Porvoo Museum is organizing its second National Costume Picnic in the backyard of Holm House (Välikatu 11, Porvoo) on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 16:00–18:00. The picnic celebrates the 140th anniversary of the Finnish national costume, officially marked on Tuesday, August 5.
The National Costume Picnic is a casual gathering where participants enjoy the beauty of traditional costumes and share a meal they’ve brought with them. You can pack your own picnic or grab something from a nearby café.
You’re welcome to dress in a national costume, folk dress, or an ancient-style costume – or simply combine a piece of traditional dress with modern clothing. The dress code is as relaxed as the event itself.
-You can even show up in a floral summer dress! What matters most is a joyful folk dress spirit and enjoying the company, says Exhibition Producer Iina Wahlström.
Anyone dressed in the spirit of the national costume will receive free entrance to Porvoo Museum’s Holm House and the Old Town Hall all day.
Good company and textile heritage
During the picnic, researcher Helena Hämäläinen will introduce the museum’s textile heritage project, which focuses on digitizing and cataloguing weaving sample collections. These samples represent locally woven fabrics from the Porvoo region, mainly from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Visitors can also explore the origins of these samples – what villages and houses they came from, and who the weavers were. On site, you’ll also find the microscope Hämäläinen uses in her work, which you’re welcome to try.
-With the microscope, you can, for example, examine what the fabric of your own costume looks like up close, Hämäläinen says.
In addition to the textile heritage project, Exhibition Producer Iina Wahlström will introduce national costumes using literature, sample costumes, and individual garment pieces.
National costumes have been aired out in picnics across Finland for 15 years
The birthday of the national costume is celebrated on August 5, as it was on that date in 1885 when Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna received a rowing boat in Lappeenranta, rowed by eight young women wearing national costumes. This marked the first large-scale public appearance of national costumes in Finland and laid the foundation for today’s enthusiasm.
The first costume airing picnic was held in Imatra in 2010, based on an idea by Soja Murto, and the tradition has since spread widely across Finland.
Porvoo Museum held its first National Costume Picnic last year in the Holm House courtyard. The event aims to attract both locals and tourists. The museum warmly welcomes everyone to come celebrate the national costume in their own way.
In case of rain, the event will be held indoors at Holm House.
Contact persons
Iina Wahlström
Exhibition Producer
+358 40 540 2675
iina.wahlstrom@porvoonmuseo.fi
Helena Hämäläinen
Researcher
+358 40 545 7887
helena.hamalainen@porvoonmuseo.fi
