The family-friendly Christmas Opening begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, 21 November 2025 at Mikkeli Market Square. The event includes traditional elements such as a speech by the Mayor, the lighting of the Christmas tree, a visit from Santa Claus, a fire show, and animals to pet.
The side programme starts even before the stage programme, when Mikkeli Trotting School’s festive Moomin pony and Mikkeli’s therapy dogs arrive to delight children from 5:30 p.m. onwards. There will also be a fire at the designated fire spot, managed by Mikkelin Latu association.
The stage programme will be hosted by Päivi Haapalehto, also known as the Dream Fairy. It kicks off at 5:45 p.m. with music and a greeting from Mayor Janne Kinnunen. Music will be provided by Waulinko.
The Christmas tree lights will be switched on at 6:00 p.m., after which the evening’s most anticipated guest – Santa Claus – will take to the stage. After his appearance, Santa will stay at the Market Square to meet children, hand out sweets, and listen to their Christmas wishes. The main programme concludes with a fire show by Flamma, a Tampere-based group specialising in fire art and performance circus.
Alongside the Christmas Opening, several side events will take place on both Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, Mikkeli Sports Car Club will be on duty at the Market Square fire spot and will also host an information point about their activities. The programme includes rally car displays, sausage grilling, an introduction to the Finnish Rally Championship in Mikkeli, and the sale of rally passes. A limited number of free sausages will be available.
Read more about the event and the side programme at www.mikkeli.fi/joulu2025 (in Finnish).
Photo: Elmo Knuuttila