December in Oulu offers a variety of parties, gigs, theatre performances, art exhibitions, and lectures. A sample of December events can be found below; for more listings, visit the Oulu events calendar.

General information

To pinpoint the location of an event, use—for instance—google maps If searching for more information on an event online, remember that you can have websites translated from Finnish to English on google translate. Some useful phone numbers: Valve/08 5584 7500, Oulu City Theatre/08 5584 7000, Oulu Art Museum/044 703 7471, Finnkino film reservations/0600 007 007 (1.5€/min + local calling charges), The Star Theatre/08 5542 71, Oulu City Library/044 703 7331,

Lippupalvelu-vended tickets are available in Oulu at Limingantulli Prisma, Nuottasaarentie 1; Musiikki-Kullas, Torikatu 12; Linnamaa Prisma, Kauppanlinnankuja 1; Raksila Prisma, Tehtaankatu 3; Pateniemi R-kioski, Keskuskatu 7; and at Stockmann, Kirkkokatu 14, or can be reserved  by calling 0600 10 800 (1.96€/min + local calling charges) or 0600 10 020 (6.79€/call + local calling charges).

Theatre

“Daddy, when’s Santa coming?” (Isä, koska joulupukki tulee?), an Aleksi Klonk puppet theatre play, is at Valve, Hallituskatu 7 on Saturday 17 at 13.00 and 15.00, tickets 7€. “Decision” (Päätös), “The Flight to Moscow has been Delayed” (Lento Moskovaan myöhästyy), and “The Dependent” (Elätti), three short plays by the Oulu Student Theatre company, are at Valve on Friday 16 / 19.00 and Saturday 17 / 19.00, tickets 5€/3€. “Boeing-Boeing; in other words, The Flying Brides” (Boeing-Boeing eli Lentävät morsiamet”), directed by Mark Packalén, is at 19.00 on Saturday 17 at the Association of Oulu Workers Theatre (Oulun Työväen Näyttämö), tickets 8€ to 12€. A three wise men (tierna) show “combining dance, song, music, and staggering plot twists” is at the Rio Theatre, Hallituskatu 11, at 19.00 to 21.30 on Saturday 17, tickets 25€ to 28€. Viiru and Pesonen (Viiru ja Pesonen) is at the Oulu City Theatre, Kaarlenväylä 2, on Wednesday 14 from 10 to 11, Saturday 17 from 16.00 to 17.00, and Monday 19 from 10.00 to 11.00, tickets 8€ or 15€. Fiddler on the Roof is at the Oulu City Theatre on Saturday 17 from 19.00 to 21.40, tickets 35€/30€/17€. Aino and Reino (Aino ja Reino) is at the Oulu City Theatre on Thursday 15 from 13.00 to 14.15, tickets 22€/17€/10€. Warhorse (Sotahevonen) is at the Oulu City Theatre on Friday 16 from 19.00 to 21.30 and Saturday 17 from 13.00 to 15.30, tickets 25€/20€/15€.  Cat House, a musical (Kissantalo), is at the Pit Theatre (Teatterikuoppa), Revontie 45, Haukipudas, at Saturday 17 from 17.00 to 20.00 and Sunday 18 from 15.00 to 17.00, tickets 8€ or 6€.

Public lectures

“On the development of the 1800s Raahe sailing season,” a lecture in Finnish by Eero Sovelius-Sovio, will be given at the Oulu City Library’s Paakala Hall, Kaarlenväylä 3 on Wednesday 14 from 16.00 to 17.00.

