Centria’s Academic Year Opening Celebrated with Music, Parade and Park Picnic
Centria University of Applied Sciences will celebrate the opening of the academic year on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, in Kokkola. The new academic year will begin with a shared celebration featuring a concert by Arppa & Mikko Pellinen’s band, a parade through the city and a park picnic for students in Länsipuisto Park.
The event will begin at the Snellman Music Centre, where Centriais – students and staff alike – will enjoy a concert by Arppa & Mikko Pellinen’s band. The concert is organised in cooperation with the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra.
Following the concert, at 4 p.m., the Centria community will walk together in a parade from the Snellman Music Centre to Länsipuisto park. The lively and colourful parade will be led by dancers from Samba el Gambo. The parade will cause temporary traffic arrangements along its route. The parade route can be viewed on the event map (attached). Local residents are warmly welcome to watch the parade and enjoy the atmosphere.
In Länsipuisto, the day will continue with a park picnic organised by the Student Union Copsa. During the picnic, Copsa’s partners and local sports clubs will introduce their activities to students. The event also offers students an opportunity to discover the wide range of leisure activities and services available in the region. Kokkola Mayor Stina Mattila will welcome participants to the park picnic. DJ Sebe will provide the musical atmosphere throughout the picnic. The evening will continue at Calle Nightclub, where the academic year opening celebrations will carry on late into the night.
“Kokkola is a student city, and we want to make that visible through this event. The opening of the academic year is a great way to start a new academic year together. We want to bring students and the entire Centria community visibly into the cityscape of Kokkola while also introducing students to the diverse opportunities for leisure activities and hobbies in the region,” says Tapio Huttula, Rector and CEO of Centria University of Applied Sciences.
The event is made possible by Avain Säästöpankki and is organised in cooperation with Avain Säästöpankki and the Student Union Copsa.
Further information about the event and the start of the academic year:
For more information, contact:
Suvi Melender-Lågland