Why and How I celebrated Tampere’s 240th birthday
The City of Tampere, founded on 1 October 1779, celebrated its 240th anniversary with various cultural activities, free admissions to selected museums and many other offerings to the public including a ten-day outdoor art display along the Tammerkoski Rapids [1, 2]. The celebrations started over the weekend 27-28 September 2019 and culminated on the opening ceremony of the Tampere Festival of Light at Koskipuisto Park on Saturday evening, 5 October 2019 [1, 2, 4].
Annually, the city commemorates its foundation day on 1 October and the nearest weekend to this date with a festivity called Tampere Day, which has been celebrated for 64 years now since it started in 1955 [1]. This year’s grand anniversary celebration offered many interesting free-of-charge events that I wanted to participate in. Tampere is my home and I love my city, that is why I was keen to partake in the celebrations. I wanted to connect with my community and deepen my attachment to it in this special occasion. We are a substantial part of what our city is. I think that it is important to celebrate our community’s story—the history, the challenges we have surpassed, the failures we have learned from, and the progresses we have made. When people celebrate together, it promotes connection, which I believe is a critical aspect in creating an inclusive community. Togetherness brings the best out of the community, and it enables us to generate innovative solutions that are sustainable for the future. Moreover, joining your community in time of festivities with your children teaches them the value of it: belonging, connecting, and contributing to your collective story.
Shortly before Tampere Day, I excitedly considered my options and those that my whole family might enjoy most among the selection of activities. We had busy days prior to the celebrations, so in the end, we just chose which of the events were best suitable for us. It turned out we didn’t have that much time and energy to take part in many of the activities we considered. Below, I am sharing the interesting options I had carefully thought about in deciding the coolest possible way for my family to celebrate with the city of Tampere as well as the reasons why I/we pursued or didn’t pursue a particular option.
Option 1
Have a cup of coffee and a piece of cake in the Ratikkakahvila tram café – Saturday, 28 September
This translates to: Be early on Saturday morning at Tampere Central Square to be one of the 2,019 people to be served coffee and cake in the Ratikkakahvila café. I may also have the chance to say hello to Mayor Lauri Lyly.
This option would have been great if I could go alone, with my husband, or with a friend. But this was not feasible for me that Saturday morning. If I had to go with my kids, a lot of effort would be needed for us to arrive early. Even if we were there early, we might still have to queue for a significant amount of time. For us, a long waiting time would mean managing small strong-willed energetic kids creatively and patiently. I chose to put my energy into something else and decided to miss the chance of having free coffee and cake in the Ratikkakahvila café in the company of lovely Tampere citizens.
Option 2
Be a guest at the Old City Hall – open doors on Saturday, 28 September, 10 am - 3 pm, baby prams not allowed
After having coffee and cake in the tram café, what a nice treat it would have been to have a tour at the Old City Hall, that is, if I could go alone or with a date. As I pointed out in the first option, this was not possible, so I considered doing just the tour with my 5-year old son. Still, not getting there early means we might wait in a long line. I also would not know much about the situation inside the Old City Hall beforehand, which would make it hard to anticipate possible obstacles throughout the tour. So, I decided to miss this chance too, quite hopeful that there will still be opportunities to have a glimpse of the Old City Hall in the future.
Option 3
Feel the quaint autumn atmosphere at Tallipiha Crafts Event – Saturday & Sunday, 28-29 September, 11 am - 5 pm.
I was thinking of a nice stroll on a colourful autumn day with my family from Tampere Central Square to the Stable Yards, Tallipiha in Finnish. Tallipiha has been one of the family-friendly places in Tampere that we love to visit in the summer. We have not seen it yet in autumn, so going there during Tampere’s 240th anniversary felt like a good idea. The old-time picturesque Stable Yards is a perfect venue to witness a large group of craftspeople present their work and demonstrate their skills. The event promised ecological choices and sustainable products, and I was excited to look for something that I could use in the winter for my family. I seriously considered attending the event on Sunday, because (1) the kids would get to roast marshmallows for free, and (2) we would get to feel the atmosphere with some complementing Blues music. Unfortunately, our Sunday day did not go as planned. It was best to let go of this unique time to experience Tallipiha.
Option 4
Visit the Central Fire Station – open doors on Sunday, 29 September, 10 am - 3 pm
As a part of the Tampere Day traditions, fire stations also celebrate with open doors. This year, the renewed Fire Museum at the Central Fire Station at Satakunnankatu 16 was also opened to the public. Two years ago, our whole family went to the Central Fire Station open-door event, and we all enjoyed the experience. Our son was enthusiastic to be there again, and so were we for him—expecting that he would appreciate the experience even more.
