Concert on the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces

Free admission!

Like last year, the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces on 4 June will be celebrated with an alternative programme, respecting the dignity of the day. A concert performed by the Dragoon Band, broadcast live on Yle channels (Finnish Broadcasting Company), will make up the main event of the Flag Day. You can watch the rest of the programme on the Defence Forces social media channels. Yle will broadcast a compilation of the Day’s events in the afternoon.

The Day’s official programme starts with the raising of the Finnish flag in Mäntyniemi, the official residence of the President of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces. The raising of the flag will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony in Hietaniemi cemetery. This is the first time the Flag Day ceremony, hosted by the Commander of the Defence Forces, will be organized for the whole personnel. In addition to the personnel, cooperation partners of the Defence Forces will also be invited to this virtual celebration organized at Mannerheim Museum.

The Dragoon Band, an Army band, performing music at the Defence Forces Flag Day concert, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Flag Day concert will be broadcast live on television. The three Services, namely the Army, Navy and Air Force, and the conscripts will be accounted for in the musical programme. Soloists Laura Närhi, Reino Nordin and Jarkko Ahola will perform their own music and cover pieces from classics to new hits. The Band will also play march music. The concert will be hosted by Jussi-Pekka Rantanen and conducted by Major (Mus.) Riku Huhtasalo and Major (Mus.) Toimi Väisänen.

The corona year has been challenging to all of us. The Defence Forces and the Dragoon Band wish to entertain us Finns with music that will make everybody feel good. Let’s all embrace summer with music!

You can watch the Dragoon Band concert on Yle TV1, Yle-Areena and Yle Radio Suomi live from 11.00 a.m. A roundup of the day’s events will be broadcast on Yle TV1 and Areena at 5.10 p.m.