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National Parade on the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces

The national parade on the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces will be held on Wednesday, 4 June 2025 in Kuopio. Karelia Air Wing, in cooperation with the City of Kuopio, is responsible for organising the event. The parade is part of Kuopio's celebrations marking its 250th anniversary this year.

Troops participating in the parade represent the Air Force, Army, Navy, Border Guard, veterans' and national defence organisations, as well as emergency and security service partners. Approximately 1,500 personnel, over 40 vehicles, and about 15 aircraft will take part. All Air Force units will be represented.

In addition to the review of troops and pass in review, the programme will include flight demonstrations by Hornet multi-role fighters and the aerobatic team Midnight Hawks, the MILjazz 2025 Defence Forces summer tour concert, and a static display at the harbour area. All events are free of charge.

The parade will be reviewed by Commander of the Finnish Air Force Major General Timo Herranen. A field devotional service will be conducted by Chief of Air Force Chaplains Janne Huikko, and the parade commander will be Brigadier General Aki Puustinen, Chief of Staff Air Force Command Finland.

Defence Forces Flag Day Programme – 4 June 2025

8:00 – 8:15 Ceremonial flag raising, Satamatori
9:00 – 9:15 Wreath laying ceremony, Sankaripuisto
9:00 – 16:00 Static Display, Harbour Area
10:00 – 10:35 Church Service, Kuopio Cathedral
12:00 – 12:30 Review of troops, Väinölänniemi
13:15 – 13:45 Pass in review and Flyover, Satamakatu
14:15 Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet demonstration flight off the harbour
14:30 Rescue Department rescue demonstration in the harbour basin
18:00 – 21:30 MILjazz 2025 Concert, Satamatori

The Flag Day Parade Will Affect Traffic in Kuopio on 3–4 June 2025

The event will cause changes to traffic and parking. During the parade events, the public is encouraged to move on foot in the harbour and Väinölänniemi areas.

The programme includes a flag-raising at the harbour, a wreath-laying ceremony at the war heroes’ cemetery, a church service at the Cathedral, a parade review at Väinölänniemi Stadium, a march-past on Satamakatu, and an equipment exhibition at the harbour square.

Streets in the event areas will be closed to vehicular traffic and parking will be restricted. Traffic restrictions will be lifted as soon as possible after the event has concluded.

Parade troops and equipment will arrive in Kuopio on Tuesday 3 June, and parade preparations will begin at the event sites on the same day.

Streets and intersections will be closed to traffic before and after the parade during the movement of troops and equipment. The most significant changes to traffic and parking will be seen on Satamakatu, around the harbour square, on Asemakatu, in Väinölänniemi, and in Kuopionlahti.

The boating parking areas in the harbour area, harbour park, the harbour breakwater, and the Vuorikatu pier in Kuopionlahti and the Rönö bridge will be out of use on 3–4 June.

Parking is strictly prohibited in areas marked with no-parking signs. Vehicles parked in prohibited areas will be removed by the City of Kuopio.

There will be limited parking available in the harbour area during the event day. In the Kuopio city centre, the most convenient parking on the day of the event is in Toriparkki or other paid parking facilities in the city centre: kuopio.fi/en/environment-and-housing/transport/parking/general-information-about-parking/

Read more about how the event affects traffic arrangements in Kuopio.