and events are organised for schools as well as associations that work for the benefit of children. The club also offers free instruction for seniors, disc golf presentations and joint game tours.

In addition, Puskasoturit organises company golf events where a company’s employees can practice their technique and play a round under guidance.

Location: Nokkala archipelago boat harbour

The Espoo archipelago boat operates free of charge from Haukilahti via Nokkala to the island of Iso Vasikkasaari throughout the Waterfront Walkway Day!

Departures from Nokkala to Iso Vasikkasaari during the event at the following times: 10:30, 11:45, 12:30 and 13:45. The departures from Iso Vasikkasaari are at 11.15 a.m., 12.00 noon, 1.15 ‘p.m. and 2 p.m.

Further information on archipelago traffic: Scheduled archipelago boats | City of Espoo

Paikka: on the Waterfront Walkway between Haukilahti and Matinkylä at Brändholmen

Get acquainted with the Villa Koli sauna building as the cycling club IK-32 organises open doors at its building. The sauna is a small yellow wooden building located on the Waterfront Walkway between Haukilahti and Matinkylä at Brändholmen. IK-32 also arranges small spring checks for children’s bicycles at Villa Koli. Is your bicycle saddle at the right height, the wheels pumped up, the brakes in good working order and the chains lubricated?

Idrottsklubben 32 (IK-32)(external link, opens in a new window) is an Espoo-based specialised cycling club with activities in Espoo and neighbouring areas all year round. The club has lively recreational activities in which each cycling enthusiast will find suitable training opportunities regardless of their age and gender. The club will organise the Cyclocross Finnish Championships in Olari in October.

Location: Northern part of Haukilahti marina

Welcome to the lovely Flower Buffet workshop for the whole family! In the workshop, you can create small bouquets of flowers from genuine cut flowers and summer greenery. The workshop will be bursting with colours and joyful summer atmosphere! The making of bouquets is primarily intended for children. There is a limited amount of materials available, so if you want to arrange flowers, come in good time!

Hupsansaa ry is an association established in 2018. It produces workshops with different experiential content for cultural centres, companies and organisations. The events are suited for people of all ages. The event services include flower arrangement events, sensory rooms and crafts workshops with changing themes.

Location: Northern part of Haukilahti marina

Habanera ry offers information on dance courses at their stand and organises dance performances during the day. 

Habanera is an Espoo-based dance sports club established in 1994, where the joy and learning of dance is at the centre of all activities. We offer high-quality teaching to dancers of all ages and levels. Further information about the club: Habanera ry(external link, opens in a new window) .

Location: Northern part of Haukilahti marina

At the Espoo Circus and Theatre School ESKO’s activity station, you can try out throwing and handling different juggling props. At the activity station, you can also test your own balance by trying out different balancing equipment. Welcome to practice some circus acts!

ESKO is Finland’s largest performing arts school with facilities in different parts of Espoo. It offers leisure activity groups in theatre and circus arts for people of all ages.

Location: In front of Skiffer Haukilahti

Professional magician Kristian Backman circulates the Haukilahti marina from 11:00 to 12:00, doing close-up magic tricks and making balloon figures for children. The magic happens right under your eyes, making the experience intimate and personal.

Kristian Backman is one of the few professional magicians in Finland and one of the most sought-after performers in the country. He makes approximately 200 gigs a year both in Finland and abroad and has won several Finnish championships as magician.

Location: The lawn of Haukilahti marina

At the activity station of Espoon Tapiot, children can test how fast they can run 20 metres and practise their skills on the athletics track!

Espoon Tapiot is one of Finland’s largest athletics clubs. Every week, we make it possible for around 1,000 children, young people and adults to engage in physical exercise. We want to offer everyone the opportunity to practice athletics in accordance with their own goals and desires!

Location: The lawn of Haukilahti marina

Guess the weight of a discus, see how fast you can throw a turbo javelin into the net, and participate in a prize draw and win tickets for the Kaleva Games! 

You can also learn more about the Kaleva Games and Espoon Rantamaraton and talk to the competition organisers.

This year, the Espoon Rantamaraton(external link, opens in a new window) will take place on 20 September. With routes ranging from five kilometres to a full marathon, the event is suitable for all skill and fitness levels. Come and enjoy a run in the fabulous maritime landscapes of Espoo!

This year, the annual Kalevan Kisat(external link, opens in a new window) will take place in Leppävaara, Espoo! The Finnish Athletics Championships will be held on 1–3 August, and the event will offer the best Finnish elite sport this summer.

