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Karelians' Week brings history, evening socials and shared celebrations to Heinola

Karelia Week is being celebrated in Heinola from 29 September to 4 October. The week’s programme brings together Karelian history, culture, music and community spirit. Events will be held at the Käkisalmi Museum, Heinola Upper Secondary School, the WPK House and Heinola Church. The week is organised by the Käkisalmi Foundation and the Heinola Karelian Society. The week kicks off on Tuesday 29 September at the Käkisalmi Museum, which will host two free guided tours of the Lake Ladoga – Sea of Karelia exhibition at 13:00

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Make a donation to cherish traditions

The history of Karelia and the stories of evacuees live on in Heinola – support the work of the Käkisalmi Museum. The rich history of Karelia, the lives of the people of Käkisalmi and the memories of the evacuees live on today in Heinola at the Käkisalmi Museum. The museum acts as an important custodian of cultural heritage: it tells the story of Karelia, its people and their journeys – from the time before the wars right up to the experiences of the evacuation years. The museum's permanent exhibition presents Käkisalmi

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Movement, play and scouting skills during Cool Museums Week

KäkiJamppi at the Music Institute: The Käkisalmi Museum is participating in the regional Cool Museums thematic week by organising ”KäkiJamppi”, aimed at primary school-aged children, in Heinola from 27 to 28 June and from 30 June to 5 July 2026 daily at 12:00. The programme is held in the courtyard of the Heinola Music Institute and is free of charge for visitors to the Käkisalmi Museum. KäkiJamppi offers children a 45-minute physical activity and action session combining games, outdoor activities and scout skills. The instructors are scouts from Kymen Vartijat

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Lake Ladoga – the Sea of Karelia opens a window into Ladoga's centuries-old history

The new Käkisalmi Museum exhibition, Lake Ladoga – The Sea of Karelia, guides visitors through the history of Europe's largest lake, from its post-glacial origins to the height of Karelia's flourishing. The exhibition brings together the natural history of Lake Ladoga, the emergence of trade routes, the development of Karelian culture, and the lives of people on the shores and islands of the lake. Lake Ladoga was not just a large lake – for centuries it was Karelia's

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From Käkisalmi towards the heights – Erkki Melartin exhibition at Heinola Music Institute

The Keksholm Museum has brought a comprehensive exhibition presenting the life and work of Erkki Melartin to Heinola for the 2026 summer season. The exhibition has been compiled from extensive material, largely in private ownership, gathered by the composer's biographer, Dr Tuire Ranta-Meyer. The same exhibition, entitled Towards the Heights, was on display last year at the National Library, and it now offers the residents of Heinola and summer visitors the opportunity to get to know Melartin

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Postcards bring Käkisalmi's history to life in Heinola

The past of Kexholm opens up in a new thematic exhibition, which is on display at the Kexholm Museum in Heinola from 28.4. to 31.5.2026. The exhibition "Postcards from Kexholm – the city of apple blossoms" is based on the new book of the same name and brings to light the history of the town through a unique collection of postcards. The exhibition presents postcards sent from various eras, ranging from the early 20th century all the way to the years of the Continuation War. Through the images, the development of Kexholm from an idyllic wooden town into a bustling border region takes shape.

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