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!

Celebrating the first weekend of the autumn season, Oulu Days are back in town, September 3-5, with a jam-packed schedule of events sure to please individuals of all age groups and interests.  Events include everything from folk music and children’s rock concerts, to international-themed days, table

Mushroom picking in the forest

hockey tournaments, and mushroom-picking excursions.  For a helpful schedule of events in English, complete with prices and times, go to http://www.ouka.fi/oulunpaivat/index-english.html.

A Health and Wellness event will be held September 4, 12.00-16.00, at Kumppanuuskeskus, Isokatu 47.  Activities include health information sessions, a flea market, face painting, and games for children.  Admission is free.

Road to the Stars, sponsored by The Paralympic Committee, offers those interested in participating in paralympic events a chance to receive a disability rating assessment  and try out several different paralympic events including wheelchair rugby and powerlifting, September 4, 10-15 in the Linnanmaa Sports Hall and 12-14 in the Linnanmaa Ice Rink, Virkakatu 1.  Admission is free.
Look for a bargain at the Autumn Market, September 6-8, in the Oulu Marketplace.  The market is open Monday-Tuesday, 8-18, and Wednesday, 8-16.

A wealth of music events take place this week, including a night of jazz with Nordic Trinity: A Tribute to Edward Vesala, September 1, 19.00, Valve Cultural Center, Hallituskatu 7, 10€ / 8€  from the Valve ticket offices; heavy metal Finntroll plays September 2, Club Teatria, Rautatienkatu 84, 16€ in advance from Tiketti and Lippupalvelu / 20€ at the door; a Bread series classical music concert, with bass-baritone Juha Hakulinen, September 3, 19.00, Karjasilta Church, Nokelantie 39, 5€ program; indie rock music from Iconcrash and Dian, September 3, 22.30, Nuclear Night Club, Uusikatu 23, 8€; a contemporary jazz performance by Johanna & Mikko Iivanainen Duo, September 4, 19.00, St. Luke’s Chapel, Yliopistokatu 7, free admission; ska and surf rock provided by El Supernaut, September 4, 22.00, Lentävä Lautanen restaurant, Kirkkokatu 9, 3€;
Canadian singer-song writer and acoustic guitarist, Malenie Dekker, September 5, 21.00, 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12, 6€.

Ongoing events:

Did you know that fish use stairs?  Come see them at Merikoski fishway which is open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays, 10-13, 14-17, and weekends, 12-17, Merikoski fishway, Hupisaaret.  Fish biologist Marleena Isomaa will be on hand to explain how fish use their very own staircase to get back up the river.

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

Arts and crafts exhibitions going on in Oulu:

‘Strange Collectors—80 Years of the Oulu Stamp Club,’ exhibition of stamps, postcards, and postal history in Oulu, August 31 – January 9, Pohjois-Pohjanmaan Museo (Northern Ostrobothnian Museum), Ainolan Park, Ainolanpolku 1, Tuesday – Sunday, 10-17, 3€ / 1€, free on Fridays.

‘Graphics,’ Pirjo Sohlo, August 31 – September 26, Oulu Museum of Art cafe, Kasarmintie 7.

‘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.

‘Kaarlo Mikkonen: Memorial Exhibition,’ tribute to the creator of Oulu’s Market Police sculpture with sculptures by Raili Mikkonen and paintings by Veli-Pekka Mikkonen, September 2 – 22, Neliö-Gallery, Asemakatu 37, free admission.

‘Works in Progress,’ photo exhibition of the works of Gregoire Alexandre, August 14-September 19, 10.00-20.00, Rantagalleria, Valve Cultural Center, Hallituskatu 7, free admission.

‘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.
‘People Need Air,’ photographic exhibition of 15 years of the Air Guitar World Championships, August 14-September 12, 10.00-20.00, Kummigalleria, Valve Cultural Center, Hallituskatu 7, free admission.

‘Days of Oulu,’ nautical exhibition, August 17-September 5, Oulu City Library, lower lobby, Kaarlenväylä 3.

‘Hidden Beauty of the Potato Field,’ works by illustrator Päivi Pussila, August 18-September 5, Galleria 5, Hallituskatu 5,  free admission.

Summer Exhibition, presenting the works of nine contemporary Finnish artists, until August 31, 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.

‘Theatre costumes,’ costume exhibition of designer Pirjo Valin, until August 31, Kylätalo, Hailuoto Society exhibition, Luovontie 231 (Hailuoto).