Helsinki Day

On the day, the Helsinki Medal is awarded to noteworthy citizens by the city council.

[1] The event was started by mayor Lauri Aho and secretary of the Helsinki Society Jorma Waronen in the late 1950s.

[1] The number of attendees at events on Helsinki Day already exceeded ten thousand in the early 1960s.

As the day gained popularity, the association of neighbourhood societies wanted to expand the celebration to a full Helsinki Week in the late 1970s, but the city council denied permission.

The free-of-charge "Kaivari" concert in Kaivopuisto is probably the best known among the public, as well as the dinner under the sky which has been held in Helsinki since 2013.