Life According to Nature's Rhythm
Savonian is a matter of taste. Experience the "world's culinary hub" and Europe's most delicious years 2020-21. Pure nature and local food on a plate. Experience tasty wild herbs, sweet summer, harvest flavours and the wonderful bounty of nature.
The year's programme is centred on gastronomy and food and comprises events and activities that will tickle the taste buds of tourists. The programme is based on existing events and festivals, complemented by activities suitable for both individual tourists and tourist groups.
The overriding theme of the year's programme is foraging: picking berries and mushrooms, hunting and fishing. The programme's themed weeks include berry- and mushroom-picking trips, picnics, cooking courses, workshops, pop-up restaurants, culinary tour packages and food festivals available for everyone.
You can have a look at all of the events at the Event Calendar and Group Travel offering can be viewed here.
Please note that we follow carefully Covid 19 situation, authorities' instructions and restrictions and because of it, some events may need to be cancelled.
#ERG Programme: Theme Weeks, Highlights and Festivals
SATOA – KUOPIO FOOD FESTIVAL WEEK
Satoa Kuopio Food Festival Week 22nd to 30th of August takes place in restaurants instead of the Kuopio Market Square surroundings due to Covid 19 restrictions. The festival nevertheless offers a various program for individual tourists. See the Festival menu & programme here.
SATOA is the street food festival in the beautiful Kuopio city centre, where customers can buy small dishes (approximate price 3–6 euros per portion). The Festival is organized every year, in the end of August.
The festival will see the harmonious union of restaurants, food companies, artists and the people of Pohjois Savo creating a sensory delight. SATOA Kuopio Food Festival celebrates the traditional harvest season and local tastes. In addition to delicacies, performances by street musicians and artists can be enjoyed at the festival area absolutely free of cost.
www.satoa.fi #satoakuopio @satoakuopio
10 September 2020 European Food Gift Challenge
The first European Food Gift Challenge, a competition organised by IGCAT to award local craftsmanship related to food, will take place in Kuopio, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2020-2021 on 10 September.
Due to Covid 19 travel restrictions the competition will be organised a a closed event.
The winners of the first European Food Gift Challenge will be announced in the Kuopio European Region of Gastronomy Opening Ceremony on 11 September, 2020.
11 September 2020 Public Seminar: Food Gastronomy and Wellbeing
The public seminar is open to ERG Platform members, IGCAT Experts, SME’s in food and well-beingrelated industries, students and academics interested in food, wellbeing and wellness tourism. The seminar is free for public but registrations are needed. Please fill the registration form until 6th September 2020: https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/00D0CB9AAFB24342
We can take only 50 persons in to the Kuopio Club. The seminar will be streamed and it will be possible to watch it online.
Seminaari on avoin European Region of Gastronomy alueiden jäsenille, ICGAT:in asaintuntijoille, ruoka-, hyvinvointi- ja ravitsemusalan yrittäjille, opiskelijoille ja muille tahoille, jotka ovat kiinnostuneita ruoasta, hyvinvoinnista ja hyvinvointimatkailualasta. Seminaari on maksuton, mutta vaatii ilmoittautumisen 6. syyskuuta mennessä: https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/00D0CB9AAFB24342
Voimme ottaa ainoastaan 50 henkilöä Kuopio Klubille tilaisuuden turvallisuuden takaamiseksi. Kansainvälisten asiantuntijoiden puheenvuorot toteutetaan etäyhteyden/videoiden kautta. Ethän tule paikalle, jos sinulla on koronaan viittaavia oireita. Seminaari striimataan verkkoon, joten sitä voi seurata myös etäyhteyden kautta.
10.00 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Ilona Sares Proagria and IGCAT Expert
Antti Iire Savonia University and IGCAT Expert
10.15 Sustainable eating and food consumption now and in the future (LIVE-STREAMED)
Speaker: Mari Niva, Professor, University of Helsinki
10.50 Growth in wellness and gastronomy travel : Setting the context (VIDEO)
Speaker: Lázló Puzcló, Xellem Ltd. And IGCAT Expert, Hungary
11.10 Health Break
11.30 Food trends: good for wellbeing or only good business?
Speaker: Marjukka Kolehmainen, Professor, University of Eastern Finland
12.00 Arts Education and wellness (VIDEO)
Speaker: Paul Schafer, Author and IGCAT Expert, Canada
12.10 Human Security and sustainable food production
Speaker: Jyri Wuorisalo, Human Security Finland/Savonia University of Applied Sciences
12.25 Message of support from IGCAT and The European Regions of Gastronomy (LIVE-STREAMED)
Speaker: Diane Dodd, IGCAT President
Public seminar ends
11 September 2020 Kuopio European Region of Gastronomy 2020-21 Opening Ceremony (with invitation only), Kuopion Saana at 18.30
Kuopio officially opens its Jubilee year as European Region of Gastronomy 2020-21 with the theme of Life According to Nature’s Rhythm. The Opening Ceremony takes place on 11 September 2020 with a special focus on nature, healthy food and well-being.
