Hundreds queue for National Opera flea market during Night of the Arts
A queue stretching over 100 meters formed outside the Helsinki Opera House on Thursday afternoon as crowds gathered for a flea market selling old performance costumes and props. The line, which began near Töölönlahti Bay, wound around the building and nearly reached Mannerheimintie by 5 PM, with some attendees waiting for over an hour to enter (Iltalehti; Ilta-Sanomat).
The flea market, held in the Opera House’s costume storage, was part of the Night of the Arts event taking place across Helsinki. The National Opera and Ballet described the sale as "extremely popular" on its website, a claim supported by the lengthy queue (Iltalehti). Items on offer included starfish and horse costumes—some designed for two people—as well as dresses, capes, jackets, and props like headpieces, according to the organization’s Instagram Stories (Iltalehti; Ilta-Sanomat).
Despite slightly cool weather, enthusiasm remained high among shoppers. Among those in line were Mari Kaasinen and Karoliina Kantelinen, singers from the band Värttinä, who were searching for performance costumes. The pair, who previously performed in the Kalevala’s Land ballet-opera at the National Opera, found a woolen sweater from their past production, along with affordable pieces for a new Christmas project. "Unbelievable prices!" they remarked, noting that a coat cost just €10 and an embroidered shirt only €1 (Ilta-Sanomat).
Taika Vuorinen, who is preparing a theater performance, waited over an hour to browse costumes for their production. The flea market, open until 8 PM, attracted buyers seeking unique and budget-friendly items for creative projects (Ilta-Sanomat).
