Christmas season opening in Jyväskylä

Jyväskylä's traditional Christmas opening. Also daytime activities and a carousel for families with children.

Christmas opening day begins with a children's elf adventure where kids can search for small elves around the city using a map. Children who find the elves will be rewarded. The elf adventure can be started at a convenient time by picking up a map near the carousel. The carousel operates at Kompassi on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM. At 5 PM, the traditional part of the Christmas opening begins. It includes music performances, community singing, the lighting of Christmas lights, and the city mayor's Christmas greeting. The Christmas opening parade moves from Kompassi first to Kirkkopuisto and then to Toivola Old Courtyard, where the program continues. Christmas Opening Day Schedule: 10:00-17:00 Carousel at Kompassi on Saturdays and Sundays. The carousel is provided by the Kompassi shopping centers: Jyväskeskus, Tawast, Sokkari, and Forum. 10:00-17:00 Elf Adventure for children: maps can be obtained from Kompassi near the carousel, and the adventure can be started at a convenient time. Rewards for those who complete it before 5 PM. 10:00 Christmas storefront competition for brick-and-mortar stores begins. Voting period is from November 18 to December 10. Voting is possible in stores and online. 17:00 Viola Tarvainen sings and plays Christmas songs at Kompassi. 17:15 Program at Kompassi: City Mayor's greeting, music, Santa Claus, elves' performance, and lighting of the Christmas star. 18:00 Harju Christmas music and transition to Kirkkopuisto. 18:05 Harju Song Choir performs in Kirkkopuisto. 18:15 Community sing-along "Joulupuu on rakennettu" and lighting of Kirkkopuisto's lights. 18:30 Santa Claus moves to Toivolan Old Courtyard on a horse-drawn carriage. 18:45 Santa Claus reception at Toivola. 19:00 Harju Song Choir performs in Toivola. 19:15 Snowman animation at Toivola. 19:45 Opera singer Johanna Rusanen-Kartano, pianist Outi Jussila & cellist Kalle Kangas at Toivola.