Location: The lawn of Haukilahti marina

You can try out different moves at the activity station of Espoon Telinetaiturit, or EsTT. Would you like to try making a needle pose or somersault or balancing on an acrobatic stand? You will find fun activities and tricks for people of all ages and skill levels.

At the OVO activity station, you can try out gymnastics equipment (ribbon, hoop, ball) and perform basic gymnastics moves with instructors. At the activity station, the whole family can exercise together. You are warmly welcome!

Espoon Telinetaiturit ry(external link, opens in a new window) is a sports club specializing in gymnastics. It offers skilled guidance and coaching at all skill levels, from those training once a week to those aiming for the top of the world. At EsTT, you can engage in many different forms of gymnastics at Leppävaara, Kilo, Tapiola and Suomenoja: gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, TeamGym and FreeGym. The smallest children practice at FamilyGyms and gymnastics schools. There are options starting from the age of one with no upper age limit! EsTT is one of the star clubs of the Finnish Olympic Committee.

Olarin Voimistelijat ry (OVO)(external link, opens in a new window) is a sports club in Espoo that offers high-quality exercise and top gymnastics – experiences, joy and positive group activities for people of all ages. The activities are divided into amateur sports, competitive sports and elite sports as well as sports events. OVO is a star club in sports for children and young people and for adults.

Location: The lawn of Haukilahti marina

On the climbing wall, both children and adults can test their own skills. Welcome to try out climbing! The activity is organised by Espoo’s Sports and Exercise Unit. This activity station is arranged weather permitting.

Location: The lawn of Haukilahti marina

Capoeira is an afro-brasilian martial art that combines dance, acrobatics, music and self-defence. It is important to remember that the history of the capoeira is very much linked to the history of Brazil. Through capoeira classes, children and young people can learn to sing and speak in Portuguese, for example.

Capoeira promotes flexibility, strength, co-ordination, balance and general physical fitness, and offers high-quality body weight training that is suitable for all. It also improves self-esteem, well-being, trust, flexibility and empathy. Capoeira includes learning complex movements, enhancing memory and concentration, as well as promoting problem-solving capabilities. Capoeira encourages teamwork, respect and discipline. The roda (circle), where capoeira is practised, teaches students to work together, listen to each other, and develop social ties.

Capoeira is easy, fun and healthy.

The activity station is arranged by Suomen Capoeiraliito(external link, opens in a new window). The Finnish Capoeira Association strives to promote capoeira in schools, universities and other institutions, and to increase its popularity in Finland.

Location: The lawn of Haukilahti marina

Come and play football on an inflatable arena! Here, you can play football inside inflatable walls.

The activity station is organised by the football club HooGee, or Haukilahden pallo.(external link, opens in a new window)

Location: Walkway to the archipelago boat dock

Come and try out angling at Haukilahti marina. At the activity station, there are 10 fishing rods with baits you can borrow.

Angling is guided by the skilled fishermen of Myyrmäen Kalamiehet Ry, so you may even catch some fish.

Location: Walkway to the archipelago boat dock

Welcome to the activity station for wheelchair basketball. Here you can try out the fast-paced sport under the guidance of Tapiolan Honka wheelchair basketball players. At the spot, you will find sports wheelchairs, basketballs and baskets mounted at a low level. The player instructors are also part of the Finnish national wheelchair basketball team.

Come and try out how it feels to play basketball from a wheelchair!

Tapiolan Honka(external link, opens in a new window), established in 1957, is the second largest basketball club in Finland. It offers basketball activities for girls, boys, women and men of all ages. Tapiolan Honka hosts both recreational teams and elite teams, as well as applied sports, such as wheelchair basketball and unified basketball. The club operates in southern Espoo and Greater Tapiola area. The club operates in southern Espoo and Greater Tapiola area.

Location: Walkway to the archipelago boat dock

Come and try whether you can win the game played using knitted tits with speed, cleverness or power? At the activity station, you can spin a wheel and perform different tasks using our lovely, knitted tits. At the same time, you will learn about the secrets of breast health.

Tunne rintasi ry(external link, opens in a new window) offers information on the impact of lifestyle choices on breast health, breast cancer and its symptoms, and mammogram screening. The aim is to promote body health and the early detection of breast cancer.

