There will be about 350 things going on in Helsinki over the Eurovision weeks from concerts, shows, a record fair, sea cruise, karaoke, aerobics and Eurovision cake baking, so everyone should find something to their liking to do besides hanging around EuroClub and Hartwall Areena. Here are some suggestions on how to spend your free time in Helsinki.

The fan centre will be open from April 30, it will provide a lot of fun and information for everyone and it is a good place just to hang out and meet other fans. The Press Center opens on May 2 and the first rehearsals begin at 9.30 on May 3 and will go on until 21.10, all are followed by press conferences. The big opening of the EuroClub will take place on the same night. Also at the post office Kirjasto 10 you can make your own CD with your karaoke from 12 to 18 daily until May 13.

May 4 will have the same rehearsal programme and afterwards everybody can meet at the EuroClub from 22.00.

May 5 will see full rehearsals for all the semi finalists and EuroClub will follow. The EuroVillage in Narinkkatori will open at 11.00 and will provide fun and entertainment every day. OurVision contest’s final at the Savoy Theatre at 20.00.

May 6 will offer full rehearsals for the semi finalists and of course EuroClub afterwards. Lovex will perform at the Narinkkatori at 16.00. At Onnela club Eurovision karaoke starts at 21.00 and will go on every night until May 13.

May 7 the finalists take the stage and rehearse from 9.30 until 21.10, followed by their press conferences. The official welcome party will be at Finlandia Hall.

May 8 things heat up. Second day of rehearsals for the finalists. Esplanadi Park’s EuroMarket will open at 15.00 but you can start your day at Eurovision aerobics in Hesperia park at 10.00. At 20.00 Dubrovnik will host a Croatian night with Dado Topic and Dragonfly. At Presidentti Club G-Agent’s Eurovision show starts and will go on until May 12 (at 22.00) and the Good Evening Europe show at Lost & Found starts at 23.00.

May 9 Hartwall Areena and Press Center are in full swing : at 12.00 the hosts’ press conference followed by the first dress rehearsal for the semi final, thereafter EBU’s press conference at 17.00, with the second dress rehearsal at 21.00. Hanna Pakarinen will be at EuroClub at 23.00. Also the Eurovision stamps will be released so go get your first day cover! At Fazer’s café you can listen to Eurovision songs in a jazz style or go to Fan Centre and listen to our fellow fan, crooner Robert from the Netherlands singing old Eurovision tunes!

May 10 the third dress rehearsal at 14.00 and the semi final at 22.00 followed by a press conference by the qualifiers and then the after party at EuroClub. Herreys will reunite at Studio 51 at 23.00 and sing Diggi Loo, Diggi Lei. The party at Senate’s Square will start at 17.00 and there will be a programme until the semi final’s live broadcast. Get ready for this exciting day at a free cruise from 10 to 12 onboard M/S Tuulispää. Get your free tickets from the Helsinki City Tourist Office.

May 11 is the big party day in Helsinki and the street party will start at 16 and will go on until 22 before moving indoors to EuroClub and bars all over the town. The Finnish pop idols finalists will perform at Helsinki’s main post office at 16.30. At Fazer Café you can learn how to bake a perfect Eurovision cake and Jean S will cover Eurovision classics at Virgin Oil Co. Anneli Saaristo will perform at Lost & Found at 23.00. At Hartwall Areena there will be the first and second dress rehearsals for the final.

May 12 there is the Record Fair in Aleksanterinkatu 16 at 11-16, go find rarities! The party will begin at Senate’s Square at 13.30 and will go on until the end of the Eurovision final. The after party at Fair Center will begin right after the final at 01.10. If you want to avoid all this fun go to Wanhan kellari below the EuroClub where Annika Eklund will sing about Shanghai’s lights.

Click here to see a full schedule.