Every summer, the town of Savonlinna in Eastern Finland attracts tens of thousands of opera fans who gather at Olavinlinna, the world’s most northerly mediaeval stone castle, to see and hear the brightest stars of the opera world. The event in question is the Savonlinna Opera Festival. The festival was held for the first time in 1912 at the behest of Aino Ackté, one of the only Finnish opera stars of the day to forge an international career. This year the festival programme includes a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, and this year’s visiting company is the Sicilian group Teatro Massimo. Savonlinna Opera Festival, 3.7.–1.8.09. — www.operafestival.fi.

15 FESTIVALS YOU SHOUDN’T NOT MISS

JUNE

1 KUOPIO BAROQUE 22.6–28.6.
This year, the Kuopio baroque festival celebrates its fifth anniversary. In addition to the many concerts on offer, the festival programme also features a number of films.www.kuopionseurakunnat.fi

2 AVANTI! XXIV Summer Sounds 24.6.–28.6.
Lively classical music festival in Porvoo. This year’s programme includes the Finnish première of conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen’s work Homonculus, which takes its inspiration from the theory of evolution. www.avantimusic.fi

3 LAKESIDE BLUES 24.6.–28.6.
Only a half hour train journey from Helsinki, the town of Järvenpää plays host to a traditional blues festival every summer. International stars on this year’s line-up include Gov’t Mule, James Hunter and Ellis Hooks. www.puistoblues.fi

4 RIIHIMÄKI ROCK 26.6.–27.6.
The best Finnish rock acts, including Sunrise Avenue, Maija Vilkkumaa and Apulanta, all at the same festival in Riihimäki, about an hour’s train ride from Helsinki. www.riihimakirock.fi

5 IMATRA BIG BAND FESTIVAL 26.6.–3.7.
A festival of traditional big band music in Imatra in Eastern Finland. www.ibbf.fi

 

JULY

6 KONEMETSÄ 2.7.

– 5.7.
An annual festival of electronic music surrounded by Finnish nature at its most beautiful. www.konemetsa.net

7 RUISROCK 3.7.–5.7.
The oldest rock festival in Finland, Ruisrock takes place on the island of Ruissalo, a nature reserve close to Turku. This year’s line-up includes the wonderful Russian artist Gogol Bordello. www.ruisrock.fi

8 TAMMERFEST 8.7.–11.7.
Tampere’s annual city festival. www.tammerfest.fi

9 SEINÄJOKI TANGO FESTIVAL 8.7.–12.7.
The Seinäjoki Tango Festival features the very best Finnish tango artists, and for days the streets are filled with dancing couples. www.tangomarkkinat.fi

10 PORI JAZZ 11.7.–19.7.
One of the biggest events on the Finnish summer calendar, Pori Jazz brings the best artists from Finland and abroad to the stage. This year’s special guest star is Duffy. www.porijazz.fi

AUGUST

11 ANKKAROCK 1.8.–2.8.
This rock-music event in Korso, on the outskirts of Helsinki, has become steadily larger over the past years. www.ankkarock.fi

12 LAHTI JAZZ SQUARE 12.8.–23.8.
A festival of Finnish jazz. www.jazztori.com

13 HELSINKI FESTIVAL 13.8.–30.8.
Art, dance, theatre, music and cinema spread across the city for two weeks. www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi

14 FLOW 09 14.8.–16.8.
Flow has quickly established itself as one of the best festivals of electronic music in Finland and keeps people dancing in in Helsinki. This year, there will be a “warmup” performance by Kraftwerk on August 13th.www.flowfestival.com

15 HELSINKI INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW 15.8.–16.8.
An air show and music event held at the city airport in Malmi. The event regularly attracts almost 100 000 spectators! www.helsinkiairshow.fi