World Village Festival is a unique event thanks to its communality and diverse mix of actors. Civil society organisations, street food kitchens, bazaar vendors and many other organisations create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere for the festival. The exhibitor stand contents will provide festivalgoers with plenty of food for thought and perhaps new things to do or solutions for life.
Organised in the last weekend of May in Suvilahti, Helsinki, this year’s World Village Festival will be a vegetarian-food-only event. This decision has inspired and been welcomed by many. For example, Nigerian vegan and vegetarian food vendor Oby Ikegwuonu is pleased with the decision:
– This is really great. You can season vegetarian dishes so well, and veggie food can be very diverse – such as my own speciality, the cabbage patties. In festival conditions plant-based food works better in other respects, too.
Responsible for festival exhibitors and vendors, World Village Festival Production Manager Maria Hopponen says that the vegetarian-only policy has sparked varied discussion.
– Most comments have been positive and welcomed the decision as a step in the right direction. The number and diversity of food vendors have also remained at last year’s level. We’ll have 50 food vendors serving street food from the various corners of the world, such as Tibet, Nicaragua and the Gambia. This year will also see more café-style stalls with a selection of lovely things to drink and eat, such as churros and bubble waffles.
230 exhibitors from CSOs to educational institutions
In addition to food vendors, the festival will feature around 180 exhibitors, including 36 bazaar vendors and 136 civil society organisations (CSOs). New this year is the Book and Recycling World where you will find a vast variety of things to read from the Rosebud Books section as well as a broad range of circular economy actors. The Book and Recycling World will be set up in the Cirko centre, while the Kattilahalli hall on the other side of the festival site will be the venue for this year’s Market of Possibilities featuring CSOs and smaller stands.
The tent village of larger exhibitors will be set up on the festival field. Finn Church Aid will provide you with programme including thought-provoking discussions. The stand co-hosted by the European Parliament Liaison Office in Finland and the European Commission Representation in Finland will be your source of information about the upcoming European Parliament election.
At the Save the Children Finland section you can experience a Child Friendly Space like the ones set up at evacuation centres, emergency accommodation and reception centres so that children get a safe space where they can play and calm down amidst difficult conditions. The stand of the festival organiser, Fingo, is where you will be able to see how you can navigate through the waves of uncertainty, pick up the latest issue of Maailman Kuvalehti magazine and put together a sweet surprise reflecting the Sustainable Development Goals that are important for you. Other exhibitors include Fida, the Finnish Red Cross, the Church in Helsinki and Espoo, and a number of educational institutions, media, cultural actors and authorities.
Take a look at the full list of stands and food vendors, the programme and the festival site map. World Village Festival in Suvilahti, Helsinki, 25–26 May 2024 themed on Courage. Free admission and open for all.
More information, media accreditation and interviews
Communications and media: Nelli Korpi, nelli.korpi@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6698
Exhibitors and food vendors: Maria Hopponen, maria.hopponen@fingo.fi,+358 50 317 6742
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Press photos at Flickr
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World Village Festival is Finland’s leading event for global action for the whole family, an admission free cultural festival, and a trade fair for sustainable development. The event will be organised in the Suvilahti event venue, Helsinki, in 25–26 May 2024 with Courage as the theme. Festival’s core values are diversity, equality, responsibility, and communality. The event is expected to attract around 50,000 festivalgoers. Admission to all events is free. The festival organiser is Finnish Development NGOs Fingo and the main partners are Finn Church Aid, the European Commission Representation in Finland, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Finland, Radio Helsinki and Maailman Kuvalehti magazine.
