Kotka is a beautiful maritime town located on the southeastern coast of Finland, about an hour’s drive from the capital city of Helsinki. A major port, it is famous for its annual maritime festival that attracts about 200,000 visitors over four days in late July.
The Kotka Maritime Festival, sometimes also translated as Kotka Sea Days or Kotka Maritime Days, evolved from the Midsummer Night Adventure (Kesäyön tempaus), an annual summertime event organized by local sports clubs, which included dancing and fireworks. Martti Viitanen, the city’s mayor, wanted the program to include more maritime programs, so Arvo Aatos Viljami Mäki, the chairman of Kotka’s Junior Chamber of Commerce, came up with the idea of a new summer event called the Maritime Festival. The inaugural Kotka Maritime Festival took place in 1962 and was a success. Since then, it has been held almost every year except for 2020 and 2021, when the festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the Kotka Maritime Festival is one of the biggest and most anticipated summertime festivals in Finland. It offers a wide range of family-friendly events for all ages, most of which are free. The majority of these events take place in the city’s historic center located on an island named Kotkansaari. Despite being situated on an island, the venue is easily accessible by public transport.
The main highlight of the festival is its legendary opening parade that features groups representing various non-commercial associations, organizations and clubs, as well as local businesses. Non-commercial organizations participate for free, while commercial companies are charged a participation fee. Led by a marching band, the parade passes through the streets of Kotka, attracting more than 30,000 spectators. It is followed by the opening ceremony, which includes festive speeches, music, and presentation of an award to the best parade group.
The program of the Kotka Maritime Festival also includes various stage performances, ranging from dance and music to acrobatics, the traditional sea market with food, drinks, handicrafts and various sea-themed products, sports competitions, a boat parade organized in collaboration with local boat clubs, an International Jewelry Competition organized in cooperation with the Finnish Clock and Jewelry Museum and the Finnish Goldsmiths’ Association, and entertainment concerts in the public sauna. The Children’s Maritime Festival (Lasten Meripäivät) runs concurrently with the main event. It is full of performances, workshops, and other fun activities for children of all backgrounds.
The Kotka Maritime Festival with its vibrant atmosphere and diverse program is an unforgettable summertime experience for everyone, regardless of whether they attend with family or a group of friends, or even on their own. There’s something here for everyone, and you won’t be bored even for a minute.
Photo: Kotkan Meripäivät
