Things to do during Summer
Summer Jyväskylä
After a long dark autumn and winter, Jyväskylä and the whole Finland ”comes alive” in summer. Jyväskylä is a very nice summer city and we have tried to collect the typical summer things to do here
Beaches
Jyväskylä has 11 EU-rated beaches where the water is regularily measured, the beach is maintained and there are toilets and changing rooms available. In addition there are 20 regular beaches around the city: https://jyvaskyla.fi/liikunta/uimarannat Beaches around the city centre include Tuomiojärvi, Viitaniemi, Tikka, Lutakko and Mattilanniemi
Harbour area and cruises
Having ice cream or drinks at Harbour café, playing minigolf at Harbour area, enjoying the warm summer evening at restaurant ships or cruises on lake Jyväsjärvi are all part of a typical Jyväskylä summer
Habor café: http://www.matkarhea.fi/index.php?tid=87
Rhea Cruises: http://www.matkarhea.fi/index.php?id=63
Hilden cruises: https://www.paijanne-risteilythilden.fi/en/fun-cruises/fun-cruises-from-jyvaskyla/
Restauran ships: http://www.matkarhea.fi/index.php?id=66 •
Rantaraitti recreational route
Rantaraitti recreational route is really nice especially in summer: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/see-experience/waterways/rantaraitti-recreational-route-that-circles-lake-jyvasjarvi
Tori, the Market place
Having coffee at the Market Place ”Tori” at Yliopistonkatu has been a summer tradition to many. You can buy the first strawberries, peas and summer potatoes there as well
Cafés, terraces and beer gardens
The pedestrian street at the city centre, decorated with flower arrangements, is full of outdoor cafés, terraces and beer gardens to enjoy the warm summer evenings
Open air dancing
Open air dancing is a traditional part of a Finnish summer. There are many open air dancing places in Jyväskylä area. You do not need to be a professional dancer to enter. We recommend trying it for the atmosphere: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/events/open-air-dancing
Ainola open air dancing is at Kuokkala: http://jyvaskylanainola.fi/lavatanssit-2017/
Summer theatre
Going to a summer theatre is a must for many in Finland. The plays are normally comedies and musicals and the language is Finnish. We recommend trying it for the atmosphere. There are also plays for children. The plays for the summer 2018 are not informed yet but there are summer theatre (kesäteatteri) stages at least at Laajavuori (Laajis), Riihivuori, Naissaari and Harju.
Art and Music
Visiting art galleries and music performances is very popular in summertime.
Jyväskylä Festival (Jyväskylän Kesä) is a legendary culture festival full of art and music for everyone http://www.festivals.fi/en/festivaalit/jyvaskyla-festival/#.WtSgFExuKUk
Museums and galleries: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/see-experience/museums-galleries
Themed routes: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/see-experience/themed-routes
Harju Ridge evening song
A perfect closer to a nice summer day is to listening of a Harju Ridge evening song from the Vesilinna tower at summer nights at 8 pm. The music can be heard at the city centre and sometimes as far as the back areas of Kuokkala: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/see-experience/the-centre-of-jyvaskyla/harju-ridge-vesilinna-observation-tower
Sports and Recreation
Cycling: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/keep-active-stay-healthy/cycling
Fresbeegolf: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/teemareitit/frisbeegolf-reitti, https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/see-experience/themed-routes/disc-golf-courses
Laajis outdoor activities: http://www.laajis.fi/en/activities/
Jyväsgolf: http://www.jyvasgolf.fi/
Muuramegolf: https://www.muuramegolf.fi/
Peurunkagolf: http://lpg.fi/in-english/ •Riding: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/keep-active-stay-healthy/riding
Nature trails: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/keep-active-stay-healthy/outdoor-pursuits/naturetrails
Jokamiehenoikeus (Everyman’s right) a Finnish specialty that gives everyone the right to enjoy Finnish countryside freely http://www.nationalparks.fi/en/hikinginfinland/rightsandregulations
Events and Festivals
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä Festival http://www.festivals.fi/en/festivaalit/jyvaskyla-festival/#.WtSgFExuKUk
Yläkaupungin Yö http://www3.jkl.fi/tapahtumat/tapahtuma.php?id=71366&lang=_eng
Olutsatama http://www3.jkl.fi/tapahtumat/tapahtuma.php?id=70031&lang=_eng
Sataman yö http://www.satamanyo.fi/sataman-yo/
Suomi Pop http://www.suomipopfestivaali.fi/jyvaskyla/jyvaskyla-2018/
Neste Rally Finland https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/events/neste-rally-finland
Jämsä
Himos Juhannus http://www.himosfestival.com/fi/himos-juhannus/
Iskelmäfestivaali http://www.iskelmafestivaali.fi/iskelma-festivaali/
Laukaa
John Smith Rock Festival http://www3.jkl.fi/tapahtumat/tapahtuma.php?id=71142&lang=_eng
Laukaa Satama Festival https://satamafestival.fi/
Events calendar
https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/events/festivals-special-events
Popular summer events in Finland
Pori Jazz: http://porijazz.fi/en/
Savonlinna Opera Festival: http://operafestival.fi/en/
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival: http://kaustinen.net/
Children
Viitaniemi traffic park for children
In the Viitaniemi traffic park (on Eeronkatu), children can ride their own bicycles or the park’s pedal cars https://jyvaskyla.fi/puistot/liikennepuisto
Family parks
Family parks offer leisure facilities for people of all ages. The parks lay on courses, concerts and fun for the whole family. The facilities include toilets and campfire/grilling places. https://www.jkl.fi/paivahoito/english/familyparks
Summer destinations with children
https://www.lastenloytoretket.fi/en/top-locations-in-summer
Summer in Finland
This is Finland, summer: http://www.visitfinland.com/summer/
Cottage life: http://www.visitfinland.com/article/the-essentials-of-cottage-life/
Cottages to rent: https://www.lomarengas.fi/en
Archipelago Finland: http://www.visitfinland.com/archipelago/
Cruises to Estonia and Sweden
Tallink Silja: https://www.tallinksilja.com/book-a-cruise
Viking Line: https://www.sales.vikingline.com/
Eckerö Line: https://www.eckeroline.fi/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10151