The Finnish Defence Forces to celebrate the Independence Day of Finland by way of a national parade in Lappeenranta

The national parade on the Independence Day of Finland is to be held in Lappeenranta on 6 December. The theme of the parade is National defence from generation to generation. The review of troops will take place at Kimpinen stadium, and the pass in review on Ainonkatu. The Finnish Defence Forces’ and other agencies’ equipment and activity will be on display at Satamatori square. The events are free of charge.

The Independence Day will start by a flag-raising ceremony at Katariina square in the Fortress. The programme also includes a wreath-laying ceremony at Memorial Cemetery for Fallen Soldiers of Lappeenranta, and a Lutheran Service at Lutheran Lappee Parish Church of St Mary. At Satamatori square, the Finnish Defence Forces’ and other agencies’ equipment and activity will be available for familiarisation from morning to afternoon.

The review of troops will start at 12 at Kimpinen stadium, and it is advisable to be on site well on time for the event. The Utti Jaeger Regiment’s NH90 transport helicopter will fly over the stadium at 11:15, and the parade troops will start aligning to position at the review field from 11:30 onwards.

The review of troops will be reviewed and the pass in review received by Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki. For the pass in review, on the pass in review podium site on Ainonkatu, he will be accompanied by Chair of Lappeenranta City Council, Ms Sanna Koskenranta. The parade’s guests of honour will be veterans and lottas of our wars.

The parade troops will be commanded by Chief of Operations, Army, Brigadier General Sami-Antti Takamaa. The field devotional will be held in the review of troops by Senior Military Chaplain of the Army Sanna Timonen. The parade arrangements are the responsibility of the Army Academy, and the music of the Dragoon Band. The parade will be moderated to the public by journalist Jukka Lindström. 

The parade will be participated by troops from the Army, Navy, Air Force, National Defence University, and the Finnish Border Guard, as well as organisations of veterans and national defence, altogether up to c. 1,200 personnel in total.

The pass in review to start at 13:15 will include alongside dismounted personnel c. 45 vehicles of the Finnish Defence Forces and other agencies. The pass in review will also include a horse cavalry detachment.

The fly-pasts of the pass in review will feature Army helicopters and Air Force F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters and Hawk jet trainers. The fly-pasts will cause noise over the area of Lappeenranta.

The parade troops will start the pass in review at the line of departure on Ainonkatu to line with Halkosaari crossing. The pass in review will advance on Ainonkatu towards the city centre. 

The dismounted detachments will march on from Ainonkatu to Rakuunamäki. The vehicles of the pass in review will turn from Ainonkatu to Kipparinkatu, bypass the Fortress area on Satamatie, and continue in the direction of Lappeenranta garrison and to their respective home garrisons.

Programme for the day

At 08:00 Flag-raising ceremony at Fortress
At 09:00 Wreath-laying ceremony at Memorial Cemetery for Fallen Soldiers of Lappeenranta
At 09–16 Activity Field at Satamatori square
At 10:00 Lutheran Service at Lutheran Lappee Parish Church of St Mary
At 11:15 Fly-past of an NH90 transport helicopter over Kimpinen stadium
From 11:30 onwards, alignment to position for the review of troops at Kimpinen stadium 
At 12:00 Review of troops at Kimpinen stadium
At 13:15 Pass in review in Ainonkatu

Parade to affect overall traffic in Lappeenranta

The parade will affect traffic control arrangements in the area of Lappeenranta. Parade preparations will be seen in Lappeenranta from 4 December onwards. Parade preparations and equipment transfers will cause discontinuity in road use, and parking restrictions will apply along specific streets during 5-6 December. More detailed information on traffic arrangements will be available from week 48 onwards.

The public is asked to arrive at event sites well in advance by foot on the Independence Day.

The parade area is a no-flight zone, and drone activity remains strictly forbidden for sustained event safety with the exception of statutory authority functions.

Follow the parade

The events are free of charge, and we warmly welcome the public to follow the day’s events.

The parade may also be followed online on the Finnish Defence Force’s channels: 
puolustusvoimat.fi/itsenaisyyspaiva

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