University of Helsinki
Kallio neighbourhood, known as the urban heart of Helsinki, will act as a stage for bands, dance acts, poetry recitation and several other activities this weekend as the annually organized Kallio Block Party closes down the entire Kolmas Linja Street for the whole day tomorrow, the 3rd of August. The free of charge city festival (see programme and map of festival area) organized by the Kallio-liike is open for all and has something for everyone.
Formerly a working-class neighbourhood, the laid-back area of Kallio is known for its heterogeneous population of students, freethinkers and beer-fond dwellers, but also increasingly identified as an area for families with young children and entrepreneurs. Kallio can be easily accessed from the city centre by walking, via metro or tram.
Block parties, like the one in Kallio, are but one expression of the increasingly popular urban communal thinking in Helsinki as people come together and find new ways of making the city livelier. Other indications of the trend are happenings like the Restaurant Day and Siivouspäivä (=cleaning day), Helsinki Time Bank and urban cultivation which is becoming more and more hot these days.