Welcome to “Quietchella,” where wind, moss, and moths are the headliners, good old-fashioned peace and quiet are the supporting acts, and tickets are open to anyone ready to slow down and leave no trace.
The inaugural festival in Finland, officially called Hiljaa Fest (translating to “Quietly Fest”), opened Saturday in Valkmusa National Park, about a 90-minute drive east of Helsinki. It bills itself as not only the “world’s quietest festival” but also the first Festival of Nature Listening.
Although there’s no official “lineup,” the park is home to 40 types of mire (wetland) habitats, myriad bird and butterfly species, and wooden boardwalk trails — i.e., plenty of opportunities to hear crackles, creaks, tweets, and whistles. “Every performer appears on their own terms, in their own habitat, and according to their own schedule,” the playful festival announcement reads.
Running through the end of October, Hiljaa Fest is a way for visitors to explore the park with a new perspective. Four “stages” each offer a unique experience: Räme Stage, near the entrance, is the festival’s aromatic opening area, with twisted pine trees and fragrant Labrador tea plants. Neva Stage (“the main stage”) boasts colorful cranberries, cloudberries, peat moss, and sundew — a tiny carnivorous plant.
Sundew
At Simonsaari Stage, an elevated section overlooking the entire grounds, birdwatchers can listen to their favorite kind of singers. Black grouses and common cranes fly overhead while a small lizard species may be spotted sunbathing. Headlining at the final area, Moronvuori Korpisuo Stage, are the park’s rocky Moronvuori Cliffs.
“Valkmusa’s beauty can be found in its small details: how the wind whispers, how the moss faintly rustles, how the birds sing to you. We have planned the first-ever Festival of Nature Listening so that visitors get to tour the national park and really listen to the music nature creates,” said creative director and wilderness guide Simo Peri. “It is a festival trip designed to nurture one’s soul and one’s mind.”
RELATED: 16 Heartwarming Words and Phrases That Don’t Have an English Equivalent
Share to:
