National Parade on the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces in Seinäjoki

The National Parade on the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces will be held on 4 June 2018 in Seinäjoki. Apart from the review of troops and the pass-in-review, the programme will feature an equipment display and flight display routines as well as the Finnish Defence Forces 100 Summer Tour 2018 concert. The events are free of charge.

The parade will be reviewed by Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, General Jarmo Lindberg. The field devotional will be given by Field Bishop Pekka Särkiö, and the parade troops will be commanded by Army Chief of Staff, Major General Markku Myllykangas.

The parade will feature troops from all three Services as well as the National Defence University and national veterans’ and defence associations, including altogether 1,200 persons and 40 vehicles. This year, the arrangements for the parade are the responsibility of the Pori Brigade.

Review of troops at the Seinäjoki Football Stadium, pass-in-review on Kirkkokatu

The review of troops will take place at the Seinäjoki Football Stadium at 12:00 with the parade troops aligning to position starting at 11:30.

The pass-in-review will be conducted on Kirkkokatu beginning at 13:15 by dismounted marching detachments as well as by 40 vehicles, and reviewed in front of the Seinäjoki City Hall. It is possible to observe the pass-in-review along the entire length of Kirkkokatu.

In conjunction with the pass-in-review, the display fly-past routines will feature Army NH90 transport helicopters, Hughes MD500 light helicopters, Air Force F/A-18 Hornet multipurpose fighters and Hawk jet trainers. Weather permitting, the pass-in-review will be preceded by an Utti Jaeger Regiment parachute jump with the Finnish flag onto the park of Lakeuden puisto.

Equipment display, display flight routines, and a Summer Tour concert

The public will be welcome to familiarise themselves with the versatile equipment display by the Finnish Defence Forces all day on Koulukatu.

Also in the park Lakeuden puisto, the day’s highlight includes the Finnish Defence Forces 100 Summer Tour being launched in the evening with a concert featuring the Air Force Band and the Finnish Defence Forces’ Conscript Band with soloists Diandra and Club For Five.

Prior to the concert, weather permitting, the Air Force and Army display flights will feature the NH90 transport helicopter, F/A-18 Hornet multipurpose fighter, and the Midnight Hawks aerobatic team.

Parade will affect traffic in Seinäjoki

It is advisable to avoid using one’s own vehicle in the city centre during the parade events, since part of the streets and adjoining areas will be reserved for the parade. Those looking to attend are asked to arrive in good time on foot, by a bicycle, or by public transport.

Parking space will be available by the parking area of the Seinäjoki Horse Race Centre, from which return transportation by bus will be arranged to the day’s events free of charge. Parking remains recommendable also in the car park halls within the city’s area.

At parade locations, preparations for the arrangements will begin already on 2 June. The main part of the parade troops will arrive in Seinäjoki during the course of 3 June.

More specific information concerning the traffic arrangements will be available on week 22. Additional information on the traffic arrangements will be featured on the online site of the Finnish Defence Forces as well as that of the Seinäjoki City.

The public will be welcome to follow and attend all the Flag Day events. Moreover, it is possible to watch the review of troops and pass-in-review on screens both in Seinäjoki Arena and downtown by the equipment display.

Programme:

• At 9 Ceremonial Laying of Wreaths at Törnävä Cemetery
• At 10 Ceremonial Raising of the Flag at Seinäjoki City Hall
• At 10:15 Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Statue of Mannerheim (Koulukatu)
• At 10:30 - 19 Equipment Display on Koulukatu
• At 11:30 Starting the alignment of parade troops to position for the review of troops at the Seinäjoki Football Stadium
• At 12 Parade Review of Troops at the Seinäjoki Football Stadium
• At 13:15 Pass-in-review on Kirkkokatu
• At 17 - 18 Display flights by NH90 transport helicopter and Hornet as well as the Midnight Hawks
• At 18 Finnish Defence Forces 100 Summer Tour 2018 concert in the park Lakeuden puisto

The parade may also be joined in and followed online via the Finnish Defence Forces’ social media channels:

Facebook.com/puolustus
Twitter@Puolustusvoimat
Youtube.fi/puolustusvoimat
Instagram.com/puolustusvoimat.fi
Snapchat/inttielamaa

#PV100
#paraati

The National Parade is part of the Finnish Defence Forces 100 events on which further information will be available online at puolustusvoimat.fi/100.