THE VENUE AND ARRIVING

Rauhalahti Manor, Kuopio.

The cultural-historical Rauhalahti Manor is located south of Kuopio in the beautiful Rauhalahti leisure area by Kallavesi, eight kilometres from the centre of Kuopio. More information of the manor can be found here.

In the courtyard of the manor there is a lot of free parking space for cars. You can also reach the manor by buses 7 and 16, which leave near Kuopio Market Place. Bus timetables and the location of the stops can be checked in the Journey Planner. From the bus stop it is 5-10 minutes walk to the manor.

From the manor you can reach Kuopio city centre by bus until 1.40 am. After the event, a joint transport can be arranged in the direction of Kuopio city centre at 2.00 am, if enough people are interested. If you want transport out of the manor, please let us know using the registration form. The transport costs 10€/person and an invoice will be sent in advance if the transport is arranged.

PROGRAM

Société Helsinki celebrates the founding of the City of Kuopio in 1775 by organizing Le Grand Bal Kuopio 1775 - the founding ball of the City of Kuopio. The event is part of the official programme for the 250th anniversary of Kuopio.

The event includes a cold buffet dinner and a ball to live music.

During the evening we hear songs by Carl Michael Bellmann and other 18th century composers and in between dances we take a breather by admiring a fire show in the manor garden (weather permitting).

The dances of the evening are typical of the 18th century, which we dance with the accompaniment of live music of the era. The dances are reconstructed from the original sources, i.e., the very ones that the fashionable society danced during that time. The dances are directed by our dance master Petri Myllynen. You don't have to know the dances in advance.

The dances will be called in finnish or in english depending on the participants.

DANCE PROGRAM

Menuets

Contredanse anglaise: La Russ Långdans (Yttermyra manuscript, ca 1800)

Contredanse française: Hyva Paiva (Manuscript from Mathias Klintberg's collection, S.A.)

Contredanse française: Tusse (Noth och Tur Book för Anders Lund Son, 1802)

Contredanse anglaise: Savage Dance (Werner, 1784)

Contredanse anglaise: Mungo's Delight (Sancho 1779) 

Contredanse française: Fredrike (Noth och Tur Book för Anders Lund Son, 1802)

Contredanse française: Le Carillon national (Not Bok B Violino Primo, S.A.)

Contredanse anglaise: The Comical Fellow (Thompson 1776) 

Contredanse anglaise: Engelska långdansen (Baron Åkerhielms Dansbok, 1785)

Contredanse française: Gustafs Skål (Baron Åkerhielms Dansbok, 1785)

The dancing master will talk through and call all dances. The dancing master reserves rights to alter the dance program, also during the ball. Dances may be omitted or repeated depending on time, dancers' wishes and the discretion of the dancing master.

It is possible to practice historical dances on the morning of the day of the ball from 11 am to 12.30 pm in a dance workshop. The dance workshop is part of Kuopio's 250th anniversary programme and it is open to all residents. You can register in the dance workshop separately with a form that will be opened later. The language of the dance workshop is Finnish.

SHEDULE 

5:00 p.m. Arrival begins. We recommend that you arrive already dressed for the event. The manor has a small room for changing clothes, but it can only accommodate a few people at a time.

6:00 p.m. Welcome speech

Approx. 6:15 p.m. The dance begins with minuets. The dances are danced in pairs. After two dances, there will be a short break, followed by longer breaks so that the musicians can rest a little. The dances can be repeated as desired throughout the evening.

7:00 p.m. First seating at the buffet table. We cannot all fit in the dining room at once, so we will divide into two seatings for dinner, depending on how hungry the guests are. The same dances will be danced during both seatings.

8:00 p.m. Second seating at the buffet table.

Approx. 9:00 p.m. Fire show in the manor garden

Approx. 00:00. The musicians finish playing. If we want to continue dancing, we dance to the music of modern, invisible musicians.

Approx. 00:00. Late-night snacks served. The late-night snack will consist of any leftover food from the buffet, and other delicacies from the manor will also be available for purchase.

2:00 a.m. Event ends.

DRESS CODE

Participation in the event requires an evening dress or a uniform from 1700-1789. (This means that it is not appropriate to come to the event, e.g. in a regendy attire or a modern evening dress.) Please bring with you a cloak or a shawl, as we follow the fire show outdoors.

DINNER

There is a cold buffet dinner with historical savory and sweet delicacies served at the event. The venue is a restaurant with liquor licenses, so please do not bring your own alcoholic beverages.

GAMES

In between the dances we have a chance to play some historical board or card games. Do you have old-fashioned playing cards, Dominoes, Cuccu cards, or a Biribi board? We hope that participants who own any period games would bring them to the ball! This is not necessary in case you are an international guest.

REGISTRATION

Registration opens on Tuesday 19 August at 12 noon.

REGISTRATION HERE

We recommend getting a ticket as early as possible, as the event seats 45 people. Places will be filled in the order of registration.

The last day for registration is 5 October 2025. If the maximum number of participants is reached before this, we will close the registration in advance.

If you’d like to join our society, the instructions for joining can be found here.

PARTICIPATION FEE

Members of Société Helsinki ry and our partner associations 75 €/person

Others 85 €/person

Minors (with a guardian or with their permission)* 55 €/person

The fee will cover:

- the ticket

- cold buffet dinner

- other activities at the event

The participation fee must be paid at the time of registration. You will receive an invoice for the participation fee as a pdf attachment to your e-mail. Please note that your registration will not take effect until we have received your participation fee.

*Note: The event is not recommended for younger children. Older minors may participate under the responsibility of a guardian, either in the company of the guardian or with their written consent.

TERMS OF CANCELLATION

Participation fees will not be refunded. If necessary, the participant can sell their ticket forward. In this case, you should contact the organizer. The organizer can cancel the ball in the event of force majeure, in which case the participation fees will be refunded. The same applies if not enough tickets are sold to host the event.

FILMING AND TAKING PHOTOS

There is a photographer at the event part of the time. We hope that if you want to take pictures of yourself or your friends, you will do so discreetly and without disturbing others.

ACCOMMODATION

Event participants can book accommodation at a reduced price at the following locations:

Rauhalahti Manor

https://www.rauhalahdenkartano.fi/

At Rauhalahti Manor, there only a few rooms available. Event guests will receive a discount.

Available only a suite at the moment (2+1 person), discounted price 225 €.

Resevations for the event only by phone. +358 45 316 2133 

Majoituskeskus Rauhalahti

https://visitrauhalahti.fi/en/

Villa 4 + 2 persons (2 villas available)

A villa with two bedrooms, a combined kitchen and living room, fireplace, sauna and a bathroom. Possibility for two extra beds.

Bed linen, towels and wood for the fireplace are included in the price. Check-in at 15.00 and check-out at 12.00. 

Special price 379,44 € / villa / from Fri 31.10. to Sun 2.11.2025.

Cabin 2 + 1 persons (2 available)

2+1 persons log cabin includes sleeping arrangements for two people in a sleeping alcove, as well as a pull-out sofa bed (bed width 120 cm), a combined living room and kitchenette, a bathroom, and a terrace.

Bed linen and towels are included in the price.

Check-in 4 pm and Check-out 12 pm

Special price 251,10 € / cabin from Fri 31.10. to Sun 2.11.2025.

Reservations via email or by phone - mention Kuopio 250 v. tanssiaiset. The cabins are available at this price until 30.9.2025.

Hotel Savonia 

https://www.hotelsavonia.fi/

Single room 83€/night

Double room 93€/night

Breakfast and parking is included.

When booking, mention the code "societe". Rooms can be booked at this price up to 24 October.

NOTE! The last bus to get from the manor to Hotel Savonia leaves at 11:17 p.m. There is a possibility to take part in the joint transport at 2 a.m. if there are enough participants (price 10€). Preliminary enrollment for the joint transport on the registration form.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you have any questions, you can contact us via email info[at]societehelsinki.fi or Facebook Messenger!