The Openinc Ceremony takes place at Kuopion Saana building and it will be streamed live to the international audience.
Programme #tastesavo #europeanregionofgastronomy
Live streamed, languages Finnish and English https://youtu.be/BIGRdi4ilJU
The Opening Ceremony will take place next to nature, in a 2019 awarded wood building, Kuopion Saana, which has a panoramic view of the lake area. The moderators of the Opening Ceremony are Mrs. Tiina Naumanen and Mr. Olavi Rytkönen.
17.30h (CET) Living According to Nature’s Rhythm
WELCOME
Ilona Sares, International Executive Director, Rural Women’s Advisory Organisation &
ProAgria Eastern Finland and Antti Iire, Manager Research and Development,Savonia University of Applied Sciences.
Katri Kostamo, Chief Executive Officer, ProAgria Eastern Finland
Pekka Vähäkangas, Deputy Major, City of Kuopio
Diane Dodd, President, IGCAT Institute for Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism Message of support from IGCAT and the European Regions of Gastronomy
Satu Vehreävesa, Director (Regional Development), Regional Council of North Savo
Pasi Patrikainen, Director General, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in North Savo.
MAKING OF THE 1ST EUROPEAN FOOD GIFT CHALLENGE (short video)
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WINNERS FOR THE 1ST EUROPEAN FOOD GIFT CHALLENGE
Project manager Henna Lehikoinen and Johanna Kantala, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
SCREENING OF THE OVERALL WINNER OF THE FOOD FILM MENU 2020 (short film)
PRESENTATION OF THE KUOPIO REGION OFFICIAL FOOD AMBASSADORS
9 October 2020 Start of the Autumn Break & Piano Artis Juho Kela in Koivumäki Manor TBA
This is the beginning of the autumn break! A relaxed get-together with friends and family at Koivumäki Manor on Friday 9 October at 16.00. Koivumäki Manor will prepare a delicious buffet dinner and a young piano artist Juho Kela will entertain playing over 100 years old grand piano. There will also be programme and activities for children.
Buffet price: 24,90€/adult, 12€/child (4-12 years) and 6€/hild (under 4 years)
Reservations: kartano@koivumaenkartano.com or by phone +358 17 361 4291
Welcome to relax, eat well and enjoy good music and some family & friends time in Koivumäki Manor!
18 - 19 June 2021 SATOA Goes Wild - Wild Food Festival
On 18 to 19 of June 2021, the wild food festival SATOA Goes WILD takes place in Kuopio, turning the city centre into a large food festival area for the weekend. WILD combines eating together, taking exercise and enjoying culture. The leading role in the event is played by local wild ingredients, from which delicious portions are created by top local restaurants.SATOA Goes WILD is a "food walk"-type wild food adventure in Kuopio city centre, where your guide is the festival passport with its map. The festival route is formed by brick-and-mortar restaurants in the city centreand pop-up restaurants in the courtyards of historically valuable buildings. Besides food, SATOA Goes WILD has plenty of free side events along the route: dancing, music and art installations. You can participate in the event by buying a stampablefestival passport, which also serves as an entrance ticket to the event. For an extra charge, the restaurant stalls sell a variety of suitable drinks to gowith the wild food menu.
25 - 26 June 2021 Midsummer at Lohimaa
Traditional Midsummer festival at Lohimaa in the village of Tervo.
People gather in large numbers to celebrate Midsummer by the beautiful Äyskoski Rapids in the splendid setting of Lohimaa. Children especially fish enthusiastically for salmon, which are then prepared as desired by the customer and turned into a delicious meal by the trained staff at Lohimaa. You can also buy preprepared fish portions to eat immediately or take with you for a meal at your summer cottage.
Midsummer Eve is crowned by an impressive bonfire and a party at the restaurant with live music. For visitors from further afield, Lohimaa offers comfortable accommodation in a picturesque setting.
