15,000 expected at Ylivieska’s Herättäjäjuhlat festival

Organizers expect 15,000 visitors to attend the Herättäjäjuhlat festival in central Ylivieska from Friday to Sunday, reports Yle.

The event, rooted in the Finnish Herännäisyys revival movement, is Finland’s second-largest spiritual summer gathering. The largest single event, Saturday’s daytime services, is expected to draw 6,000 attendees.

This year’s theme, “En lakkaa toivomasta” (“I will not cease to hope”), is drawn from a hymn and described by organizers as timely amid global conflicts and disasters.

The festival site is in Ylivieska’s city center, chosen for accessibility. Preparation has involved three years of volunteer work, with hundreds participating in recent days. The program includes concerts, children’s activities, and youth events alongside the main religious services.

Last year’s attendance was around 14,000, and organizers aim to exceed that figure this year.