The Ultimate Greatest Christmas Carols – Mass Sing-along Event Comes to Espoo

Singing together and attending Advent and Christmas concerts are cherished traditions for many in Finland. In addition to concerts, the Greatest Christmas Carols events hold a special place in the hearts of countless people across the country. These communal singing events are organised in every Evangelical Lutheran parish nationwide. During the Greatest Christmas Carols events, donations are collected to support Felm’s work. Felm, an agency of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, aims to ensure that children around the world have the opportunity for a good and safe childhood.  

Throughout November and December, the Greatest Christmas Carols will be sung dozens of times in churches, chapels, care homes, restaurants, shopping centres – and even outdoors – across Espoo. This year, the series will culminate in a major communal singing event on 23 December, 2025, when we can all come together to sing at Espoo Metro Areena in Tapiola Sports Park. The event is free of charge and organised by the Evangelical Lutheran Parishes of Espoo in partnership with Felm.  

Star performers Diandra and Jepa Lambert will lead the audience in song, accompanied by the nearly ten-member Soul Connection orchestra and backing vocalists. The event will be hosted by well-known TV personalities Anniina Valtonen and Totti Toivonen. Yle will broadcast the event live on its TV1 channel and on Yle Areena. 

Jukka Lehti, the Vicar of the Espoonlahti Parish, how did the idea for this event come about?  

– We developed the idea amongst the Vicars of Espoo. We were reflecting on how we might bring people together right before Christmas. We wanted to offer the people of Espoo a Christmas gift – and do so in three languages: Finnish, Swedish, and English. 
 
– Now that Yle is joining us, even more people can take part and feel connected through our beloved Christmas carols, sharing in this experience, no matter where you are on 23 December. You can do good by singing - and at the same time donate to support work among the world’s poorest,” adds Jukka Lehti. 
 
Over 7,000 people can attend the event at Espoo Metro Areena, but the audience is also invited to join from home by singing along with the broadcast. 

At the venue, the audience is encouraged to arrive early. Doors to Espoo Metro Areena open at 5:30 p.m., and seating begins at 6:00 p.m. Words of welcome will be heard at 6:15 p.m. Due to the live broadcast, the audience must be seated no later than by 6:45 p.m. 

Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster starting Tuesday, 30 September. Seats are unnumbered, but seating sections will be assigned at the venue. A maximum of five tickets can be reserved per order. Each ticket order carries a service fee of €1.50. Tickets may be reserved via www.ticketmaster.fi  

Espoo Metro Areena is located at Urheilupuistontie 3. Parking is limited, so the use of public transport is strongly recommended. The Urheilupuisto metro station is approximately 500 metres away. 

Yle will broadcast the event live on TV1 and on Yle Areena on 23 December at 7 p.m., and it will also be available on Yle Areena until 6 January,2026. The programme will last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.  

The Greatest Christmas Carols – Singing for the Children of the World and Their Families 

Millions of children and their families around the world suffer from poverty, war, and disasters. This Christmas, give the gift of hope through the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (Felm). 

The Greatest Christmas Carols campaign raises funds so that children everywhere may have the opportunity for a good and safe childhood. 

Donate €20 by sending a text message with the word JOULU20 to 16155, or give an amount of your choice online at kauneimmatjoululaulut.fi. 

Fundraising permits: RA/2020/1538 and ÅLR 2024/5880. 

For further information, contact: 

Rev. Jukka Lehti, Vicar, Espoonlahti Parish – jukka.lehti@evl.fi, +358 50 434 1090 

Laura Leipakka, Partnership Coordinator, Espoo Parishes – laura.leipakka@evl.fi, +358 46 923 1006 

Pastor Juha Virta, Olari Parish – juha.virta@evl.fi, +358 40 565 0012 

For more information about the Kauneimmat Joululaulut (Greatest Christmas Carols) charity fundraising, contact: 
 

Executive Director, Pauliina Parhiala, Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (Felm), +358 40 8201 996, pauliina.parhiala@suomenlahetysseura.fi 
 

Head of Fundraising, Hanna Kalanne, Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (Felm), +358 40 6871 013, hanna.kalanne@suomenlahetysseura.fi 

Additional information
 
Felm is an agency of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland for its international work. Felm currently works in 24 countries with almost 100 partner churches and organisations. As one of the largest Finnish civil society organisations working in global development Felm also receives funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the European Union. 

Felm’s work aims to promote human dignity and justice around the world. The Christian message of faith, hope and neighbourly love has been the cornerstone of our work for over 160 years. 

Diandra is one of Finland's most shining stars. Diandra rose to fame as the youngest winner of the "Finnish Idol" competition. After the Idol she has been in numerous popular TV shows and released three albums. Besides acting in musicals and TV shows she has also done voice acting in movies such as "Encanto", "Smurfs", "Ice Age" and "Mummies" to name a few. Diandra is a well known and loved artist with a sparkling personality.  

Jepa Lambert is a Finnish soul singer, not only known by her pink hair but also as a background singer for several TV bands and artists. Jepa has worked with lots of people, including these artists: Andrae Crouch (US, 7 Grammys), Russ Taff (US, 5 Grammys), Tony Momrelle (Incognito, UK), Snoop  Dogg (US), Cee Lo Green (US, 5 Grammys), Kaija Koo, Juha Tapio, Sami Saari, Jippu, Antti Tuisku, Jenni Vartiainen, Kasmir, Janna, Laura Närhi, Paleface, Redrama, Anna Abreu, Elastinen, Cheek, Chisu, Vesterinen Yhtyeineen, Samuli Edelmann, Helsinki Swing Big Band & UMO Jazz Orkesteri. 

Jepa leads a gospel choir named Sounds of Mercy, which consists of both professional singers as experienced singers in the style of afroamerican gospel. Sounds of Mercy has been recorded as a background choir for a few big names in Finland and has also performed on TV shows such as Putous (MTV) and Riemulaulut (YLE). The choir has released a single, Rich in Mercy.