In the main event of the 250th anniversary of tourism, internationality and influences from history

Important international guests from Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Ukraine are coming to the main event of Imatra's tourism anniversary. The versatile holiday program includes music, food and drama.

In Kävelykatu Koskenpartaa, the program is free for the public.

- In addition, for families with children there is, among other things, an interesting drama tour with an emphasis on history in Imatran's Kruunupuisto, says the producer of the anniversary's main event Juha-Pekka Natunen Cultural space from Nuijamiehi.

Entrepreneurial cooperation plays a central role in the anniversary year

The city of Imatra has offered professionals in the area the opportunity to organize events with the tourism jubilee year project.

- It is also important for us to present the history of the surrounding area to children and young people in a more modern way, says the city's liaison manager Tea Laitimo.

- The 250 years of tourism in Imatra project is exceptional and great because the city is doing this in cooperation with several local actors. At the same time, a new operating model is being created to coordinate the cooperation between companies to organize events for the coming years, adds Natunen.

International cooperation with the chef associations of Karelia, Estonia and Sweden also gave birth to a joint seminar aimed at professionals at the beginning of the holiday.

- The seminar is aimed at local companies in our area, such as bakeries and coffee shop owners. At the seminar, Estonians will bring out their views and experiences on tourism and food and their combination, says the project's project manager Soile Lehtinen From the South Karelia recreation area foundation.

In the international breeze event, the preparation of traditional rieska, local food and Karelian gastronomy will be introduced to the public

- In the bread-making master class, the public can see bread baking up close on the pedestrian street. In addition, the day includes a Bread Competition, in which, in addition to local bread bakers, two teams from Estonia participate. The teams prepare tastings in advance for the audience and the official jury, after which both the audience and the jury evaluate the best breads and the winners are awarded, says Natunen.

You can also buy bread at the event to take home.

Chairman of Karelian Chefs Ulla Liukkonen has been planning a celebratory dinner to be enjoyed at the end of the day at Valtionhotel together with the hotel manager Joni Erinko and Taigo Leipig, the kitchen manager of the Estonian President's Office.

- In the Valtionhotell's dinner gala menu, the past is mirrored in the present, using the same ingredients as in the 1700th and 1800th centuries. The dinner gala features local smoked sausage and soup made from local roots, as well as lamb from the nearby area with an herb glaze. Barley was commonly used in the old days and the menu also includes chanterelle barley, Liukkonen describes.

The event will culminate in a concert by Jamala from Ukraine, who won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.

The day's program has been produced together Black and White Theater Festival with, which has enabled Jamala to arrive in Imatra.

You can find out more about the International Breezes program in its entirety on the event's website:

Celebrating 250 years of tourism: International breezes 23.7.2022 July XNUMX

The main event of the anniversary year is carried out as part of the MOKRA-funded "250th Anniversary of Tourism" project of the South Karelia Association. The project financially supports the realization of the event. The anniversary project is implemented in cooperation with the city of Imatra, South Karelia recreation area foundation and Kulttuuritila Nuijamies.

For more information:

event producer Juha-Pekka Natunen, Kulttuuritila Nuijamies, tel. 040 7624217, jpnuijamies.fi (jp[at]nuijamies[dot]fi)

project manager Soile Lehtinen, South Karelia recreation area foundation, tel. 040 732 5778, soile.leafyekvas.fi (soile[dot]lehtinen[at]ekvas[dot]fi)

contact director Tea Laitimo City of Imatra, tel. 020 617 2212, teaimatra.fi (tea[dot]laitimo[at]imatra[dot]fi)

manager Joni Erinko Imatran State Hotel, joni.erinkoscandichotels.com (joni[dot]erinko[at]scandichotels[dot]com)

chairman of the board Mikko Vento, Kulttuuritila Nuijamies phone 040 5508 119, mikkonuijamies.fi (mikko[at]nuijamies[dot]fi)