Outcome: He did have a great experience the second time around! When they arrived home, he was excited to put on his new Tampere Fire T-shirt.
Option 5
Experience Tampere 240 – Art along the Tammerkoski Rapids – 27 September - 6 October
The ten-day public art display titled Tampere 240 – Art along the Tammerkoski Rapids corresponded to 240 hours of magnificent exhibition that consisted eight Finnish and international contemporary artworks [2]. In addition to the eight works of art, there was a dancing fountain show, which was viewable from Koskipuisto Park three times every evening (at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.) until 5 October [1, 2]. For me, the Tampere 240 public art display topped with the Dancing Fountain is such a wonderful present for the citizens of Tampere. I saw it as a well-thought initiative to genuinely connect with the people and bring the community together.
I knew I won’t have the time to see each one of the public works of art, so I focused on the ones that were more accessible and easier to locate. I was most eager to see the Dancing Fountain during the culmination of Tampere Day, which was happening on the opening of the Tampere Festival of Light. The dancing fountain show, accompanied by a fireworks display, was to be the highlight the Light Festival opening ceremony. So, I came up with a plan for a little family adventure on Saturday:
>> go to the city after lunch to find the three large dinosaur sculptures that form Anna Pekkala’s Pushing Daisies. The sculptures were separately located in the Aleksandra Siltanen Park by the upper course of Tammerkoski Rapids and on the Vuolteentori Square at the other end of the route along the rapids. As we walk along the banks of the rapids, we would watch out for urban storyteller Maija Kovari’s Kosken kuulemat installation comprising poetic sculptures and recordings of the musings of people heard by the rapids. During our search, we would also stop by the restaurant Puisto to wait for the Ghost Tram by Minna Leinonen and Jussi Suonikko. In between, of course, would be snacks and toilet breaks. By 5 pm, we should be at a restaurant nearby Koskipuisto ready for our dinner. Thereafter, we would go back to Koskipuisto Park and find a good place to watch the Dancing Fountain during the culminating ceremony at 7 pm. Finally, at the end of the ceremony, it must be dark enough to have a good look at the Flowers of Life’s Initium, collection of large glowing “floating flowers”. Before heading home, we might still have some time and energy to pass by the Old Church to see the linden Wish Tree by Richard Röhrhoff.
In short, the plan was to see the following works of art and shows:
1. Anna Pekkala: Pushing Daisies
2. Maija Kovari: Kosken kuulemat
3. Minna Leinonen and Jussi Suonikko: Ghost Tram
4. Dancing Fountain show accompanied by fireworks display
5. The Flowers of Life: Initium
6. Richard Röhrhoff: Wish Tree
It was an ambitious plan drawn with optimism. As with the little adventures we have done before, its implementation required energy, determination and teamwork. This time, there was bit of energy shortage for the adults which was not compensated enough with determination. So, the plan of activities for that Saturday was further reduced into a mom-and-son bonding time, Ghost Tram, Dancing Fountain, and Initium.
Outcome: My son and I arrived at Koskipuisto before 7 pm. We stopped first beside the Puisto restaurant to check if we would hear the imaginary tram coming. We did! The sound, with just the right volume, transports you to another city—a future version of the City of Tampere. We excitedly continued our walk towards the banks of the Tammerkoski rapids and looked for a free space along the fence. We finally found our little niche facing the stage and waited impatiently for the Dancing Fountain. Anticipating with the crowd gathered in Koskipuisto Park brought a sense of belonging. Then Tchaikovsky's Waltz of The Flowers started, and with it, the water slowly rose through the air. The fountain grew and swayed, changing shape and hues to create a rhythm that matched the music. Strong emotions were slowly building within me as water, light and sound worked harmoniously together. The little one beside me got excited too, frequently reacting with a laugh, a comment or a shriek. The waltz ended, and Con te partirò took its turn. What an awesome surprise! Powerful emotions came rushing through me as I hold my son close—I was filled with joy and gratitude. The stunning visual display dancing in sync with the magnificent music sustained the feeling until the end. When the music concluded and the water finally rested, I didn’t crave for more. The experience was extraordinary; the gratification was lingering. We waited once again for the Light Festival opening ceremony to commence.
