Enjoy the festive season at Espoo’s cultural venues
Traditional Christmas concerts, fun activities for the whole family, and music to suit all tastes – Espoo’s cultural venues are ready for the holidays. You can also visit interesting art exhibitions or relax to the tunes of singing bowls.
Christmas concerts
Anna Eriksson performs beloved Christmas songs at Sello Hall in Leppävaara two nights in a row, on 12 and 13 December.
The Espoo Cultural Centre in Tapiola offers several Christmas-themed concerts. The Joulun maagiset sävelet concert on 13 December features one of our internationally best known violinists Linda Lampenius and solo cellist Perttu Kivilaakso from Apocalyptica. And once again, Club For Five will be spreading the joy of Christmas through their JOULUNA concert, which sold out last year. This year, the concert takes place on 7 December. Espoo Big Band brings their Merry, Merry Christmas tour to the Cultural Centre on 9 December, featuring vocalists and audience favourites Marika Tuhkala and Sami Pitkämö. Christmas will be in the air at the Joulu, Jul, Jul concert by Emma Salokoski & Ilmiliekki Quartet on 13 December and at the Nutcracker ballet performed by a Ukrainian ballet company on 22 December.
At Kannusali, you can enjoy the Joulunrauhaa concert by Johanna and Mikko Iivanainen on 16 December. The second Christmas concert at Kannusali, Kalleimmat joululaulut on 20 December, features a wide selection of Christmas songs.
Christmas activities for the whole family
Museums in Tapiola have fun family-friendly activities in store for the first weekend of December (2.–3.12.), including arts and crafts workshops, a jewel hunt, a children’s play and much more. You can also meet Santa Claus! The museum cafés Cafe Zoceria WeeGee and Kahvila Hyrrä will be open during the museums’ opening hours.
The Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora in Järvenperä is worth visiting on 13 December (Saint Lucy’s Day) for Karamzin’s culture event featuring a Christmas singalong. On 16 December, families can take part in the elf-themed Tonttujen talo Christmas workshop.
The popular Jouluntouhotus concert held by Mutaveijarit at Sello Hall on Children’s Saturday is sold out, but fortunately there will be an additional concert on 9 December at 13:00!
Puppet Theatre Sampo will perform their traditional Joulu tulla jollottaa – Christmas is coming show at the Espoo Cultural Centre on 5 December. On 16 December, the Cultural Centre presents the Jazz for Kids Christmas Special concert.
On 12 December, you can enjoy Puppet Theatre Sampo’s performance Yllätyslahja – Surprise gift for a friend at Kannusali. On 21 December, Kannusali presents a film concert of the animated classic The Snowman. At the concert, the film will be projected on the screen while an orchestra plays the music live.
Music to suit all tastes
On 8 December, Sello Hall will be celebrating the Day of Finnish Music. To mark the occasion, Anssi Tikanmäen Orkesteri will perform their Maisemakuvia Suomesta concert. Tuure Kilpeläinen will take the stage on 14 December.
The Espoo Cultural Centre presents A Night with Queen (age limit: 18) – a concert by the Queen tribute band Miracle On 7 December, and Macbeth performed by the Wusheng Company on 9 December. Kannusali’s underground stage features Mariska on 8 December and the pioneers of Finnish outlaw country, Freud Marx Engels & Jung, on 15 December.
Afternoon activities, art exhibitions and relaxation
Remember to check out the hugely popular Mauri Kunnas exhibition at the Exhibition Centre WeeGee! Art enthusiasts will also enjoy Pekka Holopainen’s exhibition Metamorfoosi at the Espoo Cultural Centre from 1 to 19 December.
Sello Hall offers an afternoon screening of Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris on 19 December. An afternoon disco, with music from the 60s to the 80s, will be held at the Espoo Cultural Centre on 13 December.
How about some pampering during the busy festive season? Why not try relaxation to the tunes of singing bowls at the Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora on 15 December. Or perhaps you would like to attend a felting workshop on 9 December.
Gift ideas for culture lovers
Sello Hall’s spring programme will be published on Monday 4 December, and the tickets will be available through lippu.fi. Read more on the Sello Hall website.
You can find wonderful art-themed gifts at the Exhibition Centre WeeGee’s Emma Shop and the museum shops of Leikki (the Museum of Play) and Kruunu (the Finnish Museum of Horology and Jewellery).
For more event tips, visit the websites of other cultural venues:
Espoo Cultural Centre, Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora, Kannusali, Exhibition Centre WeeGee
Christmas activities at Tapiola museums