Helsinki Baltic Herring Market attracted a total of 65,000 visitors
Celebrating Helsinki’s autumn market tradition, Helsinki Baltic Herring Market was held in a maritime atmosphere at the Market Square on 6–12 October. Wednesday’s autumn storm reduced the total number of visitors as the market had to be temporarily closed.
Today, 12 October marks the last day of Helsinki Baltic Herring Market. Each year, this vibrant upholder of centuries of urban market tradition attracts a significant number of visitors, mainly from the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, but also from other nearby municipalities. This year, Helsinki Baltic Herring Market attracted a total of around 65,000 visitors. Due to the autumn storm that battered Helsinki on Wednesday, the market had to be temporarily closed. This reduced the total number of visitors. The market festivities were able to continue the next day.
Sales of fish and archipelago products were brisk throughout the event, with the most popular products being sold out even before the Market even ended. The top-selling products at Helsinki Baltic Herring Market were once again the best products selected by the Baltic Herring jury on the opening day of the event. This year’s best products were the dill pickled herring brought by Pirjo and Reima Salonen from Taivassalo and the spiced fish of Leif and Gerd Bergman, who had come to Helsinki from the Åland Islands.
Stuba Nikula, CEO of Helsinki Events Foundation, which is responsible for organising Helsinki Baltic Herring Market, says that the event creates a good understanding of fishing as a livelihood and its future: “For fishers, selling their own products directly to consumers plays an important role in their annual earnings. The number of fishers continues to dwindle and so they and those who continue their work deserve their market. We at Helsinki Events Foundation are constantly thinking about what kind of seasonal and archipelago products could complement the fishers’ range of products at the market.”
Helsinki Baltic Herring Market has been held in Helsinki since 1743. Over the years, the event has transformed from a market where city residents would come to stock up on food for the winter into an atmospheric highlight in the autumn season, combining Helsinki’s maritime archipelago tradition with modern culinary culture. Helsinki Baltic Herring Market today provides an autumnal taste trip to northern seafood in a vibrant market atmosphere.
After the Baltic Herring Market on Sunday 13 October, the Market Square will host the 37th traditional Sailing Ship Day.
Image: Kim Öhman