Ice Swimming Sprint – Avantoralli brings cold swimming and sauna experiences to Salo on 7–8 February 2026
In early February, Salo will become a paradise for cold swimming and sauna enthusiasts when Ice Swimming Sprint – Avantoralli takes place on 7–8 February 2026. The event welcomes both first-timers and experienced winter swimmers to enjoy the combination of icy water and warm saunas across different parts of Salo.
Ice Swimming Sprint. Salon kaupunki © Päivi Kankare
Thirteen ice swimming locations will participate in the 2026 Avantoralli. Swimming spots include rivers, lakes, the sea, ponds, and springs. The Avantoralli map of ice swimming saunas has been compiled to help visitors plan their sauna route and transfers between locations.
Cultural Survey 2025 – let us know how we are doing
It has been a few years since we last asked the residents of Salo about their experiences and thoughts on cultural services. In 2022, the responses indicated that culture is an important part of well-being, community spirit, and everyday joy. People hoped for culture to be more visible throughout the entire city, better communication, and easier ways to participate.
At the same time, a strong message emerged: Salo has a lot of potential – now what is needed is courage, cooperation, and concrete actions.
This survey laid the foundation for the Culture Unites – Salo Cultural Program, which guides our activities from 2025 to 2030. Now, after the first year of the program, we want to hear again: what has changed, what is working better – and what still needs to be developed?
The survey is intended for all residents of Salo, and through it, we gather experiences, hopes, and thoughts on culture during the year 2025. Responses are processed anonymously. It takes approximately 5–7 minutes to respond. Some of the questions are the same as in 2022, so we can also obtain comparable information.
Raffle: Among those who provide their contact information, a Museum Card and a fun cultural bucket will be raffled. Participation in the raffle is voluntary.
Warm thanks for your participation!
Best regards, The Cultural Office staff
Cultural Services of Salo
Work at Salo -recruitment event 29.10.2025
Work at Salo -recruitment event is coming up again. The event will showcase job vacancies, apprenticeships, student internships, and study opportunities. The event will be held on Wednesday, October 29, from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Plaza shopping center (Vilhonkatu 8, Salo).
A large number of employers and recruitment companies, as well as job seekers, career changers, and students, are invited to the event. The event is also a local working life event where you can learn about a wide range of study opportunities, network, and meet people face to face.
The event is organized in cooperation with the city of Salo employment services, Yrityssalo Ltd, Salo region vocational college, Edusalo, and Plaza shopping center.
Job seekers
Companies want to meet you. Work at Salo -recruitment event is a great opportunity to get to know companies and other organizations operating in the Salo area. Come to our large recruitment event, where you can talk to several employers at once. You may also find an interesting job through a recruitment agency. Various training options and apprenticeship training will also be presented. The event offers the opportunity to participate in a CV workshop and CV photo shoot.
Employer
A recruitment event gives you the opportunity to make direct contact with job seekers who are interested in your company’s vacancies and find employees who meet your company’s needs. At the event, your company will be able to present job opportunities to a wide range of applicants and meet potential new employees in person. You can come along just to present your company, your industry, and the professions in your field to job seekers. You can network and gain visibility. A wide network of regional operators is involved in the arrangements.
Register and reserve your place – Lyyti.fi. Participation is free of charge and as easy as possible (table and electricity provided, just bring yourself and your own equipment).
Welcome.
Further information:
Senior employment specialist Krista Takatalo
050 472 1720
krista.takatalo@salo
The opening week of Salo employment services main office Torikatu 4 will be celebrated 22.-26.9.2025
The main office for employment services, located at Torikatu 4, opened on September 1. The premises house job seeker and employer services for the Salo employment area, integration services for the city of Salo, and a Kela service point. The office also offers several low-threshold services aimed at individual customers, entrepreneurs, and partners in the area. The premises house, among other things, Ohjaamo for young people, a low-threshold job search center, and International House Salo, which brings together services for immigrants.
The opening week of the office will be celebrated from September 22 to 26. Welcome to join us.
Opening week program
Mon 22 September 10 am – 2 pm
The day is aimed at employment service partners and local residents. The program includes a tour of the premises and an introduction to the services. Service providers in the Salo employment area will present their activities from 10bam to 12 noon in the event hall on the first floor. The program also includes coffee and cake, as well as a raffle.
Tue 23 September 10 am – 4 pm
On Tuesday, Salo’s integration services will present their activities, and at the same time, the opening of the International House Salo service center will be celebrated.
The morning session from 10 am to 12 noon is intended for immigration service authorities and partners (invitation-only event).
The program from 1 pm to 4 pm is intended for all integration service customers.
Come and meet integration counselors, employment experts, and project workers, and take a look at our new premises. Face painting for children. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. You can give feedback and take part in a prize draw.
Wed 24 September 12 noon – 7 pm
Official opening day, 12 noon – 2 pm, for invited guests.
4.30 pm – 7 pm opening event for companies and employers. The evening event will be hosted by project manager Marjut Laaksonen.
Program:
- 4.30 pm Doors open: Refreshments, networking, and tour of the premises
- 5 pm Opening of the event by Mika Mannervesi, city development manager, sity of Salo
- 5.05 pm Good Work – How do we build a sustainable and good working life? by organizational psychologist Jaakko Sahimaa
- 6.15 pm Employment is cooperation – thoughts from the business world, CEO Kirsi Junnilainen, Manutec Oy
- From 6.30 pm in the group rooms for those interested:
How do I recruit successfully? Reija Rantala, Remma Nordic Oy, and Mika Harju, City of Salo
Alternative paths to employment (work trials, apprenticeships, wage subsidies) Elina Korkeaoja, Salo Region Vocational College, and Veli-Matti Leppäniemi, City of Salo - 7 pm Event ends
Register for the evening event by September 18 – Webropol.com.
Thu 25 September 1 pm – 3 pm
Job Search Autumn Market event. The event is aimed at job seekers of all ages.
The event will be hosted by Leena Ertem.
Program:
- 1.10 pm Opening remarks, Leena Ertem
- 1.15 pm Using your strengths in job hunting, social media influencer Joona Hellman
- 2 pm What is 4H entrepreneurship like? Executive Director Anna Laakkonen, Salon 4H Association
- 2.30 pm Working with attitude, Salo city event coordinator Karolina Blom
In the group room for those interested throughout the event: How to use artificial intelligence in job hunting, Tiina Viima, employment Specialist, city of Salo.
Snacks, stickers, balloons, and a pin workshop will be available.
Come and try the job interview simulator with VR glasses.
Fri 26 September 9 am – 1.30 pm
Kela theme day. Kela representative will be present from 9 am to 11 am and 12 pm to 2 pm – ask Kela, an expert will answer. From 10 am to 10.30 am and 1 pm to 1.30 pm, information sessions on Kela’s electronic services. Other Kela-related program also available.
Further information:
Employment Manager Minna Virta
044 778 2161
minna.k.virta@salo.fi
Salo participating in Asuntomessut Housing Fair in Oulu
The city of Salo will have its own booth at the Housing Fair opening in Oulu on Friday (18.7.).
– Now that there is almost exactly three years until the Housing Fair in Salo in the summer of 2028, it is appropriate to start marketing our own event also at upcoming housing fair events, starting this year in Oulu, next year in Lempäälä, and in 2027 in Siuntio, says the project manager of the Salo Housing Fair, Mervi Lehto.
– At the city’s booth, visitors can get acquainted with the future exhibition areas in Salo as well as the initial sketches of the actual sites. At the same time, we will of course also share general information about Salo as a residential and tourist destination, Lehto continues.
– I believe what makes Salo particularly interesting as a housing fair city is that the Housing Fair in Salo will be implemented with a completely new concept. There will not be a single unified fair area in the city, but there will be several areas, all located near the city center close to the River Salo. The sites are mainly infill and renovation projects, and the key themes connecting the sites are sustainable development, diversity, and community spirit, describes the future fair sites the city of Salo’s Director of Economic Development Mika Mannervesi.
The city of Salo and the Cooperative Suomen Asuntomessut signed a reservation agreement in May regarding the Salo fairs, and are now preparing a cooperation agreement that will define the details of the fair project implementation more precisely. The cooperation agreement is intended to be approved by the end of this year.
The Housing Fair in Oulu is open to the public from 18.7. to 17.8. from Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Thursdays from 12 am to 8 pm. On Thursdays during artist nights (24.7., 31.7., 7.8., and 14.8.), the area is open until 8:30 pm and the sites until 8 pm. For VIP ticket holders, the area is also open on Thursdays from 9 am to 12 am.
The city of Salo’s booth E4 is located near exhibition sites 21 and 22 as well as restaurant area. Check out the area map for the Housing Fair in Oulu.
More information:
Housing Fair in Salo 2028 • Salo – For Movers • Salo – For Tourists
Director of Economic Development Mika Mannervesi, City of Salo, 044 778 5001, mika.mannervesi@salo.fi
Project Manager Mervi Lehto, City of Salo, 050 449 7502, mervi.lehto@salo.fi
Freezing Ice Swimming Rally in Salo
The Ice Swimming Rally on March 1-2 is an event for all ages, with cold-water swimming and well-being as its central themes. Several public saunas around Salo will have extended opening hours. Salo offers many different winter swimming locations where you can take an icy dip. At the Ice Swimming Rally, you can choose whether to swim in the sea, lakes, ponds, springs, or rivers – or try them all!
Freezing Ice Swimming Rally. Kuva: Salon kaupunki © Päivi Kankare
Opening Ceremony and Activities
The event kicks off at Salo Market Square on Saturday, March 1, at 12 pm. The square will feature hot tubs, saunas, cold pools, a jacuzzi, and an ice hole in the river. The event also includes live music, market stalls, and a fashion show.
Read more:
https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/70890782/freezing-ice-swimming-rally-in-salo
Cultural Spring in Salo 2025
The new seasonal culture brochure brings together the diverse offerings of Salo’s cultural, museum, and library services, as well as our partners. The brochure, available in Finnish and English, also highlights how we promote the themes and goals of the “Culture Connects – The Cultural Program of Salo” – strong foundation for culture, culture travels and moves, courage to do new things, to do together, and to do in a different way.
Cultural Spring 2025
Cultural Spring in Salo 2025 offers a diverse program from March to May for residents and visitors. The program includes a wide range of music, theater, exhibitions, children’s culture, and cultural events that support well-being. Many events have free admission.
Highlights of the spring include:
- Motör Circus School Tour – An anti-bullying performance tour combines combining circus, music, and acrobatics at schools.
- Exhibitions at Salon Art Museum Veturitalli – Featuring Harro Koskinen’s Time on an Island and Erika Adamsson’s Spirit of the Place – Genius loci.
- Children’s Culture March – A themed month full of experiences for children and families.
- SaloJazz Concerts – Featuring Mimie Moore Jazz Edition, Olli Soikkeli NYC Trio, and the legendary Piirpauke.
- Open Mic Poetry Events – An opportunity to perform one’s own texts in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Mental Health Art Week – Art and culture as promoters of well-being.
Explore the Events
Explore the digital version of the seasonal brochure from the link below.
Spring of Culture in Salo 2025
You can find the brochure to take with you at libraries and city service points during week 9. More tips are also available in Salon city event calendar.
We welcome everyone to enjoy the diverse cultural offerings of spring!
Motör Circus. Photo: Isak Stockås
Additional Information
Cultural Director Mikko Nortela
p. 02 778 2026
mikko.nortela@salo.fi
Cultural Producer Suvi Aarnio
p. 02 778 4982
suvi.aarnio@salo.fi
City of Salo invites to integration programme workshops
The development of the new integration program for the city of Salo will continue in co-creation workshops. Workshops with the same content, primarily aimed at immigrants, will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, as follows:
- 10-11.30 am at Waltti, meeting room Kipinä (Salorankatu 5-7)
- 4.30-6 pm at the city hall, cabinet Tuomi (Tehdaskatu 2)
– The city of Salo wants to hear the opinions of immigrants. It is of primary importance that we can build and develop an initial service package and integration services, says immigration coordinator Marina Mgvdeladze.
The workshops will address topics such as organizing multilingual societal orientation, guidance and counseling services, and comprehensive integration program. Multiple languages will be spoken in the workshops: English, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, and Japanese. Interpreters will be used if necessary.
– Immigrants have not been involved in the making and updating of the integration program before. I expect the workshops to bring fruitful discussions and new initiatives, Mgvdeladze continues.
The integration program is regulated by law
Starting from January 1, 2025, municipalities have overall responsibility for promoting integration.
The integration program is a service package for the initial stage of integration. A corresponding package like the new integration program has not been included in the integration law before. The municipality must prepare a document describing the services, responsible parties, and cooperation with other actors related to the service package for the initial stage of integration.
Various actors will participate in the development of the new integration program, such as the municipalities of Somero, Marttila, and Koski Tl in the future employment area, different departments of the city, and a working group of authorities. The Salo Immigration Council has actively participated in the planning work of the integration program. The Immigration Council will have its own workshop on October 22, 2024.
Contact information:
Immigration Coordinator
Marina Mgvdeladze
050 433 5106
marina.mgvdeladze@salo.fi
The standard value added tax rate will change starting from September 1st.
As part of the government’s fiscal consolidation measures, the standard value added tax rate will increase from 24 percent to 25.5 percent. The change will take effect on September 1st, 2024. The standard value added tax rate applies to most products and services sold in Finland. Reduced value added tax rates will remain at 14 and 10 percent for the time being.
The upcoming changes will affect the value added taxation of products and services, which will be reflected in price changes for those products and services provided by the City of Salo that fall within the scope of the changing value added tax rate.
When invoicing the City of Salo, please take note of the change and use the correct value added tax rate on the invoice. The value added tax rate is determined based on the day when the performance is completed or when the goods are delivered. An exception to this is advance payments, where the value added tax rate is determined based on the payment date.
For more information on the application of the correct value added tax rate, please visit the website of the Tax Administration at www.vero.fi.
Veturitall summer exhibitions open until 1.9.2024
The summer exhibition Mari Rantanen: Feeling Color has opened in vibrant colors at the Salon Art Museum in the Engine Shed. At the Side Track Gallery, there is an exhibition by Eevi Rutanen called Household Spirit. The summer exhibitions are open until September 1, 2024. The first museum Friday of the summer is on June 7.
Mari Rantanen (b. 1956, Espoo) is exhibiting her work in this extent in Finland for the first time in over ten years at the Engine Shed’s summer exhibition Mari Rantanen: Feeling Color. Rantanen, who lives and works in Stockholm, is a visual artist, painter, and emeritus professor of visual arts. Rantanen rose to the forefront of Finnish artists in the 1980s with the strong emergence of female artists. Important bases for the international artist have been Helsinki, Tammela, New York, and Stockholm – and in the summer of 2024, also Salo.
A characteristic feature of Rantanen’s works is their delicious, uniquely Rantanen color palette, which shines with full power in the Engine Shed’s halls this summer. Rantanen is known for her large-scale paintings and public art works, which combine the glowing color brilliance and repetitive geometric shapes with baroque abundance and mathematical precision. The stories behind the works take the viewer on an adventure both around the world and deep into the artist’s own mental landscape. The exhibition in Salo presents the artist’s newest works, paintings, and graphics from recent years.
At the same time, at the Side Track Gallery in the Engine Shed, there is an exhibition by Eevi Rutanen (b. 1992) called Household Spirit. Eevi Rutanen explores the relationship between home and technology in her works. In Rutanen’s kinetic installations, familiar objects from everyday chores become strange as they come to life in unexpected ways. Home is a fascinating environment and subject because the themes associated with it are both intimate and political at the same time. Rutanen wants to question assumptions about technology and the roles of home.,On Friday, June 7th, the first free museum Friday of the summer’s new exhibitions will take place. Admission to the exhibitions is free for the whole day. The museum is open as usual from 10am to 6pm. Welcome! Salon Art Museum Veturitalli, Mariankatu 14, 24240 Salo, phone 02-7784892. Open from Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Admission fee is 10€ / 7€, Museokortti, free for those under 18. Guided tours on Sundays at 2pm, reservations for guided tours can be made by calling 02-7784892.