Autumn Beat fills the cultural centre once more: Marja Koskenalho becomes Espoo’s Pensioner of the Year for 2025
The Espoo Elderly Council’s Autumn Beat event brought 780 senior residents to the Espoo Cultural Centre in early October. Espoo’s largest event for senior residents was a feast of music, plenty of other programming, and pleasant encounters. The event also decorated Espoo’s Pensioner of the Year for 2025.
The Pensioner of the Year Ceremony is one of the highlights of Espoo’s Autumn Beat festival and serves its part of the Old People’s Week, which took place over 6–12 October.
The Central Union of Pensioners in Espoo chose Marja Koskenalho as its Pensioner of the Year for 2025. They describe Koskenalho as someone who speaks relentlessly for pensioners, a warm-hearted activist who is always ready to help not only at her own association, Espoon eläkeläiset ry, but also at the events of other associations. Koskenalho has also brought up senior citizen issues at the county and municipal elections.
The Central Union of Pensioners in Espoo presented its Influencer of the Year award to Olli Männikkö. Männikkö is the chair of the Espoo Elderly Council and a member of the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County’s elderly council. He represents Olarin kansalliset seniorit ry.
Guests praise the arrangements and programme
Happy-sounding conversations, music, and the joy of togetherness. That is how Hannu Viitanen, head of the festival chair, describes this year’s Autumn Beat.
The organisers can stand proud, as the festival once more filled up Tapiola Hall with senior residents from all over Espoo. The event also received praise during hallway discussions.
The guests appreciated the transportation, catering, programmes, and presenters. Seppo Hovi and Hannu Lehtonen’s music and memories show, this year’s special programme, also received praise.
All in all, this year’s Autumn Beat was remarkably successful and offered Espoo’s senior residents a pleasant, refreshing community afternoon and an interesting programme.
“It couldn’t have gone better,” sums up Hannu Viitanen.