Linnanmäki Amusement park opened its gates for the winter holidays in southern Finland. The Ice Pearl Winter Fest offers children and adults a chance to do all sorts of winter activities. Running until Sunday 28 February, the Winter Fest is open every day from 10:00 to 18:00.

There are 11 rides open at Linnanmäki, including kids’ favourites such as the chair swing (Ketjukaruselli) and Vekkula fun house. The entrance fee covers all rides and winter activities which include a tube hill, mini snowmobile track, skating rink, ski school, kick sledge track and even a snow dive rope slide.

This is the fourth annual Winter Fest and this year’s special programme is entitled “The path under the coaster”. During this guided tour, arranged three times a day, visitors can walk under the wooden rollercoaster and learn its history.

At Linnanmäki you can also meet the Ice Pearl people. Frosty Frank is their chief, and you can also see Höntti the mammoth or even Mrr the yeti. The Ice Pearl people tell stories four times a day.

Tube hill competitions take place on Friday 26 and Sunday 28 February. There are series for children over and under the age of ten, with three race categories: speed, length and accuracy. The Sohjo floor-ball snow tournament takes place on Thursday 25 and Saturday 27 February.

MARI KAISLANIEMI - HT