River Harbour festival launches in Turku on 28 May 2010

This summer a new event - the River Harbour event - will compliment the colourful summer programme in Turku. It kicks off on 28 May with lots of maritime activities on the banks of the river Aura and finishes on 5 June on the World Environment Day.

The event is organised in cooperation with the City of Turku, the Port of Turku, Forum Marinum maritime centre and local entrepreneurs. The highlights of the event are the visit of the sailing vessel Shtandart, Turku brass music festival and the opening of Forum Marinum exhibitions. There is also jazz music, swing dancing, pier dancing and troubadour entertainment to name a few.

The vessel Shtandart is a full-size copy of the frigate designed and built by Peter the Great in 1703. She will arrive in Turku on Friday 28 May and be open for visitors through Saturday and Sunday.

An Open Port day will be organised on Sunday 30 May with guided coach tours in the port area and river harbour cruises. Visitors can also get to know the port by using the Virtual Port touch screens in the maritime centre.

The event is connected to the World Environment Day through a campaign to save the Baltic Sea initiated by the cities of Turku and Helsinki.