As usual, the Helsinki Police Department will increase its presence to monitor public order and safety during the May Day celebrations between 30 April and 1 May 2023.
As is tradition, a variety of events and demonstrations will be held on both days. The Helsinki Police Department will ensure safety at the demonstrations and handle the related traffic control.
‘We are expecting a busy May Day Eve and May Day this year. There will be plenty of people out and about, and the Helsinki Police Department will be there to keep everyone safe,’ says Superintendent Jari Friman from the Helsinki Police Department.
Traffic restrictions in the city centre on May Day Eve and May Day
Some streets near the Market Square and the Esplanade Park will be closed to traffic on May Day Eve and May Day.
• The area around the Market Square and the Pohjoisesplanadi and Eteläesplanadi streets will be closed to all motor vehicle traffic on 30 April between 3 pm and 8 pm.
• The streets affected are Pohjoisesplanadi, Eteläesplanadi, Eteläranta between Eteläesplanadi and Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu, and Unioninkatu between Aleksanterinkatu and Eteläesplanadi.
• Only emergency vehicles are allowed on these streets.
• A number of streets around the Pohjoisesplanadi and Eteläesplanadi streets are made low-speed residential roads. The area will be considered a low-speed residential road until 6 pm on May Day. This means that the area is intended equally for pedestrians and vehicles. Low-speed residential roads have a speed limit of 20 km/h.
Read more from the City of Helsinki article: Traffic restrictions around the Market Square and Pohjoisesplanadi and Eteläesplanadi streets on May Day Eve and May Day | City of Helsinki
The Department will post updates on events during May Day celebrations on its Twitter account @HelsinkiPoliisi. You can browse the Twitter posts without logging in to the service at Helsingin poliisi (@HelsinkiPoliisi) / Twitter
