The Guards Parades
The guards parades held during the summer months are spectacular events based on a centuries-old tradition of guards parades, in which, all military orchestras around Finland take part.
The history of the guard parade dates back more than 250 years to the time of Swedish rule. The main guard was located on the Big Square, where the guard departments marched from their own barracks. During autonomy, guard shifts usually lasted 24 hours and guard parades were organized daily. The guards parades were regularized at the end of May 1919 and have been an unbroken tradition ever since, with a break only during the Continuation War 1941-1942 and in 2020 due to the corona pandemic.
This year marks the beginning of the 268th year of tradition. The guard parades for the summer of 2025 will begin at Senate Square at 12:20 p.m. The parades begin with entertainment music and pattern marches, sometimes also drill commands. After this, the parade continues to march around the Esplanade park to the front of the Helsinki Main Guard. From the main guard, the guard parade marches via Esplanade back to the Senate Square, where the parade ends. After the parade, the orchestra will perform at the MIL-Espa concert on the Espa stage at 2 p.m, with a few exceptions.
Free admission – welcome!
