Helsinki Pride

Helsinki Pride is a gay and lesbian pride event held in Helsinki, Finland. The festival takes place in the last week of June. The event usually takes place the week after midsummer and lasts all week. The program begins on Monday, and there are usually sporting events, a gathering of young people in the evening, and a rainbow fair during the week. Furthermore, a number of them honor the role of women. The week culminates with Saturday's Pride parade through the heart of Helsinki. The procession concludes in the park, where the festivities continue. There is usually a celebratory program of music and speeches in the park. On Saturday nights, the city's gay nightclubs provide entertainment.

Attendance nearly tripled from 2017 to a record-breaking 100,000 people in 2018, making it one of Finland's largest public events ever.

Seta's "Freedom Day" in 1975 started the tradition of Helsinki Pride. Previously, the Pride was held in Helsinki on even years (2004, 2006, etc.) and in one of Finland's other major cities on odd years (2003, 2005, etc.). Every year since 2006, Helsinki has hosted the LGBT pride parade. Other major Finnish cities have also organized their own prides, such as Tampere Pride, North Pride in Oulu, and Lahti Pride.

In 2010, a tear gas attack on the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Kluuvikatu disrupted the parade, injuring several people, the youngest of whom was less than a year old. Three men were later apprehended by police.

Takes place: the last week of June