National parade on the Independence Day to affect traffic in Lappeenranta on 4.–6.12.

The national parade on the Independence Day 6 December 2024 will affect traffic and parking in Lappeenranta. During the parade events, the public is kindly asked to move on foot downtown, in the area of Kimpinen, on Ainonkatu, and at the harbour.

On 6 December, the Finnish Defence Forces will celebrate the Independence Day from the morning until 16:00 in Lappeenranta. The programme will include a flag-raising ceremony at the Fortress, a wreath-laying ceremony at Memorial Cemetery for Fallen Soldiers, Lutheran Service at Lutheran Lappee Parish Church of St Mary, review of troops at Kimpinen stadium, pass in review on Ainonkatu, and equipment display at Satamatori square. 

For sustained safety, streets will be closed off from vehicle traffic, and parking restrictions will apply on affected streets on venue sites. The restrictions will be lifted as promptly as possible following the event.

During 4-5 December, parade troops, vehicles and equipment will start arriving at Lappeenranta. On 5 December, parade arrangements will begin on venue sites.

The most substantial changes affecting traffic arrangements and parking will be on Ainonkatu, Kipparinkatu, Satamatie, Taipalsaarentie (road 408), in the area of Kimpinen, in Rakuunamäki, and on Lavolankatu.  

Streets and crossings will be closed off before and after the parade for the duration of troop and vehicle movement. From 4.12. at 06:00 to 6.12. at 16:00, parking and traffic restrictions will be effective downtown, on Ainonkatu, Kipparinkatu, Satamatie, Maaherrankatu, Kimpisenkatu, Neulasepänkatu, Mäkikatu, Kantokatu, and in the area of Rakuunamäki. 

Parking will remain strictly forbidden in areas marked by restricted parking, and vehicles will be removed from these areas by City of Lappeenranta.

Parking will be free of charge downtown in City of Lappeenranta parking facilities P-Pormestari ja P-City on 6.12. at 9-16, and designated parking space along streets will also remain free of charge during 6.12.

On 5.12. from 12:00 onwards, equipment will be on the move to Satamatori square for the equipment display that is to be disassembled on 6.12. from 16:00 onwards.

After the parade, the main majority of parade troops, vehicles and equipment will depart from Lappeenranta on 6.12. The return marches will be on the move on road 6 west in the direction of Kouvola to Hattula and Säkylä, and on road 13 north to Savitaipale and Vekaranjärvi. 

Traffic arrangements concerning the review of troops on 6.12.

The public is kindly asked to arrive at Kimpinen stadium on foot well in advance. The parking area by the stadium is reserved for the parade’s purposed only.

The parade troops will arrive by bus to Valtakatu to dismount and proceed for the review of troops to Kimpinen stadium on Pajakuja – to Mäkikatu – to Maaherrankatu. The review completed, the troops will advance to the pass in review on Maaherrankatu – to Mäkikatu – to Kantokatu – to Ainonkatu. The routes will be closed off from traffic for the duration of the troops’ movement.

In case of emergency, rescue vehicles will be enabled to access the given site.

Traffic arrangements concerning the pass in review on 6.12.

The pass in review will be conducted on Ainonkatu from 13:15 onwards. Alongside the dismounted troops, the pass in review will also be participated by up to 45 vehicles of the Finnish Defence Forces and other agencies, and by a horse cavalry detachment. Before the start of the pass in review, the vehicles will deploy to Ainonkatu. 

On 6.12. at 10:00-15:00, Ainonkatu, Kipparinkatu and Satamatie will be closed off from vehicle traffic on the pass in review route. Residents’ vehicle traffic to and from their property along the route will be enabled as applicable.

The pass in review completed, streets will be reopened to vehicle traffic as promptly as possible.

On 6.12. from 11:30 onwards, the horse cavalry detachment of the pass in review will move for the pass in review from Rakuunamäki to Myllysaari on Mannerheiminkatu – to Lönnrotinkatu– to Valtakatu  – to – Seututie 408 (Taipalsaarentie) – to Koulukatu - to Yhdyskatu – to Ainonkatu. For the duration of this movement, the given streets will be closed off from vehicle traffic.

The pass in review will start on Ainonkatu at the crossing of Halkosaari to advance on Ainonkatu in the direction of the city centre. 

The pass in review completed, the dismounted detachment and the horse cavalry detachment that closes the pass in review will proceed to Rakuunamäki on Ainonkatu– to Yhdyskatu – to Koulukatu – to Seututie 408 (Taipalsaarentie) – to Valtakatu – to Lönnrotinkatu – to Mannerheiminkatu.

The vehicles of the pass in review will turn from Ainonkatu to Kipparinkatu, and continue their directed movement to Leirikenttä on route: Satamatie – Taipalsaarentie (road 408) – Rakuunamäki – Maneesikatu – Lavolankatu. 

For sustained safety, the pass in review route will be fenced and cordoned off, and crossing or moving on the closed off street sections will be strictly forbidden for the duration of the pass in review.

The Police and Military Police will control and guide traffic on the route of the pass in review.

We warmly welcome the public to follow the day’s events. The events will be free of charge.

For more information on the programme for the day, see: puolustusvoimat.fi/en/the-finnish-independence-day 

For information on traffic arrangements by City of Lappeenranta, see: lappeenranta.fi/en