Anu Niemi hosted the 30-minute opening ceremony of the Tampere Festival of Light. With a gentle and welcoming voice, she greeted the citizens of Tampere and remarked on the meaning of light in times of darkness. Deputy mayor Johanna Loukaskorpi gave the opening speech. It was also a nice treat to hear Tenor Tero Harjunniemi perform two musical pieces. Then we had to wait once more for the fireworks display. This time, my little adventurer didn’t want to stay put and wanted instead to take a closer look at the large radiant flower-like installation nearby. So, we left our spot and started exploring the Initium. We paused for a while when the Dancing Fountain show started again at 7:30 pm accompanied with a more contemporary music and accentuated with festive fireworks.
The fantastic collection of flower-like installations glowing with UV light deserved more time of appreciation. But it was nearing 8 pm and the wind from the rapids was getting cold. We left Koskipuisto as the crowd started to disperse too. Crossing Hämeenpuisto was a challenge due to the on-going tram rail construction and the huge number of pedestrians. But this detail somehow added uniqueness and value to the evening’s memorable event.
An additional note:
The whole family had a chance to be at the City Central Square on Sunday evening and found a delightful sight: the linden Wish Tree was alive with colours and sound. Amidst the rain, we stayed by the linden tree for a while and listened to its music and poems. I also learned later that one of the public art displays, the light installation Brilliant Games lit on the windows of the second floor of Museum Centre Vapriikki. will be exhibited until the end of January.
In conclusion, we took part in the celebration of Tampere’s 240th anniversary through the following:
• Central Fire Station open-door event;
• Tampere’s 240th anniversary celebration culmination and Festival of Light opening ceremonies, together with Ghost Tram and Initium; and
• Wish Tree between the Old Church and Tampere Theatre
I think Tampere did an admirable job in reaching out to its citizens, in getting them to celebrate together. Celebrating with the community on this momentous event, elevated my sense of belonging. Tampere is my family’s home. I have been a witness to many of the changes the city has undergone and the developments it has gained. As a resident of Tampere for almost nearly a decade now, I have grown deep appreciation and respect for the city.
References
[1] City of Tampere. (2019, September 24). Let’s celebrate the City of Tampere’s 240th anniversary together. Retrieved from https://www.tampere.fi/en/city-of-tampere/info/current-issues/2019/09/24092019_1.html
[2] City of Tampere. (n. d.). Tampere 240 - Art along the Tammerkoski Rapids. Retrieved from https://www.tampere.fi/tampereen-paiva/in-english/tampere240-artalongthetammerkoskirapids.html
[3] City of Tampere. (2019, September 24). Tampereen 54. Valoviikot avataan lauantaina 5.10.2019. Retrieved from https://www.tampere.fi/tampereen-kaupunki/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/2019/09/24092019_5.html
[4] Visit Tampere. (n. d.). Opening of the Tampere Festival of Light. Retrieved from https://visittampere.fi/es/tapahtumat/opening-festival-of-light/
Shortly before Tampere Day, I excitedly considered my options and those that my whole family might enjoy most among the selection of activities. We had busy days prior to the celebrations, so in the end, we just chose which of the events were best suitable for us. It turned out we didn’t have that much time and energy to take part in many of the activities we considered. Below, I am sharing the interesting options I had carefully thought about in deciding the coolest possible way for my family to celebrate with the city of Tampere as well as the reasons why I/we pursued or didn’t pursue a particular option.
Option 1
Have a cup of coffee and a piece of cake in the Ratikkakahvila tram café – Saturday, 28 September
This translates to: Be early on Saturday morning at Tampere Central Square to be one of the 2,019 people to be served coffee and cake in the Ratikkakahvila café. I may also have the chance to say hello to Mayor Lauri Lyly.
This option would have been great if I could go alone, with my husband, or with a friend. But this was not feasible for me that Saturday morning. If I had to go with my kids, a lot of effort would be needed for us to arrive early. Even if we were there early, we might still have to queue for a significant amount of time. For us, a long waiting time would mean managing small strong-willed energetic kids creatively and patiently. I chose to put my energy into something else and decided to miss the chance of having free coffee and cake in the Ratikkakahvila café in the company of lovely Tampere citizens.