Location: Walkway to the archipelago boat dock

Have you always wanted to try orienteering? Release your internal explorer at the Espoon Suunta’s stand, where you can get a map and instructions on how to search for control points hidden in the nearby area. The control points will provide clues which you can use to solve a mystery. So head for the Espoon Suunta stand at Haukilahti beach, grab a map, find the control points and solve the mystery, then return to the tent and check if you have the right answer. You can also participate in a prize draw – the prize is an Espoo liikkuu product package.

Espoon Suunta (EsSu) is an Espoo-based orienteering club that aims to promote orienteering in Espoo and neighbouring areas. With high-quality youth and coaching activities, EsSu wants to promote a physically active lifestyle and enable orienteering all the way to the top, in Finland as well as internationally. EsSu is a cheerful club for the whole family where everyone feels at home. Our key focus is on our orienteering school for children, where parents are also welcome. You can read more about our operations at https://espoonsuunta.fi/(external link, opens in a new window)  

Location: In front of Restaurant Strindberg, septic tank pier

Visit the Espoon Meripelastajat sea rescue vessel PV Emmi at the yacht club harbour and talk to voluntary sea rescuers. You can practise casting a throw line and learn to make knots. All participants get liquorice!

Espoon Meripelastajat(external link, opens in a new window) is a member association of the Finnish sea rescue association Suomen Meripelastusseura. The association has operated in the archipelago and sea area between Greater Helsinki and Porkkala since 1966. Espoon Meripelastajat works in co-operation with the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard and the Emergency Response Centre Agency. The duties of the association include towing of boats that cannot function due to grounding or machine failure. The association also assists the authorities in search missions and provides emergency transportation in the sea area.

Location: Haukilahti archipelago boat pier

The ‘children's world’ of Suomen Purjehdus- ja Veneilyliitto, the Finnish sailing and boating federation, will be at the event! In the children’s world, the smallest members of the family can test their skills with edge balancing levels and a sailing simulator. The stall will also have a Slippery Beach Stones track.

At the Espoon Merenkävijät seafarers’ committee’s stand will provide visitors with information about sailing as a hobby. It offers services for both children and adults.

Espoon Merenkävijät(external link, opens in a new window) is one of the star clubs of the Finnish Olympic Committee and the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation’s 2020 Junior Club. The club offers recreational activities with Optimist dinghies, Zoom8 dinghies, Europe dinghies and ILCA dinghies. The EMF now also offers recreational activities on J70 boats(external link, opens in a new window). Our training activities aim to educate young people into skilled and enthusiastic sailors.

Location: In front of the Espoon Merenkävijät office building (Mellstenintie 12)

Meet ocean sailor Viivi Moisio about her solo sailing project across the Atlantic in December 2027! Children can design and colour their own Class Globe 580 boat or participate in a marine litter game where they learn to sort litter into correct sorting bins. 

A representative of Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association(external link, opens in a new window) is also available in front of the EMF building. At this stand, you can get the best waterway-related environmental tip and participate in the Roope beanie prize draw. Everyone who joins the association on Waterfront Walkway Day gets a cool Roope tube scarf! As a member, you will help us improve the state of the Baltic Sea and our lakes, you will have access to the Roope services for responsible water users, you’ll get a member sticker and a magazine, as well as various benefits.

Paikka: Haukilahti archipelago boat pier

The Espoo archipelago boat operates from Haukilahti to the island of Iso Vasikkasaari via Nokkala free of charge throughout the Waterfront Walkway Day!

Departures from Haukilahti to Iso Vasikkasaari during the event at the following times: 10:15, 11:30, 12:15 and 13:30. The departures from Iso Vasikkasaari are at 11.15 a.m., 12.00 noon, 1.15 ‘p.m. and 2 p.m.

Further information on archipelago traffic: Scheduled archipelago boats | City of Espoo

Location: on the Waterfront Walkway between Haukilahti and Matinkylä at Brändholmen

Get acquainted with the Villa Koli sauna building as the cycling club IK-32 organises open doors at its building. The sauna is a small yellow wooden building located on the Waterfront Walkway between Haukilahti and Matinkylä at Brändholmen. IK-32 also arranges small spring checks for children’s bicycles at Villa Koli. Is your bicycle saddle at the right height, the wheels pumped up, the brakes in good working order and the chains lubricated?

Idrottsklubben 32 (IK-32)(external link, opens in a new window) is an Espoo-based specialised cycling club with activities in Espoo and neighbouring areas all year round. The club has lively recreational activities in which each cycling enthusiast will find suitable training opportunities regardless of their age and gender. The club will organise the Cyclocross Finnish Championships in Olari in October.