Kotka will again celebrate The Week Of Love from 9-15 February 2026, highlighting the values of the city of Kotka: Compassion, fairness and courage.

Programme:

SUNDAY 8.2.

• 17:00 The Week Of Love prequel: concert of choirs Kotka – Love in the air – at Kotka Concert Hall, Keskuskatu 33. Kotka Grand Choir, conducted by Antti Koivisto. Tickets 10 euros.
  Note! Already on Saturday 7 February at 16.45-16.45 there will be a Choir Singing Festival open to all at the Concert Hall (including Kalliolle kukkulalle, Kotka ruusu and Kotka poikii).

TUESDAY 10.2.

18:00 “Music from the stages of the world”, concert at the Naapuri stage of the City Theatre, Keskuskatu 15. Tickets 27 euros, lippu.fi or the theatre’s ticket office.
A versatile concert designed by soprano Eilamaria Leskinen, piano artist Jouni Somero and theatre director Reijo Pauku,

at 13:00 and 17:00 romantic film (S) from 2023, in the Media Room of the Main Library, Kirkkokatu 24.

14-16 Participating Kotka presents itself at Kotka Main Library, Kirkkokatu 24. Come with us to reflect on what we could do together to strengthen community in our Kotka. The aim is to raise good spirits by greeting acquaintances and strangers, stopping to chat and increasing encounters and conversations across the city. Free admission.

at 15.30 in the chapel (Karhulantie 36 b) toddlers’ colour bath. We will paint love on a heart-shaped canvas. Registration to Kirs by 2.2. by WhatsApp, email or text to 044 725 9132. Free entry.

16-18 The Maretarium in the Aquarium House is free to enter with your loved one and the Merisydän Café serves coffee and a treat for 5e. Sapokankatu 2.

WEDNESDAY 11.2.

• 11am-1pm Fonder Dreams in the Encounters Kitchen – free Dream Mapbook workshop. A guided moment for gentle dreaming and writing. Sign up at the kitchen by 16:00 on 10 February. First 50 to join. Ruotsinsalmenkatu 13. Free admission.
• 12-15 pm Lovefest at the Place of the Mind. Love karaoke, love waffles and other love and friendship themed activities. Mielipaikka, Koulukatu 10 B. Free admission.
• at 13 Tuppuran Jussi. Pia Aurala performs a mini play based on a poem by Aaro Hellaakoski. The polyphonic monologue is the story of a country boy from Tuppura’s dull house who wants to decorate his old wife with souvenirs he bought on a trip to the city. True love with a twinkle in the eye! Duration approx. 10 min. Plus memorable love songs through the decades. House of Memories, Merikatu 3. Free admission.
• 15-20 pm The Rectory is open for young people. The programme from 18-19 will focus on the themes of the week “Fairness, Compassion and Courage”, Karhulantie 36 b. Free admission.
• 16-20 New Kotka residents event at the City Hall, Kustaankatu 2.
• 17:00 Juha Vainio karaoke evening “About friendship and love in Junnu’s words”, restaurant Humppa, Kirkkokatu 7. Free admission.
• 18:00 Vellamo Soi, The Week Of Love Concert, Singers and students of the Music School perform songs about friendship and love, Tornatorintie 99. Free admission.

THURSDAY 12.2.

• at 17.30 Literary encounters: guest Anu Joenpolvi, author of the rural-romantic Rantakylä book series, on the Stage of the main library, Kirkkokatu 24.

FRIDAY 13.2.

• at 13 and 14 Kotka-Kymi parish offers the possibility to organise a marriage ceremony in the middle of the weekday. The chapel of the Karhula Parish Centre is reserved for weddings at 13:00 and 14:00, with the Arkena Marriage idea, Karhulantie 33.
• at 13:00 romantic drama film (K16) from 2018, Karhulan library, Karhulantie 40. Free admission.

SATURDAY 14.2.

• 12-15pm Valentine’s Day with Moomins – event at the Vellamo Marine Centre, Tornatorintie 99. The Finnish Maritime Museum’s Courage, Love, Freedom! The Moomin Adventure exhibition invites you on a magical adventure through the dark forest, towards the peaceful Moomin Valley and to lounge on the cliffs to the sound of the waves. Moomin and Little My will perform twice in the boatshed on the day of the event and meet Moomin friends after the shows. Also stop by the colouring and craft station or watch the “Whatever happened to you?” film in Finnish or Swedish. Full programme at www.merikeskusvellamo.fi.
  Children under 18 years of age attend free of charge and adults at the price of 15/10 € for admission to the Vellamo Maritime Centre, Museum Card or Kaikukortti.
• 12-14 I❤️Karhuvuori Valentine’s Day event at Karhuvuori Market. There will be various actors presenting their activities and sausages, juice and marmalade will be served. Organised by the Koskenrinte Joy to the Day project, Home here too activity and Kotka-Kymi parish. Free admission .
• 14-16 Ella Tepponen and Esa Ylönen: Songs of Love – Valentine’s Day concert in the lobby of the Satama Areena. Come and listen to love songs and enjoy a delicious cake buffet on Valentine’s Day at Satama Areena. The Songs of Love concert features the most popular love songs of all time, beautifully performed by Ella Tepponen (vocals) and Esa Ylönen (piano). The concert deals with love from different perspectives, with themes such as young love, dramatic love and selfless love. The concert includes rhythm and film classics, as well as the most beautiful Finnish love songs, including La vie en rose, Romance, I will always love you, Hymn to Love and Easy on me. The concert is free of charge.
  A delicious cake buffet will be served in the restaurant of the Satama Arena for €20 per person. Children under 12 years 10 €/person.

OTHER PROGRAMME:

• Love exhibition at the Main Library, Kirkkokatu 24. Free admission.
• During the whole month of February, from 1 to 28 February, Pasaati Shopping Centre is running the February of Delicacies campaign, where for every purchase in Pasaati’s restaurants and cafés you get one sticker in a goody bag. With three stickers you can participate in a draw to win great prizes, such as a 2-night hotel stay at Sokos Hotel Seurahuone Kotka. The campaign has been organised in cooperation with Kotka Kauppatie ry and a large number of restaurants in the Kotka area are participating. All participating restaurants can be found at www.pasaati.fi.
  On Valentine’s Day 14.2. you will get double stickers for every purchase at participating restaurants!
• From Tuesday to Thursday 10-12 February, open and free food, gentle encounters and community at the Encounters kitchen, Ruotsinsalmenkatu 13.The meal includes love serenades, excerpts from the Love Story book and the opportunity to share and write your most cherished food memories in a shared collection. Free admission.
• The Week Of Love will premiere four videos created in collaboration with the Kotka City Theatre, Kotka Region Music College, Kotka Lyseo and Karhula Secondary High School students to promote youth inclusion and cultural wellbeing, and to raise awareness of equality and acceptance of diversity.
• Welcome someone important to you for a short task point in day care centres. Easy friendship activities to do together are attached to the kindergarten yard fence. You can complete them at your own pace at a time that suits you during The week Of Love. The tasks will be in place on Mon 9 Feb at 9am and will leave the fence on Fri 13 Feb at 4pm:
  • Velho Day Care Centre, Ututie 1
  • Velho Day Care Centre, Ututie 2
  • Lankila Day Care Centre, Aittakorventie 1
  • Rainbow Day Care Centre, Rajakalliontie 12
  • Kotilo Day Care Centre, Madesalmentie 2
  • Raiti Day Care Centre, Laihontie 19

Programme subject to change.

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