Waterfront Walkway Day
Sports and culture by the sea
Bring the whole family and come to Espoo’s Waterfront Walkway to enjoy both exercise and culture on Saturday 6 June from 10:00 to 13:30.
Exercise activities and cultural experiences are organised in the maritime environment of Haukilahti marina and Matinkylä beach area. They are open to children, families with children and anyone enjoying the outdoors on the Waterfront Walkway. All activities are free of charge.
Spend a fun-filled day with the family in the maritime landscapes of Espoo or come and try new sports with a friend. Welcome to the Waterfront Walkway Day!
The program and schedule will be updated closer to the event.
Events schedule
- 10:00 Activity stations open in Matinkylä and Haukilahti. Take part in the activities and collect stamps in your ice cream coupon!
- 11:00–11:45 Dance at the pier on Cafe Merenneito's terrace in Matinkylä
- The dance will begin with a guided warm-up. You won’t need a partner to join in, so why not come and work on your dance moves alone or with your friends!
- Music provided by Espoon pelimannit - Esbo spelmanslag.
- 13:30 Activity stations close and event ends
- 14:00-15:00 Samuli Edelmann performs in Iso Vasikkasaari in front of Gula Villan to celebrate the Waterfront Walkway Day. The audience can expect a musical experience that evokes emotions and touches your soul deeply, surrounded by the landscapes of the summery archipelago. Restaurant Gula Villan(external link, opens in a new window) will be open 12:00–22:00 to serve a dedicated Waterfront Walkway Day menu, with special offers on children's portions and much more.
Free transport to Iso Vasikkasaari during the event – jump on board and enjoy the concert at Gula Villan!
Info about ice cream coupons
By participating in activities, you can collect stamps on an ice cream coupon. With five stamps you earn a free ice cream from Café Merenneito or Skiffer Haukilahti. There are free ice creams for the first 400 to present a coupon with enough stamps. Ice cream coupons are available at information points located near the beaches of Haukilahti and Matinkylä.
Programme on the Matinkylä beach
See the map (map will be updated closer to the event) for where each activity will be organised and read more below. The activity stations are open from 10:00 to 13:30 unless otherwise specified in the description. Please note that those operating the activity stations are not responsible for supervising children. The event will be organised regardless of the weather, but weather conditions may affect how some activities are arranged.
Find out more about the activities in Matinkylä
Location: Cafe Merenneito terrace
See later updates for a more detailed description of this activity.
Where: Cafe Merenneito terrace
Espoon pelimannit - Esbo spelmanslag will play merry tunes to get you twirling at the pier dance on Cafe Merenneito's terrace on a beautiful summer's day! The dance will begin at 11:00 with a guided warm-up, after which you can dance freely to many types of music. The dance will go on for about 45 minutes.
You won’t need a partner to join in, so why not 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. In the event of heavy rain the dance will be cancelled.
The warm-up will be led by Katja Putkonen from Espoo Adult Education Centre, and the music will be provided by Espoon pelimannit - Esbo spelmanslag.
Place: Matinkylä beach, north
Jekku the Rabbit will be inviting young children and their families to take part in exercise activities. Join us and try some of the fun and inspiring tasks which everyone can complete in their own way. Jekku's bouncing song will also be heard regularly on the hour.
The activities will be organised by the Sports Federation of Southern Finland (ESLU), which promotes physical activity and wellbeing in Southern Finland. ESLU supports and provides training for clubs, municipalities and other actors working to promote physical activity in its area.
The station will also provide information about the City of Espoo's new exercise advisory service for families, which offers physical activity counselling for groups and families with young children in Espoo. Family exercise counselling encourages the whole family to take exercise and provides tips for a more active daily life.
Location: Löylykontti at Matinkylä beach
Open doors in Löylykontti at Matinkylä during the event between 10:00 and 14:00! Come and bathe free of charge while admiring the seascape through the window. Will you dare go for a dip, too?
