Return traffic from Suviseuroj festival directed from control tower

Return traffic from the Suviseuroj folk festival in Kauhava is being managed from the airport’s control tower, according to a report by Finnish broadcaster Yle.

The event, drawing an estimated 85,000 participants, will see its heaviest congestion on Monday afternoon as the festival concludes. Traffic is being monitored via cameras, speed limits have been reduced in key areas, and police will direct vehicles at critical junctions if needed.

Jukka Linna, chair of the festival’s traffic committee, said the control tower provides an ideal vantage point to oversee the flat surrounding area. “From up high, you can use binoculars to see what’s happening around you,” he told Yle.

The tower’s top floor offers a clear view of the three-kilometre-long event site, filled with caravans and vehicles. Traffic cameras at nearby intersections and real-time weather data are also being monitored from the tower, with radio communication used to coordinate ground teams.

Traffic has already posed challenges, including long queues on opening day and disruptive behaviour by local youth. Linna said the situation was brought under control through cooperation between security and traffic personnel.

While Sunday’s departures remained steady, the peak congestion is expected Monday afternoon after the closing ceremony. Multiple exit routes will be used to distribute the outflow.