The Flow Festival’s balloons will rise above Suvilahti for the last time in August 2023. The festival, which has been held in Suvilahti for years, has announced that it will move to a new location after this summer due to expanding construction projects in the area. This hugely popular urban event drew approximately 90,000 visitors in 2022.
One of Finland’s largest music festivals, the Flow Festival is changing its location as the Suvilahti area undergoes a transformation. The urban setting near Kalasatama has been a central part of Flow’s growth story, which began in 2004.
“Suvilahti has been an essential part of shaping the festival’s spirit into what it is known as today. Over the years, the area’s post-industrial setting has become an integral part of the Flow Festival’s identity,” says Flow Festival spokesperson Eeva Palmén.
Suvilahti: A Central Part of the Urban Event
Flow was originally held in VR’s warehouses, from where it moved to Kallio and eventually to Suvilahti. It was first held in Suvilahti in 2007. It was also the first major event held at that location, and in its wake, the area has, over the years, become a hub for major city events, says Palmén.
No major events were held at the former power plant site in Suvilahti before 2007, but the City of Helsinki had already planned a cultural center similar to Kaapelitehdas for the area, according to the festival’s spokesperson. “The post-industrial atmosphere of the Suvilahti power plant area felt like a perfect fit,” he says. Among other things, Suvilahti made it possible for the event to continue from day into night and offered visitors a more comprehensive festival experience. It was also located along excellent transportation routes.
“The post-industrial atmosphere of the Suvilahti power plant area felt like a perfect ten.”
— Eeva Palmén, Flow Festival spokesperson
The event organizers have taken the distinctive characteristics of the Suvilahti area into account from the very beginning and have sought to honor its unique architecture. ”The lighting, decorations, and stage design have always been created to highlight the area’s special atmosphere and on its own terms,” Palmén notes.
Flow Continues at a New Location
Before the move, the festival will be celebrated one last time at its current location. As in previous years, the event will expand to cover the entire Suvilahti power plant area. The festival will announce its new location after the 2023 event.
The lineup for the final Flow Festival ranges from Finnish stars to international heavyweights—headliners include Lorde, Blur, and Caroline Polachek. There will be a total of about 150 performers this year. In addition to the music lineup, the event features a wide-ranging arts program and over 40 restaurants.
The 2023 Flow Festival will take place August 11–13. All ticket types are on sale.