Löylykontti is a year-round public and luxurious sauna experience along Espoo Waterfront Walkway. The saunas serve bathers from morning till evening, with time slots for both the general public and private parties. Löylykontti saunas in Espoo can currently be found in Matinkylä, Kivenlahti and Laaksolahti.
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, south
Gymnastics for the whole family! Try your hand at rhythm gymnastics equipment, such as balls, clubs and ribbons, with guidance provided by ESVOLI.
TapVo will offer gymnastics tasters as follows:
10:15–10:45. Family-friendly exercise with children aged around 3 to 6 years
11:00–11:30 Show dance for all ages
11:45-12:15 Gymnastic exercise for children under school age
12:45-13:15 Gymnastics for children under school age
Our station will also offer games and other fun activities!
The activity will be 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 classes 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.
Tapiolan Voimistelijat provides high-quality and diverse physical activities and gymnastics for families, children, young people and adults in different parts of Espoo. Our club offers high-quality competition and coaching activities in team gymnastics, show dance and dance gymnastics. Our club has been awarded the Finnish Olympic Committee’s Star badge for our work with children, young people and adults.
Place: Matinkylä beach, north
Come and dance by the sea and take exercise that is suitable for the whole family! Espoo Adult Education Centre(external link, opens in a new window) will offer fun participatory exercise sessions for the youngest members of the family together with adults. During these sessions, children will practise basic exercise skills and easy dances through play, allowing them to enjoy movement, music and time together.
At this event, the Adult Education Centre of Espoo will also present the courses offered next autumn and, in particular, provide information about courses that adults and children can take together.
Short sessions of around 10 to 15 minutes start throughout the day at the beach, making it easy to join in spontaneously. Come and experience the joy of exercise and a summery atmosphere – see you on the Waterfront Walkway!
Exercise sessions (10 to 15 minutes) at 10:15, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30 and 13:00
Place: Matinkylä beach, north
The hobby horse track will welcome all hobby horse enthusiasts! 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 knocking down the obstacles?
Additionally, Espoon Latu ja Polku(external link, opens in a new window) will challenge you to complete a balance track and provide an introduction to hiking gear.
Place: Matinkylä beach, near changing rooms
Welcome to chat and play fun children’s games with us! At Matinkylä-Seura’s station you can also learn about the unbuilt area of the Waterfront Walkway in Nuottaniemi, the project to turn Miessaari into an area for recreational use, and Matinkylä’s new online city trails.
The station will be organised by Matinkylä-Seura(external link, opens in a new window), which is a residents’ association operating in Matinkylä, Espoo. We are a link between the residents of the area and a guardian of common interests.
Place: Matinkylä beach, near changing rooms
Representatives of Visit Espoo will talk about such topics as the new thematic Gravel cycling routes in Espoo and the new R2 mountain biking trail, which currently runs from Oittaa to Pirttimäki. Take part in a relaxed cycling-themed quiz and a draw, in which you can win two tickets to a public session at Löylykontti sauna!
In connection with the quiz, you can also try out Tunturi(external link, opens in a new window) e-bikes and gravel bikes for adults.
Place: Matinkylä beach, near changing rooms
Come and join a group of happy builders and get to know the playful illustrated figures familiar from Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora! At this station, participants will put together fast-paced and imaginative obstacle courses for the characters using rocks, sticks and other materials found in nearby nature.
In the Obstacle course of stories event organised by Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora, children can combine story-telling, building and outdoor activities at Matinkylä beach.
The workshop was planned and will be led by Art Instructor Kaisa Karvonen.
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.
Place: Matinkylä beach, south side of the pier
Visit the action-based Baltic Sea bingo station! In this participatory activity organised by Baltic Sea Plogging and Laguuni, you can learn more about the Baltic Sea by means of various observations and tasks.
Each participant will receive a small prize at this station, and there will also be a separate draw for the main prize among all participants.
