Parade on the Flag Day will be held in Jyväskylä on 4 June

The national parade on the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces will be held in Jyväskylä on Sunday 4 June 2023. Along the review of troops and pass in review, the programme will also include a Midnight Hawks air show, a MILjazz concert, and an equipment display in the activities field, among other things. Admission to the events is free.

The theme of the parade will be Strong together – in the air, on land and at sea. Units from the Army, Navy and Air Force, National Defence University, Border Guard and representatives from veterans’ and national defence organisations will participate in the parade. All in all, ca. 1200 persons, more than 40 vehicles and 16 aircraft will take part in the parade. All brigade-level units of the Air Force will be involved. 

The parade will be reviewed by Commander of the Finnish Air Force, Major General Juha-Pekka Keränen. The field devotional will be held by the Air Force’s Senior Chaplain Janne Huikko and the parade troops will be commanded by Chief of Staff Air Force Command Finland, Brigadier General Timo Herranen. 

The review of troops will take place at Harju Stadium at 12.00.  The troops will align to position at Harju from 11:35 onwards. The pass in review will start on Yliopistonkatu at 13.15 heading south. The pass-in review will be received in front of the stairs of Harju. 

The pass in review will also involve flypasts by Air Force Hornet multirole fighters, Hawk jet trainers, Pilatus liaison aircraft and Army helicopters. Flypasts may possibly also be performed by partner countries’ aircraft involved in the simultaneously conducted Arctic Challenge Exercise. More detailed information involving the flight activities will be provided separately later. The flypasts will cause noise over the Jyväskylä area. 

At Lutakonaukio, there is an activities field used by the Defence Forces and other authorities where you can take a closer look at the equipment featured in the pass in review. In addition, the Conscript Band will hold a concert accompanying the Midnight Hawks aerobatics team performing an air show.

The day will culminate in a MILjazz concert at Lounaispuisto featuring the Air Force Big Band with Sami Saari as its soloist and the Conscript Band’s Showband.
The parade arrangements will be the responsibility of the Air Force Academy, and the music will be produced by the Navy Band in cooperation with the Air Force Band. 

Parade Day Programme
8.00       Flag raising ceremony at Lutakonaukio
9.00       Wreath laying ceremony at the Old Cemetery
10.00     Church service at Taulumäki Church
10–16    Activities field at Lutakonaukio 
    (With the equipment display, Midnight Hawks and Conscript Band performing.)
12.00    Review of troops at Harju stadium
13.15    Pass in review on Yliopistonkatu
18–21   MILjazz concert at Lounaispuisto