Option 2
Be a guest at the Old City Hall – open doors on Saturday, 28 September, 10 am - 3 pm, baby prams not allowed
After having coffee and cake in the tram café, what a nice treat it would have been to have a tour at the Old City Hall, that is, if I could go alone or with a date. As I pointed out in the first option, this was not possible, so I considered doing just the tour with my 5-year old son. Still, not getting there early means we might wait in a long line. I also would not know much about the situation inside the Old City Hall beforehand, which would make it hard to anticipate possible obstacles throughout the tour. So, I decided to miss this chance too, quite hopeful that there will still be opportunities to have a glimpse of the Old City Hall in the future.
Option 3
Feel the quaint autumn atmosphere at Tallipiha Crafts Event – Saturday & Sunday, 28-29 September, 11 am - 5 pm.
I was thinking of a nice stroll on a colourful autumn day with my family from Tampere Central Square to the Stable Yards, Tallipiha in Finnish. Tallipiha has been one of the family-friendly places in Tampere that we love to visit in the summer. We have not seen it yet in autumn, so going there during Tampere’s 240th anniversary felt like a good idea. The old-time picturesque Stable Yards is a perfect venue to witness a large group of craftspeople present their work and demonstrate their skills. The event promised ecological choices and sustainable products, and I was excited to look for something that I could use in the winter for my family. I seriously considered attending the event on Sunday, because (1) the kids would get to roast marshmallows for free, and (2) we would get to feel the atmosphere with some complementing Blues music. Unfortunately, our Sunday day did not go as planned. It was best to let go of this unique time to experience Tallipiha.
Option 4
Visit the Central Fire Station – open doors on Sunday, 29 September, 10 am - 3 pm
As a part of the Tampere Day traditions, fire stations also celebrate with open doors. This year, the renewed Fire Museum at the Central Fire Station at Satakunnankatu 16 was also opened to the public. Two years ago, our whole family went to the Central Fire Station open-door event, and we all enjoyed the experience. Our son was enthusiastic to be there again, and so were we for him—expecting that he would appreciate the experience even more.
Outcome: He did have a great experience the second time around! When they arrived home, he was excited to put on his new Tampere Fire T-shirt.
Option 5
Experience Tampere 240 – Art along the Tammerkoski Rapids – 27 September - 6 October
The ten-day public art display titled Tampere 240 – Art along the Tammerkoski Rapids corresponded to 240 hours of magnificent exhibition that consisted eight Finnish and international contemporary artworks [2]. In addition to the eight works of art, there was a dancing fountain show, which was viewable from Koskipuisto Park three times every evening (at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.) until 5 October [1, 2]. For me, the Tampere 240 public art display topped with the Dancing Fountain is such a wonderful present for the citizens of Tampere. I saw it as a well-thought initiative to genuinely connect with the people and bring the community together.
I knew I won’t have the time to see each one of the public works of art, so I focused on the ones that were more accessible and easier to locate. I was most eager to see the Dancing Fountain during the culmination of Tampere Day, which was happening on the opening of the Tampere Festival of Light. The dancing fountain show, accompanied by a fireworks display, was to be the highlight the Light Festival opening ceremony. So, I came up with a plan for a little family adventure on Saturday:
>> go to the city after lunch to find the three large dinosaur sculptures that form Anna Pekkala’s Pushing Daisies. The sculptures were separately located in the Aleksandra Siltanen Park by the upper course of Tammerkoski Rapids and on the Vuolteentori Square at the other end of the route along the rapids. As we walk along the banks of the rapids, we would watch out for urban storyteller Maija Kovari’s Kosken kuulemat installation comprising poetic sculptures and recordings of the musings of people heard by the rapids. During our search, we would also stop by the restaurant Puisto to wait for the Ghost Tram by Minna Leinonen and Jussi Suonikko. In between, of course, would be snacks and toilet breaks. By 5 pm, we should be at a restaurant nearby Koskipuisto ready for our dinner. Thereafter, we would go back to Koskipuisto Park and find a good place to watch the Dancing Fountain during the culminating ceremony at 7 pm. Finally, at the end of the ceremony, it must be dark enough to have a good look at the Flowers of Life’s Initium, collection of large glowing “floating flowers”. Before heading home, we might still have some time and energy to pass by the Old Church to see the linden Wish Tree by Richard Röhrhoff.
In short, the plan was to see the following works of art and shows:
1. Anna Pekkala: Pushing Daisies
2. Maija Kovari: Kosken kuulemat
3. Minna Leinonen and Jussi Suonikko: Ghost Tram
4. Dancing Fountain show accompanied by fireworks display
5. The Flowers of Life: Initium
6. Richard Röhrhoff: Wish Tree
It was an ambitious plan drawn with optimism. As with the little adventures we have done before, its implementation required energy, determination and teamwork. This time, there was bit of energy shortage for the adults which was not compensated enough with determination. So, the plan of activities for that Saturday was further reduced into a mom-and-son bonding time, Ghost Tram, Dancing Fountain, and Initium.
