Every Monday, This Week in Oulu brings you highlights of the latest events and activities happening in and around Oulu.  Stay tuned and stay informed!

Juhlateltta multi-arts festival kicks off this week,  August 12-29, on Lammassaari, with a wide range of events, from heavy metal concerts to children’s choirs.  Tickets range in price according to the program and can be purchased from Lippupalvelu, Oulu Stockmann, Prisma (Raksila and Limingantulli), R-kiosk, and Valve Cultural Center.  Be sure to check out the free Night of the Arts, August 26, which promises fun for the whole family.  Event details, largely in Finnish, can be found at http://www.juhlateltta.fi/etusivu.

Jalometalli Heavy Metal Music Festival screams its way into Oulu, August 13-14, featuring artists like Angel Witch, Carcass, and Triptykon.  All concerts take place at Club Teatria,  Rautatienkatu 84.  Tickets are available through Lippupalvelu and at Oulun Levykauppa Äx.  Two-day passes are 60€ in advance, 65€ at the door.  One-day passes are 48€ in advance, 55€ at the door.  For information in English about specific bands and times, go to http://www.jalometalli.net/eng/yleisinfo.html.

Other music happenings this week include a performance by Oulainen Youth choir,  August 11, 19.00, St. Thomas’ church, Mielikintie 3, free admission; an organ concert given by Magdalena Czajka, August 12, 19.00, Oulu Cathedral, 5€;  a night of gospel music from Ylikiiminki Gospel Group, August 12, 20.00,  Ylikiiminki Church; a classical concert with Sanna Smolander, piano, Visa Smolander, violin, and Johanna Harju Stone, flute, August 13, 19.00, Karjasilta Church, Nokelantie 39, 5€ program; The Military Band of the North, with Petrus Schroderus, August 13, 19:00, Toppila Möljä, Pitkänmöljäntie 2, 5€; a night of opera with selections from Pohjalaisia and Juha, Anne-Marie Andersen, mezzo-soprano, August 14, 16.00, Madetoja hall, Lintulammentie 1-3, 20 € / 17 € / 10 €, ticket purchases at Lippupiste and R-kiosks, event 22 838;  a veteran’s concert with Oulu War Veterans’ choir, August 15, 15:00, Toppila Möljä, Pitkänmöljäntie 2, 10€; Australian guitarist and songwriter Jane Kitto, August 15, 21.00, club 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12, 6€.

Forest Day offers fun for the whole family, August 14, 10.00-15.00, Hietasaari Dance Lighthouse, Hietasaarentie 13.  Activities and sights include forestry machinery, a mushroom exhibition, information about nature trails, and music.  Free admission.

Fiddling sessions with Finnish folk group Duo Aikamus take place at Turkkansaari Outdoor Museum, Turkansaarentie 165, August 15, 14.00. Admission is 3 € / 1 €.

The Nallikari Roller Speed Skating and Roller Skating Marathon take place this week, August 14, 10.00, at Nallikari mini golf, Vellamontie.  Registration fees are between 20 and 25€ and must be settled before 9.00 on race day.  For registration, contact pentti.kiiskinen @ peera.inet.fi.  Some rules apply.  Information in Finnish can be found at http://www.ouluntarmo.fi/lupy/index_eng.htm.

Ongoing events:

Traditional Finnish-style dancing, Hietasaari’s open-air dance floor, Hietasaari tanssimajakka, Hietasaarentie 13, every Wednesday and Saturday in the summer from 20.30-2.00. http://www.hietaviihde.fi/hietasaari/index.htm.

Guided walking tours of the city in English depart every Thursday at 15.00 from City Hall, free of charge.  Guided sightseeing bus tours of the city in English and Finnish leave every Saturday at 15.00 from City Hall, free of charge.

Akseli Klonk’s Puppet Theater shows (in Finnish), August 12-15, 18.30,  Station theater, Vauhtipuisto, Hietasaarentie, 7€ / 5€.

Arts and crafts exhibitions going on in Oulu:

‘Little Red Riding Hood’ and ‘Men’s Salon,’ exhibitions of naivist art, until Sept. 26 and Jan. 2, Oulu Museum of Art, Kasarmintie 7.

Knife exhibition of designer and artist Esko Heikkinen’s work, until September 30, Tietomaa Science Center and Museum, Nahkatehtaankatu 6, http://www.tietomaa.fi/eng/index.html.

‘Childhood is the track – creativity as a resource,’ paintings by Jaana Kokko-Alakärppä, until Sept. 12, Valve Cultural Center, Mint Café, Hallituskatu 7, 10.00-22.00.

Summer Exhibition, presenting the works of nine contemporary Finnish artists, Terttu Jurvakainen Art Gallery and Café, Nykäläntie 18 (Muhos), 11-18 every day, 9€ / 2€, admission includes coffee/tea, pulla, and ice cream for children.

‘The Height of Life,’ jewelry exhibition and sale, until August 31, Gallery Colmio, Kaajaninkatu 25, Tues.-Fri., 11.00-17.00, Sat. 12.00-16.00.

‘New Potatoes and Old Shadows,’ an exhibition of five, contemporary Finnish artists, until August 31,  Halvare Art Gallery, Saarelantie 11, Wed. – Sun., 12.00-17.00, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

‘Full of Empty, ‘ sculpture exhibition of the works of Sakari Matinlauri, until August 29, Mustasaari galleria, Jaalakuja 6, Hietasaari.

‘Deviations from everyday life,’ paintings by  Ismo Hyvärinen, until August 29, Galleria Harmaja, Kirkkokatu 11 b 2nd floor, free admission.

Jewelry Exhibition, at the workshop of local goldsmith Matti Kärsämäki, featuring work by silversmith Ulla Halmesvirran (Jyväskylä) and goldsmith Juha Koskela (Isokyrö), running from July 17 – August 15, Pikisaarentie 8 (Pikisaari).