Both Pride and Tuska include crowds of partying participants, loud music, dancing, makeup and fancy fashion statements.
Helsinki has room for everyone to hang out and enjoy their music. On Saturday evening after the Pride Parade is over, you can see some rainbow gear mixed in with the black T-shirts at Tuska.
And we aren’t making this next part up: One recent year, as a bank of clouds lurked offshore behind the Tuska venue, with dark, misty edges that threatened rain, a lone cyclist crested a nearby hill, looked back, and saw a rainbow descending from those clouds.
The crowd at Tuska is up for German band Kreator. Photo: Jesse Kämäräinen/Tuska
Rainbow flags fly over Railway Square. Photo: Peter Marten
Cuisine options at Tuska Open Air Metal Festival include healthy s**t. Photo: Peter Marten
“Go vegan or die trying” is another Tuska food stand. Don’t do anything halfway, the message seems to be. Photo: Peter Marten
Finnish band Mokoma pleases the fans at Tuska. Photo: Jesse Kämäräinen/Tuska
A rainbow parade makes its way down Alexander Street during Helsinki Pride. Photo: Peter Marten
There was a cloud, but the parade remained in the sun. Photo: Peter Marten
Santa Claus (sort of) is handing out gingerbread at the Pride Parade. Photo: Peter Marten
The Tuska crowd keeps on smiling. Photo: Jesse Kämäräinen/Tuska
“Tuska” means “agony” in Finnish. But there’s room for love. Photo: Jesse Kämäräinen/Tuska
By Peter Marten, July 2018, updated June 2023
