Espoo Children’s Weekend is being held for the fourth time
The event is organised as part of the Children’s Rights Week programme, and is now being held on 22–24 November.
Espoo will once again be filled with children’s culture and events. The event organisers include the Espoo Cultural Centre, Sello Hall, Exhibition Centre WeeGee, Kannusali, Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora, Vindängen, Espoo City Library and the Espoonlahti cultural project.
Jenni Vilander, who will be running the Children’s Weekend colour baths at Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora, is particularly looking forward to seeing the smallest artists participating in the event for the first time.
“As an art instructor, I get to experience the impact of art and children’s culture through my own work every day. Children’s Weekend in Espoo highlights the importance of children’s culture and provides an opportunity to participate in a variety of events together, as a community, accessibly and close to home. No task is so small that a child couldn’t turn it into something even better when we offer a safe space that enables creativity. It makes me so happy to meet new enthusiastic participants in addition to familiar faces,” says Jenni.
This year’s programme is very diverse and located all around Espoo, so there are plenty of opportunities for new and previous Children’s Weekend participants to choose between. The best source of information is the Children’s Weekend website: www.espoo.fi/en/childrens-weekend.
A multilingual programme
Theatre ILMI Ö’s Metsässä soi! (Sounds in the Forest!) performance at the Espoo Museum of Modern Art EMMA is multilingual and participatory. The languages of the performance are Kurdish, Dari, Arabic, Persian, Spanish, Somali, English and Finnish. The event is part of Multicultural Family Day at EMMA on Saturday 23 November. Guided tours in plain Finnish will also be organised during the day.
On Friday 22 November, the Dance and play workshops at Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora provide the chance to try dance by means of movement, play and music. The languages are Finnish, English and Russian.
Vindängen Hall will be offering children’s culture in Swedish, when Åbo Svenska Teatern presents their new tour performance Murr och skogens ljus (Murr and the Woodland Light) on Friday 22 November. Intended for the smallest members of the family, Teater Kojan’s Swedish-language performance Kalas, Alfons Åberg about the birthday party of Mikko Mallikas will be held on Sunday 24 November.
Recycling materials in workshops
Participants in the Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora’s Beautiful Day workshop on Sunday 24 November will learn about Maria Vilja’s new book called Kesän ainoa kaunis päivä (The only beautiful day of the summer) and make toy cameras in the spirit of the book. The cameras will be made of small cardboard boxes and recycled material.
The Tontun talviuni (Hibernation) workshop held by Hupsanaa ry at Sello hall on the same day will also utilise recycled materials. Participants in this workshop will make magical elves in a winter wonderland.
Espoo libraries are part of Children’s Weekend
Espoo libraries will be celebrating Children’s Weekend on Saturday 23 November.
The Family Day programme at Sello Library includes music, face painting, quizzes and crafts. Lippulaiva Library is the place to go for hobby horses and unicorns.
Tapiola Library is organising a family workshop in cooperation with UNICEF. Participants can make stress relief balls in the workshop!
Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora is delighted to be participating in Children’s Rights Week
Production Manager Johanna Kallioaho from Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora is happy that Espoo’s Children’s Week is now being celebrated at the same time as Children’s Rights Week:
“I think it’s important that Children’s Weekend is being held in conjunction with Children’s Rights Week at the end of November. This means we can contribute to promoting the rights of children to participate in culture and highlight the diversity of children’s culture. The programme includes a lot of free content,” says Johanna.
There is plenty happening at Children’s Cultural Centre Aurora during Children’s Weekend. Participants can take part in a colour bath, build a machine to improve the world or watch a children’s theatre performance.
Sing-a-long movie, puppet theatre, pirate adventure and Christmas music
Join the singing at Kannusali on Sunday 24 November FROZEN - The Finnish sing-a-long version of the Frozen film (Disney 2013, K7).
On Saturday 23 November, Espoo Cultural Centre will be presenting Kukko Kiekuu! (Cock-a-doodle-doo!), which includes puppet theatre and live music intended for smaller children. (see photo) “Päistikka and the Living World” is a children's music concert that combines songs from Päistikka's third studio album with video mapping art on Sunday 24 November.
Come to Sello Hall on Saturday 23 November for the Treasure Island pirate adventure, a fast-paced interpretation of the classic novel for the whole family. Siina & Taikaradio orchestra's “Christmas is here again” concert will include traditional and new songs and musical games.
Children’s Weekend in Espoo is being organised as part of the Children’s Rights Week programme. Read more about Children’s Rights Week on the campaign website(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish).