The 118 Tervahiihto Ski Marathon Cup, the world’s oldest Ski Marathon cup, takes place on March 10 and 11. The main events for adults are the 40 km and 70 km cross country ski marathon, each in classic and freestyle. The classic competition starts Saturday morning at 8.00 and the freestyle at 10.00. Youngsters can take part in their own 10 km competition, and children in a 100 m to 300 m race.

 

For all those interested in classical music, the 18th Oulun musiikkijuhlat from March 10 to 19 offers a variety of classical music performance including a performance for kids.
 
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig or Happy Saint Patrick's Day for March 17! The Irish Music Society Of Oulu has a broad program of mostly free events for March 16 to 18. Want to know all about Saint Patrick's Day? Oliver Hussey will give an informative talk at NUKU at 18.00 on Friday 16. At 23.00 the same evening, the ‘St. Patrick’s Weekend Opening Party’ at AC Willi Sika features local band The Soap Pig, tickets 7€ at the door. On Saturday March 17, ‘Irish Story Telling’ at the city library preceeds traditional Irish music in St.Michaels at 17.00, and The Yläsiirtola Ramblers at 22.00 in Tervasoihtu. Still not enough? Live sessions follow on Sunday at 17.00 and The Soap Pig play again at 22.00 in Leskinen.
 
If rock’s more your thing, Finnish punk rockers Apulanta are in concert on March 16 at Club Teatria, with tickets available at Levykauppa Äx or Lippupalvelu for 15e/ 12e. The band name’s translates to ‘fertilizer’; allegedly when founding the band in 1991 the members, in their mid-teens, wanted to choose the worst name possible for a punk rock band.

For fans of local football, March affords two AC Oulu league cup games, AC Oulu against FF Jaro at 16.00 on March 14, and AC Oulu meets FC Haka on March 17 at 14.00. Both games are at the Heinäpää sports arena.

Oulun taidemuseo, Oulu’s art museum, is showing an exhibition entitled “Silent Violence”, with guided tours in English on March 18 at 14.00.

On the weekend of March 23 to 25, the thirty-third Maratonpilkki will take place in Oritkari. This, allegedly the longest ice fishing marathon in the world, lasts for 48 hours. Check it out if you want to experience a typical Finnish winter sport.

And don’t forget outdoor ice-skating. The Tuira swimming pool and Heinäpää outdoor rinks have smooth ice nd usually plenty of space to piruette. Or, since it is cold outside, try Eden, the spa by Nallikari beach, on Hietasaari Island, for a lazy weekend. Eden offers a variety of pools inside and outside, a pool with hourly wave simulation, and a Finnish sauna and a Turkish bath. A day ticket for a student is 8€. And for the bravest among us, icehole swimming season isn’t over yet. At Tuira beach you can still jump into the ice cold water – changing rooms and showers provided.

www.oulunhiihtoseura.fi/tervahiihto
http://www.oulunmusiikkijuhlat.fi/index.html
http://www.irishmusicsocietyofoulu.org/happenings.htm
http://www.teatria.com/eng/index.php?sivu=ohjelma
http://www.ouka.fi/taidemuseo/ajankohtaista/Tiedote.asp?ID=7433
http://www.suomi.net/yritysnetti/ppkp/tapahtumat/maraton_kutsu_2005.htm