Strong wind delays Kesärauha and Saaristo festivals in Southwest Finland

By admin On Jun 7, 2025

Kesärauha festival crowd in front of a stage. Photo: Henri Väänänen

Two major music festivals in Southwest Finland were forced to delay or cancel parts of their Saturday programmes due to strong wind gusts that created safety concerns for organisers and attendees.

In Turku, Kesärauha Festival suspended all daytime activity and announced that the gates would remain closed until the evening. Organisers cited high wind speeds in the city’s Linnanpuisto area as the reason for the delay.

Festival-goers were advised not to approach the venue before updated information was released. “Our gates may open around 6 p.m., weather permitting,” the organisers said on the event’s website.

Several performances scheduled for Saturday afternoon were cancelled outright, including appearances by Senya, Hopeasiivet, Litku Klemetti, Ellen Krauss, US, and Benjamin. Evening acts remained on the programme as of Saturday afternoon, pending further updates.

In Kaarina, Saaristo Festival also postponed its opening by about 30 minutes. The event’s social media accounts confirmed the delay and stated that stage schedules remained unchanged for now.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute reported wind gusts reaching over 19 metres per second in Rauma’s Kylmäpihlaja and Turku’s Rajakari. On the Åland Islands, gusts peaked at 21 metres per second.

“This is not a storm, but these are significant local gusts,” said Yle meteorologist Anniina Valtonen. “The wind will start calming down after 6 p.m., at a level noticeable to event organisers.”

Meteorologist Jari Tuovinen from the Finnish Meteorological Institute confirmed similar forecasts, noting that gusts around 18 metres per second are capable of lifting unsecured structures like open tents or large umbrellas. “The safety aspect has clearly been taken into account,” he said.

Kesärauha’s security manager Lotta Ahtinen explained that organisers had prepared for the possibility of high winds. “If gusts increase, we temporarily remove loose equipment and lighter furniture from the site,” Ahtinen said. “The safety of visitors and staff is the priority.”

Cleaning up and resetting stages in strong winds is logistically difficult, especially with sensitive technical equipment in place. “Expensive gear must be protected,” Valtonen said.

Despite the disruptions, festival-goers appeared patient. Sisters Miina and Seela Viitala from Helsinki, who were waiting in a nearby park, said they remained in good spirits. “We’ve got tickets for the whole weekend, so we’re just waiting calmly,” they said.

Kesärauha has grown in popularity in recent years. Last summer, the event drew over 23,000 visitors across three days. It is held in the historic Linnanpuisto area near Turku Castle.

Saaristo Festival, located by the sea in Kaarina, is also sensitive to coastal weather conditions. Both festivals have become staples of Finland’s summer music calendar, attracting large domestic audiences.

The wind is expected to subside by late evening, and Sunday’s forecast indicates improved conditions. According to Tuovinen, while it will still be breezy on Sunday, the risk of damaging gusts will be much lower.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi