Roots and Wings - Tampere Day Eco Festival

Saturday, 3rd October 2026 9 AM–12 PM Roots and Wings - pilgrimages and nature walks to Alexander's Church During

17 different walks, participants will observe diverse nature and explore experiential nature companionship. You can choose from over ten pilgrimages following the journey of Francis of Assisi or from several different nature walks: https://tampereenseurakunnat.fi/juuret-ja-siivet/vaellukset/. This is also part of the 10th-anniversary pilgrimage of PilgrimageTampere.

11:30 AM–1 PM Outdoor vegetarian lunch in front of the Crypt door Restaurant Kierto and the Food Bank will serve a vegetarian lunch outside from a soup kettle onto individual plates in front of the crypt: Voluntary payment for the benefit of Restaurant Kierto customers.

12–3 PM Crypt Café Volunteers from Grandma's Room will sell coffee and pastries. Proceeds go to youth employment to assist the elderly with outdoor activities and errands! Donuts donated by Bakery ILONA.

10 AM–3 PM Grandma's Room and Grandma's Shop (Hämeenkatu 28) open. Warm juice available outside in front of Grandma's Room. 10:30–11:30 Nature walk through pictures, Ismo Nokelainen. Pop-up introduction to volunteering in Grandma's Room elderly work. Handicrafts made from recycled materials for sale at Grandma's Shop. Recycle! Donate yarn, buttons, and beads for crafters.

1:00–2:00 PM Nature enchants – promoting biodiversity, Alexander Church Hall

What insights arise from the morning walks? What is already happening in Tampere and what can each person do near their own home? Project Manager of the City’s LUMO program, biologist Kaisa Mustajärvi. Juha Hurme recites poems by Eeva Kilpi. Speeches: Terhi Vitikainen on Southern Parish planting work, Tero Matilainen and Harju bees, Jyrki Koivisto and Ylöjärvi forests and ridges, Jukka Vettenranta on Mieli ry's nature initiatives, Maria Rouhiainen on Tampere single residents’ nature-based activities, Saraleena Aarnitaival on Faith Club, etc.

2 PM–3 PM Our Brothers and Sisters the Trees – Art Event, Pyynikki Church Park

There is a handmade art exhibition made from natural materials in the trees of the church park. The exhibition is on display from October 3rd to 18th.

In the children's workshop from 1 PM to 3 PM, children and adults can create their own artwork from natural materials, which will be hung on a tree and added to a collective piece. Responsible person: Riikka Mattila. Cellist Juho Kanervo will play along with the trees. Author Juha Hurme will recite poems by Eeva Kilpi. Walk among the trees and artworks reflecting on environmental feelings. Where do I feel joy, sadness, anger, gratitude, worry, or compassion? Coffee and open discussion based on the experience in the crypt from

2 PM to 3 PM. 3 PM–5 PM Creation as a Partner, Church Hall Eco-philosophical and theological discussion, trying together to understand a different language and relationship to the rest of nature. The event will be streamed.

3–3:30 PM Anna Kontula's speech on ecological transition and eco-theology based on her new book.

3:30–5 PM Creation as a Part 3:30–5 PM Creation as Partner and Subject – Discussion Author Anna Kontula, author Juha Hurme, eco-theologian Pauliina Kainulainen, evolutionary biologist and University of Oxford researcher Aura Raulo. Jouko Mäki-Lohiluoma will play music. The event will be hosted by Dean Olli-Pekka Silfverhuth and Pastor Riikka Mattila.

6 PM Ne Lintuizet – fresh folk music fun, church hall

Ne Lintuizet is a supergroup made up of four songwriters, Pekko Käppi, Kielo Kärkkäinen, Laura Moisio, and Lauri Myllymäki, bringing harmonized folk into the world of the 2020s.

Sunday, October 4, 2026 11:00 AM Root Mass at Alexander Church

Pauliina Kainulainen participating in the discussion sermon

2:30–5:00 PM Francis Seminar – Francis of Assisi as a guide and partner for sustainable living, Alexander Church crypt 2:00–2:30 PM Coffee, tea, and good company What can Francis's legacy offer us? Featuring nonfiction author and eco-theologian Pauliina Kainulainen, Jussi Holopainen, as well as Katri Kuusikallio, Antti Kulmala, and Tuomo Salovuori from the 3rd order Franciscans.

5:00–6:00 PM Franciscan Barefoot Mass, Pyynikki Church Park We celebrate a wandering mass together with the trees of Church Park and all of creation. Kaisa Tulander-Mäkelä, Visa Kuusikallio, Maija Nikulainen, Aulikki Kalliolahti from the 3rd order Franciscan community, and Jussi Holopainen from Pilgrimage Tampere. Dress warmly according to the weather.