Helsinki Christmas Market got off to a brisk start in its first week, with 135,000 visitors. The daily number of visitors has again been in the tens of thousands, and this year’s daily record was set on the Saturday of the opening weekend (2 December), when nearly 37,000 people visited the market to soak up the Christmas atmosphere.
Visitors to the market could discover the products of nearly 100 small producers as well as more than 20 delicatessen vendors and café and restaurant operators. Thousands of responsible delicacies, gifts, decorations and utility items have been purchased to go on Santa’s sleigh, or for Christmas tables and decorations – Christmas classics such as woollen socks, candles and various flavours of mulled wine were again best sellers.
The most filling dishes in the Restaurant Yard included rice porridge, of which 35,000 servings have been sold during the Christmas Market and the N4ku restaurant has sold 10,000 of its hit porridge, which has also attracted media attention. This year, Pop up Cafe Mama Nikolas’ locally baked cinnamon buns, less substantial than porridge, became a hit product, with sales of 2,000 buns already.
The aim is to spread the Christmas spirit more widely to Helsinki residents also through charity. Helsinki Events Foundation, the organiser of Helsinki Christmas Market, makes it possible for all market vendors to donate any surplus unsold products to the needy through the HurstinApu Association.
Diverse Helsinki Christmas Market programme attracted people
Visitors to Helsinki Christmas Market could meet with Santa and Mrs Claus and experience live Christmas music performed by various ensembles. On Sunday 10 December, the Market saw a rare visit by the British Army Band Sandhurst, who gave two performances of various traditional Christmas carols. Popular work demos organised at vendors’ stalls provided opportunities to learn about glassblowing, chestnut roasting and forging metal objects. Aito Iskelmäs Aito Joulu radio has delighted visitors for the time the market has been open.
Next year’s Helsinki Christmas Market will again take place at Senate Square. More information about the coming Market will be available next year.
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