Films

As of Monday 12, Oulu’s Finnkino Plaza at Torikatu 32 is showing Attack the Block, Happy Feet 2, Silence (Hiljaisuus), Hysteria, Immortals 3D, In Time, Johnny English Reborn, Sanctity of the Home (Kotirauha), The Secret World of Arrietty (Kätkijät (Kari-gurashi no Arietti)), Le Havre, Where we once walked (Missä kuljimme kerran), A Separation (Naderja Simin: Ero), New Year’s Eve, Opera encore: Ernani, Opera encore: Faust, Opera encore: La Triviata, Opera encore: The Enchanted Island (Lumottu saari), Opera encore: Manon, Opera encore: Twilight of the Gods (Jumalten tuho), Paranormal Activity 3, The Phantom of the Opera 25^th Anniversary Performance, Rare Exports, Real Steel, Risto, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn 3D, Tower Heist, and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. Films to come to the Plaza in December include The Italian Key (Friday 16), Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked (Friday 16), Superclásico (Friday 16), The Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker (Pähkinänsärkijä) (Friday 16), The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Wednesday 21), Mister Heinämäki and the Lion Weather Vane (Herra Heinämäki ja leijonatuuliviiri) (Friday 23), Here comes Mole (Täältä tulee Myyrä), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Friday 23), 50/50 (Friday 30), The Darkest Hour 3D (Friday 30), My Week With Marilyn (Friday 30), and The Warehouse (Varasto) (Friday 30). New Year’s Eve, Melancholia, Trespass, Silence (Hiljaisuus), and The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn are playing at the Star Theatre, Kalliotie 6. Never Let Me Go is playing at the Studio Cinema Theatre at Valve, Hallituskatu 7, on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 at 19.00.

Music

Children of Bodom are playing at Club Teatria, Härkätie 1, on Saturday 31, tickets in advance from Lippupalvelu or Musiikki Kullas at 33€ or 40€ at the door. The Bullet Biters play rockabilly at 22.00 on Saturday 30 and 31 at the Flying Saucer pub (Ravintola Lentävä Lautanen), Kirkkokatu 9, tickets 5€.  The Mikko Lankinen Duo are at the Old Fire Station (Vanha Paloasema) Bar & Bistro, Kauppurienkatu 24A, on Friday 30 at 23.00. D’Airo are playing at 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12, on Sunday 18 at 22.00. Mokoma are at 45 Special on Saturday 17 at 22.00, tickets 14€ and 2.50€ at the door. Severe, Voodoo Masochist, and Facelift play 45 Special on Wednesday 14 at 22.00, entrance free. Heavy Tierna (Three Wise Men) play a heavy metal traditional three wise men performance as part of a ‘Little Christmas’ evening in 45 Special at 22.00 on Thursday 15 at 22.00, entrance free; the party also includes ham bingo and a performance of fifties rock music by Henry O. Rock n’ Roll Party. Dj Matson is playing heavy and progressive rock music at 45 Special on Monday 19, entrance free. Random Mullet are playing at Hevimesta, Torikatu 11, at 22.00 on Saturday 17, tickets 5€. Playa are at the Old Fire Station Bar & Bistro on Saturday 17 at 23.00. Orange Pazuzu (Oranssi Pazuzu) and an unnamed support band are at Nuclear Nightclub, Uusikatu 23, at 22.00 on Saturday 17, tickets 6€. “Band bang” (Bändibäng), the Oulu Conservatory’s pop and jazz student concert, is at the Valve concert hall, Hallituskatu 7, from Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 at 18.00, entrance free. “In the Spirit of Benny Goodman,” a concert by the Oulu All Star Big Band, features thirties and forties swing at Valve at 19.00 on Friday 16, tickets 10€ to 13€. Feastem and Nistikko are playing at a “Grindcore evening” at Ykä’s pub (Ykän Pub), Merimiehentie 1, at 22.00 on Thursday 15. Eternal Tears of Sorrow, The Man-Eating Tree, Black Sun Aeon, and Dark Flood are playing at “Holy Christmas Mourning” at Club Teatria, Härkätie 1, on Friday 16 at 20.00, tickets 15€ in advance from Lippupalvelu and Musiikki Kullas or 20€ at the door. Thomas Henri’s Jesus Christ’s Band (Tuomas Henrikin Jeesuksen Kristuksen Bändi) are at Nuclear Nightclub, Uusikatu 23, at 22.00 on Friday 16.

