Santa Claus is on his way event in Rovaniemi during Christmas in Santa Claus Village.

Rovaniemi Christmas events

Visit Rovaniemi has two main Christmas events to delight and create christmassy feeling amongst locals and visitors. First event is the Christmas opening which officially starts the Christmas season and the other one is at 23rd of December the much expected Santa Claus is on His way.

Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle with Christmas lights during winter with snow in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland.

Santa Claus enjoying winter and snow with a reindeer in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland.

Every year people gather to Santa Claus Village to experience the magical time when Santa Claus starts his annual journey. This year the moment will be on Monday 23rd of December 2024 at 19:30 (Finnish time) in the Santa Claus Village, Arctic Circle. Event is free of charge and live streamed online. You can view the recording from 2023 below.

Santa Claus is on his way 2024 Watch the live recording of the event 2023 from here

The Grand Opening of Christmas Season -event at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland.

Next year Countdown to Christmas event will be on Saturday 25th of October 2025. More specific information will be updated later on.

The Grand Opening of Christmas Season is an annual celebration honouring the Christmas traditions of sharing Christmas spirit and good will. The event takes place at the central square of Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi. The musical Christmas performances take the audience into the merry moods of Christmas and Winter. The traditional Christmas Opening culminates in Santa’s arrival and speech – what does Santa want to tell us this year?

Watch the live recording of the event 2024 from here Watch the live recording of the event 2023 from here

Campaign with Unicef Finland and Rovaniemi during Christmas.

We want to cherish the Christmas time good will together with UNICEF Finland. Rovaniemi has been a friend city of UNICEF Finland for years, supporting the important charity work. Each year Visit Rovaniemi and City of Rovaniemi are donating money for UNICEF Finland in the Christmas events in Rovaniemi.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives and to defend their rights. Finnish Committee for UNICEF runs programs in four focus areas: promoting children’s rights in municipalities through Child Friendly Cities model and in wellbeing services counties, in development policy, in business operations, and global education in schools.

Every child, everywhere, has a right to survive, develop and reach their full potential. UNICEF uses its funds to immunize children against vaccine-preventable diseases, tackle malnutrition, support childrens’ mental health, help them get back to school and strengthen systems that keep children safe from harm. UNICEFs also does policy and advocacy work for children.

UNICEF