The City of Vantaa celebrates its fiftieth anniversary throughout 2024

Vantaa. 50. Vantaa. Home.

Celebrating growth. From a small village to a big city. To an adult doing well. Celebrating the past, the present and the future. Vantaa citizens and the spirit of Vantaa. The fact that we are ahead of others in many things, and we will lead the way in, for example, internationalism.

We celebrate the fact that we can all be at home in Vantaa. And if home is not (yet) in Vantaa, it is still a great place to be.

Vantaa is home to murals, sculptures, smoke saunas, airplanes, a spa, a science centre, sweets, oatmeal breads, silicon wafers, a river, streams, rapids, outdoor trails, railways, peace talks and future learners.  

From your doorstep, you can see nature, ski trails, the national park, the airport and, through our residents, the world. Vantaa is home to you and me. Our feelings, our memories, our plans, our laughter, our tears, our dancing, our work, our rest, our everyday life, our celebrations. A metropolis of small houses. No one is too small or too big to be a Vantaa citizen.

It’s good to be in your fifties because you have invested in the future. The roots are already grown, not to mention the wings! Vantaa dares to be brave and let the wings carry the day. Vantaa is an attitude. The future already lives here.

Mayor Pekka Timonen sums up the anniversary: “In Vantaaʼs anniversary year, we will focus on the things that matter to all of us: home, roots and community. Together, we will develop this city for all of us: current and future residents, employees and businesses. We have big plans for the future. We want our home in Vantaa to be the best it can be, easy to come to and easy to stay.”  

Events during the anniversary year 

The jubilee year starts on New Yearʼs Eve 31 December at 18:00 in front of the Town Hall on Tikkurilantori. The Town Hall will be illuminated by a large-scale video installation on the history of the city. You can also be inspired by the music, dance and atmosphere on the square.  

In May, you can enjoy a traditional Vantaa Day concert. In August, the streets of the city will be filled with the At Home in Vantaa National Local Heritage Conference.  

The National Local Heritage Conference will be held in Vantaa from 30 August to 1 September 2024, highlighting modern urban living, inclusion and multiculturalism, in addition to cultural heritage. During the weekend, it will also be possible to take part in many interesting excursions, guided tours and lectures. The celebrations will be accompanied by the opening of the City Museumʼs commemorative exhibition and the publication of a commemorative book on Vantaaʼs 50 years of urban history.

The BRQ Vantaa Festival and Helsinki Medieval Day will also be held in August. Suomen Latuʼs nationwide Nuku yö ulkona (Sleep Out Night) will come to Lake Kuusijärvi.

City residents can also organise their own events throughout the year. You can apply for a grant from the city to organise events, which is available to communities and groups. See the grant application guidelines and materials for event organisers.

Visual identity of the anniversary year

The look of the jubilee year consists of the Vantaa logo and the celebratory corner elements derived from it. This creates a coherence in the visual identity of the celebration.Together with the brand colours and corner elements familiar from the major regions, the image forms diamond-shaped festive visuals. The graphic elements also feature the yellow colour familiar from the Vantaa coat of arms.

Event organisers may use a logo for the anniversary year for marketing . The logo can be downloaded from vantaa.fi/celebration.

The stories of Vantaa people 

Throughout the year, we will publish the stories of our citizens in our own media. Are you one of our interviewees? Or do you know someone whose story should definitely be told? 

Contact us by email: some@vantaa.fi and tell us about yourself and your story. All interviewees will receive an anniversary gift pack. Gift packs will also be given out for tips that lead to the story. 

Christmas calendar 

You can follow the At Home In Vantaa Christmas Calendar on Instagram @Vantaankaupunki 

For everything related to the festive year, visit vantaa.fi/celebration.