Christmas music

“A Baroque Christmas,” a concert by the Oulu Symphony Orchestra, is at the Madetoja Concert Hall (Madetojan Sali) with María Cristina Kiehr singing soprano on Friday 16 at 19.00, tickets 19€/15€/6€. Waiting for Christmas in poetry and melody, a musical and word art event, is at Tuira church, Myllytie 5, on Sunday 18 from 16.00 to 17.00. The Oulu War Veterans’ Choir Christmas Concert is at Karjasilta church, Nokelantie 39, on Friday 16 from 19.00 to 23.55 and on Sunday 18 from 16.00 to 17.00. A Christmas Concert is at Hailuoto church, Luovontie 50, Hailuoto, on Sunday 18 at 18.00. A Tuomas’ Day Christmas Song Evening is at Oulujoki church, Oulujoentie 69, on Wednesday 21 from 19.00 to 20.30; a programme costs 10€. “A Christmas Melody is Playing” – the Alakärpä family’s 10-year anniversary celebration concert is at the Oulu cathedral, Kirkkokatu, on Wednesday 21 from 19.00 to 20.30, tickets 5€ or 10€.  A Ringing Hedgehog Christmas (Soiva Siilin Joulu) is at the children’s department of the Oulu library, Kaarlenväylä 3, on Friday December 16 from 18.00 to 19.00. A Christmas Oratorio is at St Andrea’s church, Sulkakuja 8, on Thursday 15 from 19.00 to 21.00. A concert by the Haava Singers is at St. Luke’s chapel, Yliopisto 7, on Thursday 15 from 19.00 to 20.00. Christmas Music To Candlelight is at the Haukipudas parish centre, Kirkkotie 10, on Thursday 15 at 20.00. The Brightest Star Christmas Concert is at the Oulu cathedral, Kirkkokatu, on Wednesday 14 from 19.00 to 20.20.

Standup

An open mic standup comedy evening organised by Remakka, the Oulu standup club, is at 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12, on Tuesday 13 from 20.30 to 22.30, entrance free.

Art exhibitions

“Real,” an exhibition of new Finnish jewellery art and clothing design is on until December 31 at the Oulu Art Museum, Kasarmintie 7. “Stars of Africa,” African art including paintings by Lundangi Franck, sculpture by Paul Amarin, and illustrations by Ataa Okko is at the Art Museum until January 8. “A symphony to composition,” paintings by Juhani Hakalahti, is at the Oulu Art Museum until January 22. “Flowers of Evil” (Pahan kukat) an exhibition of art organised by the Kiimiinki River College, is at the Pit Theatre, Revontie 45, Haukipudas, Monday to Thursday, 16.00 to 20.00, until Sunday December 18. “Holy Melancholy,” video art and photographs by Juha Suonpää, is at Valve and the Beach gallery (Rantagalleria), Hallituskatu 7, until Sunday January 8. “Demeter and the Landscapes of the Mind,” watercolour paintings by Eeva-Kaisa Jakkila, is at the Oulunsalo library, Karhuojantie 2, until December 29. Photographs by Leena Niiranen are at the Rajakylä library, Ruiskukukkatie 2, until December 30. Portraits by Anni Arffman from 2006 to 2011 are at the Metsola Gallery, Mielikintie 8, until December 31. “Northern Art,” paintings, sculptures, glass art, and poems are at the Art Halvare Gallery, Saarelansaarentie 11, until December 31. “Space – Time,” paintings by Anu Määttä-Talala, is at the O. Jauhianen Museum, Jaarantie 2, Kiiminki, until December 17. Textile art by Ulpu Korpua is in the glass case at the O. Jauhianen Museum until March 3.

Museum exhibitions

An Ovamboland folk cultural exhibition displays objects related to the home, religion, dress, music, crafts, and industries of the Ovambos, Namibia’s largest ethnic group, at Oulu University’s Zoological museum, until Saturday December 41, Monday to Friday, 8.30 to 15.35.