Finland and the Kainuu region are at the moment strongly present at Winter Wonders Christmas market event in Brussels. The town of Kuhmo will also be present during 13th-16th December, especially concentrating in displaying the wood construction, culture and nature.
The Winter Wonders event In Brussels takes place during 30th November 2018 – 6th January 2019. at the Grand-Place in Brussels and around the Bourse, the Place de la Monnaie, the Place Sainte-Catherine and the Marché aux Poissons. Winter Wonders Christmas Market is one of the biggest Christmas market events in Europe. There are over 200 chalets, as well as a skating rink, the big wheel and carousels. The event annually attracts even 2.5 million visitors!
A celebrated country is invited to participate each year. This year the celebrated guest is Finland. The city of Brussels, Visit Finland and the Regional Council of Kainuu in Northern Finland have agreed of the concept to be realised. The Kainuu region, as well as the whole Finland, is represented as one whole entity. The town of Kuhmo will be present during 13th-16th December by the Mayor Tytti Määttä, Development Director Tapani Kiiskinen and the staff of research and development company Woodpolis.
Impressive bear figures, carved with chain saw in Kuhmo, guard the Finnish Christmas village and the area is beautifully surrounded by Finnish spruce trees. The wooden bears have attracted well deserved attention from the visitors and are a popular spot for taking selfies. Finnish design and delicacies, like berry- and bread products are for sale at the market. You may also warm up by open fire and enjoy smoked salmon and mulled wine in a giant Lapland tent.
- The town of Kuhmo concentrates in displaying the wood construction, culture and nature in Brussels, all strengths of the town. We are also going to meet our interest groups in Brussels during the visit, says Mayor Tytti Määttä.
The so called ”Stick-house”, constructed by Woodpolis in Kuhmo, functions as the information point of Finnish Christmas market. At the event, the house is known as the “House of Silence”. The building in itself is an example of the innovative wood construction in Kainuu, but also the interior décor takes inspiration from the Kainuu region and Finland. You will be able to experience sounds of the Finnish nature, as well as virtually watch the changing four seasons in the Finnish national parks or visit the Kuhmo chamber music festival. The virtual material from Kuhmo chamber music is produced by the “Wild Taiga Online” project of Idän Taiga association, and is premiering at the Christmas market. At the street level of the house, the hosts will tell about Finland and Kainuu; about the nature, culture, way of life and the tourism opportunities, as well.
An important part of the closing of Winter Wonders event this year is the chamber music concert by Kuhmo Festival on 6th January 2019. In addition to the Artistic Director of Kuhmo Festival, Vladimir Mendelssohn, pianist Diana Ketler, violinist Priya Mitchell and cellist Joona Pulkkinen will perform. The concert invites both the travel agents and VIP guests to Kuhmo Festival next summer. A Belgian travel agency ”Cimarosa”, +32 9 223 37 40, [email protected] arranges a musical trip to Kuhmo during 20th – 26th July 2019, as the Kuhmo festival is arranged for the 50th time, this time with the theme of “nostalgia”.
The Winter Wonders Christmas market is a remarkable opportunity for the Kainuu region to make itself and its opportunities known. The side events arranged will also forward the messages from Kainuu to the European Union.
Additional Information:
Ms Tytti Määttä
Mayor of Kuhmo
+358 44 725 5220
https://www.kainuunliitto.fi/winterwonders18
@winterwonders18_finland_kainuu @kuhmonkaupunki
#winterwonders #Kainuu #Kuhmo
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The regional councils in Finland have two main functions laid down by law: 1) regional development and 2) regional land use planning. The councils are the regions' key international actors and they are largely responsible for the EU's Structural Fund programmes and their implementation. Regional councils have the key role in promoting the region's interests. The regional council protects the region's culture and traditions in many ways by networking with the actors in the region and in the same fields to promote the well-being or the region in a broad meaning.
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