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The Helsinki Winter Bash organised in Paloheinä again during the winter holiday week

Children and families
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The traditional event to get the whole family moving, Helsinki Winter Bash, is organised again on the Paloheinä recreational area (Pakilantie 124) on Wednesday 21 February, at 15:30–18:30.

Similarly to previous years, the event is free of charge and provides a wide range of winter activities. This year, the event is starred by children’s favourites, the Moomins and PAW Patrol! The Moomins have woken from their hibernation just in time to organise a major surprise on the stage, led by Little My, Moomintroll, and Snorkmaiden. The Moomins are on stage twice for 15 minutes, and can be met with for photos for 30 minutes later on. Two 30-minute meet-and-greet events are also arranged for meeting Chase and Skye from PAW Patrol.

The Deputy Mayor for Culture and Leisure Paavo Arhinmäki will deliver the festive opening words for the Winter Bash. The ‘Sports Mayor’ will also officially open Paloheinä’s new and impressive cooking shelter, built with support from the City’s participatory budgeting system, OmaStadi. There is firewood in the new cooking shelter, and the shelter can be used for eating and barbecuing your own food during the event. After the Winter Bash, the cooking shelter is open at the same times as the Paloheinä hiking lodge. In addition to the cooking shelter, a separate sales booth is open in Paloheinä, and the Paloheinä hiking lodge and the ice hall and its café are open during the event.

As usual, the Winter Bash offers the opportunity for playing hockey, skating, the children’s skiing competition, snowshoeing, making snowmen as well as admiring the ski track making machinery, fire engine and ambulance. There is guidance at the outdoor gym, the mobile library is open, and treasures are hidden within the event area to be sought. The soundscape for the event is provided by DJ RNo.

Paloheinä full of programme

Pakilan Veto organises a playful skiing competition for children. The track is approximately 200 metres long, and everyone can choose their own style from classic to free style skiing or anything in between. Four skiers start at one time, and everyone who finishes gets a medal.

Thanks to blower snow and the snowmaking system used in Paloheinä, ski tracks are open for longer journeys, as well. The Winter Bash offers a limited amount of skis for rent for adults, and the participants in the children’s skiing competition must have their own equipment.

Helsingin Latu ja Polku offers children and adults the chance to try out snowshoes around Paloheinä. Besides being an excellent way to move in snow, snowshoes provide a nice time outdoors and a good form of winter sports.

Mobile children’s library Stoori brings a busload of enchanting stories to the Winter Bash. You can borrow books, movies or board games in the mobile library, or simply sit down for a bit of reading. Materials suitable for winter fun have also been compiled in Stoori.

The Pakinkylä Voluntary Fire Brigade brings their fire engine and extensive firefighting equipment to the Winter Bash, where they can be admired from close range.

The Helsingin Luistelijat skating association welcomes the entire family to skate with them at the ice hall. Get to know figure skating through various exercises and instruction. The skaters also perform impressive shows.

HIFK Ishockey offers the chance to play ice hockey and participate in many related exercises. Why not try to score a goal against the HIFK junior goalies? Players from the HIFK women’s and men’s league teams will also visit the event.

A separate space is reserved for making snowmen.

Liikuntaluotsi volunteer exercise instructors are present at the Paloheinä outdoor gym throughout the event. They provide instruction in the use of the outdoor gym equipment for the elderly and anyone else interested in trying out the equipment.

The Helsinki Winter Bash is organised by the City of Helsinki Sports Services in cooperation with the Helsinki Ice Hall, Helsingin Luistelijat, HIFK Ishockey, Pakilan Veto, and Helsingin Latu ja Polku.

Locations and schedule for the Winter Bash:

Stage and meet-and-greet events
15:30 City of Helsinki Deputy Mayor Paavo Arhinmäki opens the Helsinki Winter Bash
15:45–16:00 The Moomins on stage with a major surprise
16:15–16:45 Meet-and-greet with PAW Patrol
17:00–17:15 The Moomins on stage with a major surprise
17:30–18:00 Meet-and-greet with PAW Patrol
18:00–18:30 Meet-and-greet with the Moomins

Recreational area
15:30–18:30 Children’s mobile library Stoori is open
15:30–18:30 Presentation of the ski track equipment
15:30–18:30 Snowman workshop
15:30–18:30 Treasurehunt (pick up and return the maps at the info)
15:30–18:30 Guidance at the outdoor gym
15:30–18:30 The cooking shelter is open for eating
15:30–18:30 Presentation of the ambulance and rescue equipment
16:00–18:00 Snowshoeing by Helsingin Latu ja Polku
16:30–18:30 Presentation of the Pakinkylä Voluntary Fire Brigade equipment

Ski track area
15:30–18:30 Playful skiing competition organised by Pakilan Veto

Ice Hall,
rink 1
Ice hockey programme by HIFK Ishockey:
15:30–18:30 teaching, goal scoring
16:00–17:30 Visits by players from the HIFK women’s and men’s league teams
rink 2
Programme by Helsingin Luistelijat:
15:30–16:20 Instruction in figure skating and obstacle course
16:20–16:30 Freezing of the ice
16:30–16:45 Three shows
16:45–17:35 Instruction in figure skating and obstacle course
17:35–17:45 Freezing of the ice
17:45–18:00 Three shows
18:00–18:30 Instruction in figure skating

Changes to the programme are possible.