Celebrate (with) Pride in Finland

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Celebrate (with) pride in Finland

Celebrate (with) Pride in Finland

There is no staying in the closet in Finland. This is the country where you can send your postcards home with gay erotic stamps and take part in endless rainbow-coloured activities throughout the year. World famous erotic artist Tom of Finland’s hunky imagery might even be on your hotel pillow and sheets if they happen to be Finlayson textiles.

Pride festivals have become a permanent part of the summer party scene in Helsinki, Tampere and Turku as well as in other cities in Finland. Check if your travel dates coincide with a parade as the festivals mean a weeklong program of enjoyment. During this week you can try out meditation, panel discussions, open mic, danceoke, poetry, workshops, barn dance and good old partying (just to mention a few) – all with a queer flavour.

This friendly and liberal atmosphere as well as the fun and interesting activities make Finland a great travel destination for the LGBTQ community.

Photo: Helsinki Pride / Jussi Hellsten

About Finland

Full of interesting contrasts, such as the four seasons, the Midnight Sun and winter darkness, urban and rural, East and West.

About Finland

Party for a week in Helsinki

The pride festival at the capital brightens the whole city in the colours of the rainbow. The weeklong festival has something for everyone – children, youngsters, families and adults. Do you like dancing, theatre, debates, literature and good food? You name it – pride week has it. Don’t be afraid to come alone for the ending parade, as you will surely find friends in the crowd of more than 100,000 people.

Read more about Helsinki Pride at pride.fi.

year round pride

Activities and fun for the LGBT visitors are not limited to a once-a-year event. Helsinki boasts many gay-friendly cafes, restaurants and hotels. Start the day with breakfast at Kallio’s Bear Park Café. In the evening friends of leather can head to Hercules Gay Night Club. For a night of dancing, try out Don’t Tell Mama in the centre of the city – it is the most legendary of gay hangouts and the biggest gay nightclub in Finland.

To learn more and to plan your visit around Helsinki and its nightlife, read MyHelsinki.fi’s article 8 x Gay Bars in Helsinki.

Photo: Cavalier Bar / Jouni Lepistö

pirkanmaan pride in Tampere

The whole city of Tampere region comes together for Pirkanmaan Pride. Though the event in Tampere, less than an two-hour train ride from Helsinki, is smaller scale than in the capital, it compensates with local charm and beautiful surrounding landscapes.

Read more about Pirkanmaan Pride here.

Turku – pride by the sea

The old capital of Finland, Turku, doesn’t lack in organizing a great party. During the week, there are lots of great free events. The slogan of the festival is “Permission to Love – Right to Exist” and the organisers promise that the same attitude continues all year long in Turku. All events are family-friendly and the atmosphere just right for all ages.

Read more about Turku Pride here.

Photo: Turku Pride / Tushar Datta

Pride Festivals – soon around the whole country?

Pride is taking over other regions of Finland as well. The region of North Karelia (‘Pohjois-Karjala’ in Finnish) organizes Pohjois-Karjala Pride. There are also Pride celebrations in the city of Lahti – just one hour from Helsinki – with Lahti Pride as well as in the northern city of Oulu with Oulu Pride.

Photo: Pori Pride / Amnesty Finland

Beautiful boutiques of Helsinki’s Design District

Want to bring home something unique? Try out the interesting shops and boutiques in Helsinki Design District. Here you will find Finlayson’s Tom of Finland sheets (pictured), bags and other textiles.

The friendly and liberal atmosphere as well as the fun and interesting activities make Finland a great destination for the LGBTQ community – we warmly welcome you!

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Celebrate (with) pride in Finland