Kaustinen Folk Music Festival
After being included in the UNECSO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, interest towards Kaustinen fiddle playing has increased.
Kaustinen Folk Music Festival has been organised since the year 1968. An important part of the programme are local folk musicians, who are the main attraction of visitors throughout the years. An indication of the popularity of local folk music from Kaustinen is the fact that the amount of folk musicians, spelmans, has increased in recent years.
A significant step in preserving this tradition was the inclusion of Kaustinen fiddle playing into the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021. The inclusion was preceded by thorough preparation, and as a result, both domestic and international interest towards this form of music has increased, according to the head of the Finnish Folk Music Institute, Matti Hakamäki.
Kaustinen fiddle playing is a form of music spanning 250 years and includes hundreds of different tunes. The tunes are played in both private and public events, including the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. This year, the festival is held between 10.-16.07.2023.
