Polar Night Light Festival

Behind the light installation are Sun Effects, Rukakeskus, and the local tourism association, which brings stunning light art to delight people in the midst of the pitch-black season for the eighth time, from January 10 to February 3, 2025.

You can experience the light artworks best while skiing, snowboarding, from the gondola, or by walking through the village along marked paths. The lights are most visible early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

The event is free of charge, but a spectacular part of the event is located on the ski slopes—mostly the light artworks are situated at Kurus and Eturinteet.
 

Sami Keskikallio: Every Time My Heart

(Front chairlift screen)

 

Artwork description:

First there is breathing and pulse, swinging of emotions and thoughts. Rhythm and movement blend into each other. A pulsating flow of colors and abstract elements. This is an unstory. Breathe and feel.

Bio:

Sami Keskikallio is a media artist living in Haparanda who works with video, abstract animation, sound and music. At the moment his interests lie in studying the mysterious dialogue
and emotions between concrete and abstract expression. Inspiration for this quest comes especially from experimental dance and body movement as an art form in general.

Merle Karp: Nature as Magic

(Piste screen)

Artwork description:
The beauty of the forest’s plants, mounds, stumps, and flowers is unveiled in video portraits that invite the viewer to imagine nearby nature as more magical than it often appears. What if every flower had its own fairy, and each mossy stump were the home of a gnome?
Through this work, the artist seeks to explore her enchanting relationship with nature, inspired by childhood fairy tales and mythological stories.
Sound design: Leo Pahta

Bio:

Merle Karp is a Helsinki-based video artist, visual designer and VJ, also known as Folded Visuals. She is the artistic director and one of the co-founders of Aavistus Festival. In her works, she often explores the relationship with nature and the tensions between humans and technology.

There is plenty to see and experience in the fells in addition to the Polar Night Light Festival. You can explore the following options:
 

PNLF Torchlight Ski Parade on Fridays

All skiers with a lift pass are welcome to Torchlight Ski Parade during the Polar Night Light Festival, every Friday at 7 PM at the Kuru slope.

The torches will be placed half way of Kururinne slope, where skiers can pick them up and return them to the bottom of the slope after their run. See details here.

Night skiing on Fridays

There’s nothing dark about it when you feel like hitting the slopes at night. At Ruka, you can ski under the glow of lights during night skiing on Fridays from 7 PM to 11 PM. Learn more about night skiing.

BASE Eat&Heat x PNLF

• Polar Night Light portion: a delicious seasonal beetroot risotto that glows in the colors of festival
• Colorful filled festival donuts
• Try our Polar Kiss Festival -drink, which brings the northern flavors directly to your lips
• Relax in the heat of the sauna and enjoy our illuminated pool, which glow in the theme of the festival. Two-hour sauna session + outdoor pools 19€. 

See you at the top!

Snow racing in the slopes

You can enjoy snow racing on Ruka's slopes in the evenings from Thursday to Saturday from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM after the slopes have closed to skiers. Read more about snow racing.

Feeding the Reindeer and Other Ruka slope activities

You can get up close and personal with Rudolph and his friends weekly in collaboration with the Ruka Ski School. Check out all the winter slope activities here.

Pond hockey at Kaltiolampi Lake

What would winter be without ice hockey? Come see what Europe’s largest yet most relaxed ice hockey tournament from January 16-18, 2025 looks like at Kaltiolampi Lake in vibrant lights. 
 

We will update more program and activity recommendations closer to the lighting of the lights.