Over the years, the three-day Tuska metal festival has created a culture outside of its gates as well.
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People used to hang around the gas station, sometimes indulging in quiet small talk, and at the edges of the curvy street leading to Helsinki’s Suvilahti area.
They drank beer from a plastic bag. Even a bus promoting God’s word has been a common sight at the lot near the gates. Everything was a kind of social ritual in itself, a powwow, before immersing into the metal mayhem.
This year, there will be major changes for people used to do that and for those frequenters who could pass the gates blindfolded.
Now, and in the future, the main entrance goes through shopping center Redi in Kalasatama.
“We want to change the usability of the area,” said Eeka Mäkynen, the promoter of Tuska, in a statement. “It’s important for us to not just adjust to the changes built around us, but instead we want to make the most of it.”
After visiting the gates on Thursday, it’s clear that the changes provide a smoother flow into the area.
At the Kalasatama metro station, there’s a sign and an arrow guiding the way to the festival.
At the second floor, you’ll find Tuska’s pop-up venues, the wristband exchange and even an art gallery. Arriving in the car? Redi shopping center has reserved parking space for the festival visitors, too.
After a couple of right turns, the patrons are clearly guided by signs, stickers and posters to the main gates just next to the shopping center. (In the past years, if arriving by metro, one had to walk a distance before reaching the front gates.)
The area for pre-rituals seems to be limited to the left of the gates, at a large area of gravel.
In theory, one could think of bringing their blankets and plastic bags, and, yes, even a bus could fit there.
However, only the following three days will tell how the changes will affect the culture outside the gates and the real experience of visiting the festival.
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