Laguuni is Finland’s largest water sports and wellness centre. Baltic Sea Plogging is a charity project initiated by Laguuni that has expanded into a national activity. Today, Baltic Sea Plogging offers everyone an opportunity to participate throughout the summer in Finland’s largest work party with the aim of cleaning up the Baltic Sea.
The goal of the activities is to raise awareness of the Baltic Sea's ecological status and inspire people to take concrete action. We will offer cleaning kayaks and rowing boats free of charge for everyone to use, this way enabling as many people as possible to participate in protecting the Baltic Sea.
See later updates for a more detailed description of this activity.
Place: Matinkylä beach, south side of the pier
The description of the activity will be updated later.
Location: will be announced later
Join us to learn, experiment and improve your water safety skills! At the water skills and safety station, you get to learn about important skills that will improve your safety on water – in a fun and engaging way.
You will try out your skills with throw lines, lifebuoys and other rescue equipment that you throw out, and test life jackets.
The station will also offer up-to-date information on hazardous areas at local beaches in Espoo and on preparing for and preventing accidents. You may be surprised at how small things can significantly improve safety!
The station will be organised by UIMAKE project employees, who will guide and encourage participants in a relaxed atmosphere. The activities will be suitable for all ages – children, adults and families alike – and provide useful information for anyone who spends time near water.
Place: Matinkylä beach, south side of the pier
At the station provided by the Week of Finnish Championships and paddling club Canoa, you will get an introduction to paddle touring. Representatives of the Week of Finnish Championships (SM-viikko), which will take place in Leppävaara, Espoo on 30 July–2 August 2026, will also be present. Try out a touring kayak and open canoe with the help of an instructor!
Canoa(external link, opens in a new window) is a paddling club based in Espoo that engages in paddle touring and canoe sprinting. Operating from Suvisaaristo, the club organises beginner's paddling courses for adults, children and young people in summer. The Week of Finnish Championships(external link, opens in a new window) is a multi-sport event that will once more be organised in Leppävaara, Espoo on 30 July–2 August 2026. In addition to many other sports, the week will feature Finnish championships in canoe marathon and coastal rowing.
Location: Nokkala archipelago boat harbour
The Espoo archipelago boat operates free of charge from Nokkala to Haukilahti and the island of Iso Vasikkasaari throughout the Waterfront Walkway Day!
Free departures from Nokkala to Iso Vasikkasaari during the event at the following times: 10:30, 11:45, 12:30 and 13:45. The last departure will take you just in time to listen to the concert that starts at 14:00 outside Restaurant Gula Villan.
The departures back from Iso Vasikkasaari are at 11.15 a.m., 12.00 noon, 1.15 p.m., 2 p.m an 3.15 pm.
Further information on archipelago traffic: Scheduled archipelago boats | City of Espoo
Programme at Haukilahti marina
See the map (map will be updated closer to the event) for where each activity will be organised and read more below. The activity stations are open from 10:00 to 13:30 unless otherwise specified in the description. Please note that those operating the activity stations are not responsible for supervising children. The event will be organised regardless of the weather, but weather conditions may affect how some activities are arranged.
Find out more about the activities in Haukilahti marina
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.
Place: Northern part of Haukilahti marina
Come and get to know Taekwon-Do! At a station provided by Sirius Taekwon-Do, you can practise kicking at point gloves. You can also compete in precision and skill with your friends in clothes peg sparring.
Sirius Taekwon-Do(external link, opens in a new window) is a martial arts club specialising in sports activities for children and young people that operates in Greater Tapiola area. Around 120 children and young people train with the club. Taekwon-Do is a fun and versatile sporting activity that develops both your body and your mind.
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: 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
See later updates for a more detailed description of this activity.
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.
Place: The lawn of Haukilahti marina
Welcome to play beach bingo that is suitable for the whole family! You can collect your bingo card at the station. The tips will lead you to task cards in the marina area that will encourage you to take exercise and explore nature in different ways.
The station will also provide information about the new exercise advisory service for families, which offers physical activity counselling for groups and families with young children in Espoo. Family exercise counselling encourages the whole family to take exercise and provides tips for a more active daily life.
