The Summer Events Began with Burgers, Whitefish and Jazz

HELSINKI–NAANTALI—To celebrate the beginning of the summer, we attended the earlier days of two festivals, which reach their climax on Saturday. Which one do we recommend? Both; depending on where you are located.

At the Railway Square in Helsinki, The Burger Lovers Festival is taking place until an hour before midnight, and it boasts to serve some of the best burgers in the country. After trying a vegetarian burger from a Kuopio-based restaurant Burger5, we are assured this is the case.

Meanwhile, in Naantali, southwestern Finland, the Naantali Music Festival (Naantalin Musiikkijuhlat), which is one of Finland’s longest-running music festivals, is having its final concert day.

Last week, we attended one of the events and enjoyed a swinging jazz concert by Finnish multifaceted vocalist Aili Ikonen and her quintet at the historical Naantalin Kaivohuone, a glamorous wooden building built in the late 17th century.

Ikonen performed while we enjoyed a three-course meal based on whitefish and vegetables with red wine to drink. The menu included a delightful rhubarb pannacotta as dessert.

On Saturday evening, Naantali Music Festival will conclude with a unique collection of works arranged for twelve cellos at the historical Naantali Church by the shore.

If the earlier is any indicator, the experience will be worth more than the price of admission. The concert is scheduled to start at 19:00 and will last for two hours.