Helsinki's Night of the Arts draws crowds with drumming tributes and giant giraffe parade

Helsinki's Night of the Arts transformed the city into a vibrant hub of culture and creativity on a rainy Thursday evening, August 20. The annual festival, which has been celebrated since 1989, saw residents flocking to a wide array of open-air events, from drumming tributes to dream-inspired art performances.

A particularly touching moment was the tribute to Jarmo, a well-known park drummer who has entertained locals for years by playing on metal bins at Töölönlahti. A hundred drummers joined Sami Kuoppamäki and Jarmo himself in a performance at Hesperianpuisto, honoring the local musician. Jarmo expressed his surprise and delight, stating he would play again when the sun shines. The drumming ensemble included notable Finnish percussionists, such as Toni Välitalo from the band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät.

The festival also featured the captivating "Les Girafes" procession, a parade of giant giraffe puppets that wound through the city center, culminating at Senate Square. This spectacle combined elements of giant puppet theater, circus arts, burlesque, and opera, drawing enthusiastic crowds, including children like 4-year-old Aarni Kaskivuo who eagerly awaited their arrival on Aleksanterinkatu.

Other highlights included a croquis drawing session at the University of Helsinki's main building, where members of the Student Fencers' Association served as models. Attendees sketched the fencers' movements in five-minute intervals. Additionally, a "Väkeä" procession drew inspiration from Finnish mythology and folklore, while an art performance by Dash Che as the drag persona Pekka Suomalainen added a unique flair to the festivities in Hesperianpuisto.

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He told me that he would play in the park next time the sun shines.