Kaustinen: Folk Music, Culture and Nature

Folk Music as a Defining Tradition

Kaustinen is closely associated with folk music and violin playing. The distinctive style and playing technique of Kaustinen folk music have existed for more than 250 years; the repertoire includes several hundred melodies from the region. The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is also firmly rooted in the local pelimanni tradition. First held in 1968, it has since become one of the most important folk music events in the Nordic countries and Europe. In 2021, Kaustinen fiddle playing was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

The central festival park is located on a fenced site in the centre of Kaustinen. The venues there include the KPO Arena and numerous other stages. This gives folk music in Kaustinen not only a sound, but also a concrete setting for events. If you are particularly interested in music and local traditions, you will find a fitting focus for planning your trip here.

Museums and Discoveries for Children

The Kaustinen Folk Art Centre was completed on 1 July 1997 and designed by architect Rainer Mahlamäki. The Centre houses the Finnish Folk Instrument Museum, which has more than 1,000 instruments. The exhibition is presented in Finnish, Swedish and English; admission is free. The museum is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Children can also explore the exhibition actively with the “Soitinsalapoliisi” and “Tarkan tutkijan” activity cards. They offer a special way to engage with the instruments and turn the museum into a discovery of objects, sound and music. The Kaustinen Folk Art Centre also houses the Kellarigalleria, with illuminated display cases for various exhibitions.

The Kaustinen Local History Museum focuses on local history. It is housed in a former loan depot and presents a wide range of aspects of Kaustinen’s history across two floors. Those wishing to learn about the area’s past as well as its music will find a different cultural perspective here.

Church, Concerts and Events

The present-day church in Kaustinen was built by Jaakko Heikinpoika Kuorikoski in 1859. It has around 450 seats and a 21-stop organ dating from 1971. A service is generally held on Sundays at 10 a.m.; other religious events and concerts are also held in the church.

Another venue is Kaustinen Hall, built into the rock, which provides a setting for concerts and events. At Pelimannitalo, the professional folk music ensemble Tallari holds its seasonal concert series in the main hall. These venues complement the festival and museums, offering more ways to experience Kaustinen through music and events.

Nature Trails and Getting There

ViTarinki is a nature trail of about 13 kilometres. Information boards along the way cover the local natural environment, and the trail also passes the Hoikanranta and Tummunniitty shelters. For a trip focused on nature, the trail offers a different theme from museums and music.

The Isokallio route has a campfire site at its shelter and offers wide views. From Kaustinen, you can reach the route via Virkkalantie and Lehmäjärventie. You can park carefully at the roadside; the shelter is about 400 metres away. ViTarinki and the Isokallio route offer two different nature experiences, which you can take into account when planning your days.

Buses run daily between Kokkola and Kaustinen. Kokkola-Pietarsaari Airport is in Kronoby, about half an hour’s drive from Kaustinen. When looking for a holiday rental, you can consider whether folk music and culture, or nature trails as well, will be the focus of your stay.

More destinations: Lappajärvi, Kokkola, Ahomäki, Lestijärvi, Halsua, Yli-Lesti, Toholampi.

Back to the main travel overview: Central Ostrobothnia.