Location: The lawn of Haukilahti marina
Welcome to try capoeira!
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian combination of dance, acrobatics, music and self-defence. It also incorporates Brazilian culture and Portuguese language, which you will learn naturally during the classes.
Capoeira develops your body and mind diversely: flexibility, strength, coordination, balance, concentration and problem-solving. It also supports self-esteem, well-being, empathy and teamwork skills. The training takes place in a roda, or circle, where you learn to listen and work together.
Capoeira is a fun, approachable and healthy hobby for people of all ages and levels.
The station will be organised by Suomen Capoeiraliitto(external link, opens in a new window), which is spreading awareness of capoeira in schools, universities and other communities across Finland.
Place: The lawn of Haukilahti marina
Come and play football on an inflatable arena! Here, you can play football inside inflatable walls.
The activity station will be organised by the football club HooGee, or Haukilahden pallo.(external link, opens in a new window)
Place: Walkway to the archipelago boat dock
Come and try out angling at Haukilahti marina. The activity station will have fishing rods with baits for you to borrow.
As guidance will be provided by the skilled fishers of Bodomin Koukkupojat(external link, opens in a new window), you might just get lucky.
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
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: Asphalt area near Restaurant Strindberg
The library and culture bus of Espoo, Välkky, joins in on the Waterside Walkway Day and the joys of exercise. After physical activity, some recovery time may be needed: come and pause for a moment with books or calming music. The bus will have books for all ages, especially those on physical activity and well-being selected for the day. You can borrow books with your Helmet library card and return them to any Helmet library.
Location: Asphalt area near Restaurant Strindberg
At Sports Studio Lumotar's station, you can try a fun and slightly different form of exercise with jump shoes. The jump shoes make your steps light and result in soft and bouncing moves! You engage in effective but joint-friendly exercise almost without noticing. At this station you can try the Kangaroo jump shoes under guidance with a relaxed and fun approach, without any previous experience. You need not worry about falling: the shoes are really stable and safe to use.
This station is only suitable for adults, especially for those who would like to try something new and exciting!
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.
Location: In front of Restaurant Strindberg, septic tank pier
The national boating safety week takes place in early June. To mark the week, the Finnish Lifeboat Institution will organise open boat events around Finland. Come and explore Espoon Meripelastajat's rescue boat Emmi in the boat club marina.
Espoon Meripelastajat(external link, opens in a new window) works together with the Coast Guard and the Emergency Response Centres. Its tasks include assisting boaters who are in trouble due to grounding or engine failure. It also assists the authorities in search and rescue operations and provides ambulance services in the sea area. Espoon Meripelastajat has been assisting boaters in Espoo archipelago for 60 years.
Place: In front of Restaurant Strindberg
In the children’s world organised by Suomen Purjehdus- ja Veneilyliitto, the youngest members of the family can test their skills with edge balancing levels and a sailing simulator. The station will also have a Slippery Beach Stones track.
The station of Espoon Merenkävijät sailing club will provide visitors with information about sailing as a hobby. Options will be on offer 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, and now also J70 boats(external link, opens in a new window). Our training activities aim to educate young people into skilled and enthusiastic sailors.
Place: In front of Espoon Merenkävijät sailing club's office building (Mellstenintie 12)
Come and chat to sailor Viivi Moisio about her solo sailing project across the Atlantic in November 2026! Children can also design and colour in their own Class globe 580 boats and test their accuracy by throwing lightweight styrofoam life rings at target posts.
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!
Free departures from Haukilahti to Iso Vasikkasaari during the event at the following times: 10:15, 11:30, 12:15 and 13:30. The last departure will take you there in time to listen to the concert starting at 14:00 outside Restaurant Gula Villan.
The free departures back from Iso Vasikkasaari are at 11.15 a.m., 12.00 noon, 1.15 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3.15 pm.
Further information on archipelago traffic: Scheduled archipelago boats | City of Espoo
