As festival summer kicks off in Finland, Helsingin Sanomat examines how some politicians enjoy entry into the biggest events in Finland without paying a cent.

MPs are required to report only gifts, tickets, or travel if their value exceeds 400 euros. Invitations below this threshold do not need to be declared, though some choose to do so voluntarily.

According to HS, the declarations made by MPs show that the Ruisrock music festival, held in Turku since 1970, is especially popular among politicians.

Last summer, the City of Turku provided VIP tickets for 20 MPs and their companions, and also organised a VIP event for 100 people with drink vouchers and transport, costing a total of 18,400 euros. Festival tickets were free for the city under a partnership agreement with the festival.

This year, the city of Turku sent Ruisrock invitations to 54 MPs and ministers.

Karoliina Hidén, Director of Communications for the City of Turku, tells HS that invitations are almost always sent to members of the government as well as MPs from the southwest Finland region. In addition, party leaders, parliamentary group chairs, or politicians chosen according to varying themes may also receive invitations.

A three-day Ruisrock ticket costs 259 euros for those paying out of pocket, and a VIP ticket costs 519 euros.

According to Hidén, Ruisrock serves as a natural platform for dialogue with decision-makers. She added that at a reception held before the festival, "current city issues and goals are put forward".

In 2024, Vantaa spent approximately 32,500 euros on VIP tickets for the Tikkurila Festival, as well as just over 9,600 euros on catering for the mayor’s reception held during the event. Expenses were of a similar scale in 2023. In Vantaa, however, most invitees were other societal influencers rather than MPs.

In Helsinki, politicians were invited to Flow Festival through a reciprocal agreement, so the tickets cost the city nothing. In 2023, the city provided 57 one-day tickets, including 10 to MPs — six of whom also serve on the Helsinki city council. The then mayor, Juhana Vartiainen, hosted a pre-party attended by 85 people, where catering cost Helsinki taxpayers just over 8,300 euros.

In 2024, Helsinki did not organise any pre-parties nor offer tickets to politicians. However, based on gift declarations, politicians have received tickets to Flow directly from the event. For instance, Nasima Razmyar (SDP) reported last year that she received two three-day Gold tickets, with an estimated total value of 690 euros.

Littering tourists

One of the most widely read Iltalehti stories on Monday morning features a couple, Ritva and Harri Lahti, who, on returning to Finland from a trip to Norway in their motorhome, were shocked by the litter at a Finnish rest area.

They told IS that the restrooms and rest areas were clean on the Norwegian side at Nordkapp. However, when they crossed from Kautokeino into Finland, they found the rest areas covered in litter — milk cartons, plastic wrappers, toilet paper, and other trash scattered on the ground.

"Terrible and pitiful to see. We couldn't just leave it there," Ritva said, adding that they ended up collecting two plastic bags full of trash.

The couple said that at the Finnish camping area, there were about two hundred motorhomes and numerous buses.

Unstable Midsummer weather

Midsummer weather is once again difficult to predict this year, but warm temperatures should allow for enjoyable cottage celebrations across the country, reports Ilta-Sanomat.

Foreca’s duty meteorologist Sara Salonen tells the tabloid that a low-pressure front will bring mostly cloudy weather to Finland during the Midsummer weekend. However, Jari Tuovinen from the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) said the mornings of Midsummer’s Eve and Day will start out sunny.

Tuovinen said Thursday will bring heavy rain showers, but on Midsummer’s Eve, Friday, the warmest areas will be Turku, Hanko, Lohja, and the Helsinki region, with temperatures reaching up to 17 degrees.

On Midsummer Day, temperatures can reach 18 degrees along the southern coast, from the Helsinki area to Pori, and possibly also in Tampere.

The coldest Midsummer weather will be in the north, with temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius. In the Inari and Utsjoki areas, it may drop as low as 6–7 degrees.

IS also notes that a hot Midsummer is relatively rare. According to FMI, it happens only about every fourth Midsummer.

Satistics from 1991 to 2020 revealed that the median Midsummer highs ranged between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius, while median lows were generally between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius, except in Lapland.

Midsummer 2022 was the hottest in recent years, with the highest temperature reaching 30 degrees. In contrast, the coldest recent Midsummer was in 2014, when Finland saw sleet, snow and hail during the holiday.

All Points North's season finale travels back in time to fifty years ago, when amid the Cold War, all eyes turned to Helsinki for a historic event. Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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