Outcome: My son and I arrived at Koskipuisto before 7 pm. We stopped first beside the Puisto restaurant to check if we would hear the imaginary tram coming. We did! The sound, with just the right volume, transports you to another city—a future version of the City of Tampere. We excitedly continued our walk towards the banks of the Tammerkoski rapids and looked for a free space along the fence. We finally found our little niche facing the stage and waited impatiently for the Dancing Fountain. Anticipating with the crowd gathered in Koskipuisto Park brought a sense of belonging. Then Tchaikovsky's Waltz of The Flowers started, and with it, the water slowly rose through the air. The fountain grew and swayed, changing shape and hues to create a rhythm that matched the music. Strong emotions were slowly building within me as water, light and sound worked harmoniously together. The little one beside me got excited too, frequently reacting with a laugh, a comment or a shriek. The waltz ended, and Con te partirò took its turn. What an awesome surprise! Powerful emotions came rushing through me as I hold my son close—I was filled with joy and gratitude. The stunning visual display dancing in sync with the magnificent music sustained the feeling until the end. When the music concluded and the water finally rested, I didn’t crave for more. The experience was extraordinary; the gratification was lingering. We waited once again for the Light Festival opening ceremony to commence.
Anu Niemi hosted the 30-minute opening ceremony of the Tampere Festival of Light. With a gentle and welcoming voice, she greeted the citizens of Tampere and remarked on the meaning of light in times of darkness. Deputy mayor Johanna Loukaskorpi gave the opening speech. It was also a nice treat to hear Tenor Tero Harjunniemi perform two musical pieces. Then we had to wait once more for the fireworks display. This time, my little adventurer didn’t want to stay put and wanted instead to take a closer look at the large radiant flower-like installation nearby. So, we left our spot and started exploring the Initium. We paused for a while when the Dancing Fountain show started again at 7:30 pm accompanied with a more contemporary music and accentuated with festive fireworks. |
| The second Dancing Fountain show of the night, more colourful and lively! |
 |
| Water and light rising to the air |
 |
| There were fireworks and music in the background while we continued our walk by the Initium installations |
    |
An additional note:
The whole family had a chance to be at the City Central Square on Sunday evening and found a delightful sight: the linden Wish Tree was alive with colours and sound. Amidst the rain, we stayed by the linden tree for a while and listened to its music and poems. I also learned later that one of the public art displays, the light installation Brilliant Games lit on the windows of the second floor of Museum Centre Vapriikki. will be exhibited until the end of January.
 |
| The linden Wish Tree alive with sound and color on Sunday evening |
In conclusion, we took part in the celebration of Tampere’s 240th anniversary through the following:
• Central Fire Station open-door event;
• Tampere’s 240th anniversary celebration culmination and Festival of Light opening ceremonies, together with Ghost Tram and Initium; and
• Wish Tree between the Old Church and Tampere Theatre
I think Tampere did an admirable job in reaching out to its citizens, in getting them to celebrate together. Celebrating with the community on this momentous event, elevated my sense of belonging. Tampere is my family’s home. I have been a witness to many of the changes the city has undergone and the developments it has gained. As a resident of Tampere for almost nearly a decade now, I have grown deep appreciation and respect for the city.
 |
| A final look at the majestic lights of Initium |
Congratulations Tampere!
References
[1] City of Tampere. (2019, September 24). Let’s celebrate the City of Tampere’s 240th anniversary together. Retrieved from https://www.tampere.fi/en/city-of-tampere/info/current-issues/2019/09/24092019_1.html
[2] City of Tampere. (n. d.). Tampere 240 - Art along the Tammerkoski Rapids. Retrieved from https://www.tampere.fi/tampereen-paiva/in-english/tampere240-artalongthetammerkoskirapids.html
[3] City of Tampere. (2019, September 24). Tampereen 54. Valoviikot avataan lauantaina 5.10.2019. Retrieved from https://www.tampere.fi/tampereen-kaupunki/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/2019/09/24092019_5.html
[4] Visit Tampere. (n. d.). Opening of the Tampere Festival of Light. Retrieved from https://visittampere.fi/es/tapahtumat/opening-festival-of-light/
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