25 June 2021 Midsummer at Kuopio Harbour
Midsummer at the Harbour is a festival for local citizens held at Kuopio Harbour on the shore of Lake Kallavesi. It's an event for the whole family with live music and activities for children. Midsummer cruises on the lake also leave from the Harbour, and local restaurants and cafes are open during the festival.
The festival is free to attend.
9 - 10 June 2021 Oluset Beer Festival in Iisalmi
Further information to follow shortly.
16 - 18 July 2021 Suonenjoki Strawerry Carnival & Local Food Festival
The Strawberry Carnival has been held in Suonenjokisince 1970 and is one of Finland's longest-running summer events. The Carnival is held at a time when Finnish strawberries are at their sweetest.In addition to the top Finnish musicians, you can experience, among other things, the bustle of the Strawberry Market and make some nice purchases, and enjoy the funfair, singing contests, Finnish Strawberry Eating Championship, a wide range of food and drinks and the pleasant carnival atmosphere. As usual, a Strawberry Girl will be chosen and crownedand the title of Strawberry Master will be awarded during the weekend.
- Admission to the SuonenjokiStrawberry Carnival area is free. There is a charge for admission to the evening events.
- Further information: www.mansikkakarnevaalit.fi
7 August 2021 Lapinlahti Cheese& Wine Festival
The festival is a unique, lively event encompassing old friends, appetisingcheeses and good music. The centrepieceof the festival is the magnificent twenty-metrecheese table, full of delicacies that can be enjoyed right up to midnight.
During the evening, visitors are entertained by artists performing both relaxed dining music and dance music as well as more lively up-tempo pieces to end the evening.
Altogether the cheese table features about ten different cheeses as well as plenty of suitable vegetables, fruit, jams and breads. Every year, new products are also featured. In addition to tasty cheeses, there are several carefully chosen red and white wines to complement the cheeses.
- Tickets: €45 incl. music programmeand cheesetable.
- Location: Lapinlahti Ice Arena, Ringettetie, 73100 Lapinlahti
- Further information: www.juustojaviinijuhlat.fi
Date TBC Louhenkatu Street Carnival in Iisalmi Town Centre
The Louhenkatu Street Carnival brings together the best shops in Iisalmi and the whole of Upper Savo on the streets of Iisalmi. Besides the various market stalls, the streets are occupied by street food stalls, each more tempting than the other.
The day also provides a variety of entertainment, from fashion shows to musical performances. In the hustle and bustle there is a great atmosphere and business is brisk.
The Louhenkatu Street Carnival has become one of Upper Savo's biggest, if not the biggest, free events.
Free event, in Iisalmi town centre.
Date TBC Sturgeon & Champagne – Great Artists and Experiences
The Sturgeon & Champagne festival is held annually on the second weekend of August in Independence Park on the shore of the River Pirtinvirta in Varkaus. Over the years, this summer festival has drawn thousands of people from the town and elsewhere to enjoy the August evening atmosphere with performances by top Finnish artists.
The event, celebrating Varkaus's signature fish, also offers first-class food and drink experiences. In the festival marquee, visitors enjoy a substantial dinner, caviar and excellent refreshments. Outside in the festival area, you can also enjoy sturgeon and champagne as well as high-quality local food.
27 - 28 August 2021 SATOA Kuopio Food Festival
SATOA is a street food festival in the beautiful Kuopio city centre, where customers can buy small dishes (approximate price 3–6 euros per portion). The Festival is organized every year, in the end of August and it takes place around the Kuopio Market Square.
The festival will see the harmonious union of restaurants, food companies, artists and the people of Pohjois Savo creating a sensory delight. SATOA Kuopio Food Festival celebrates the traditional harvest season and local tastes. In addition to delicacies, performances by street musicians and artists can be enjoyed at the festival area absolutely free of cost.
www.satoa.fi #satoakuopio @satoakuopio
Dates TBC Kuopio Fish Market
The Kuopio Fish Market invites the whole family to a fish event in Kuopio's Harbour Square, where the leading role is played by Finnish fish and delicacies made from it. The event is organised yearly in September and it the Market is open on Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 9am–5pm and Sun 10am–4pm.
The Kuopio Fish Market was first held in 1993 and has continued every autumn in the Harbour Square. The Market aims to promote consumption of Finnish fish and increase public knowledge on handling and using fish. The event has an established place in the province and is a showcase for Finnish fish and farm products.
