Article categories: News
Are you looking for friendship or longing to belong? Discover Vaasa’s meeting places and events for Valentine’s Week
Published: 29.1.2026
Sometimes people lose touch with each other and find their circle of friends getting smaller. This may be due to moving to a new town, giving up a hobby, ending a relationship, having children, or simply having a smaller social circle as we get older. Vaasa celebrates Valentine’s Day with a series of events where you can meet people and enjoy spending time with others.
Making new friends as an adult isn’t always easy, and getting to know people can take time. However, social connections are an important part of our wellbeing, and we all have an innate need to belong. Some people are happy with just one or two close friends, while others would like a larger circle of friends. If your social circle does not match your needs, you may feel lonely.
Valentine’s Week events in Vaasa
In Finland, Valentine’s Day is first and foremost a celebration of friendship. Valentine’s Week in Vaasa is full of events for everyone. Come along, meet new people, and enjoy spending time together!
- Tue 10 Feb at 17–19 Valentine’s Evening Family Café at Perhetalo Myötätuuli
- Wed 11 Feb at 13–19 Valentine’s Sneak Peek at Mahis (including Open Stage at 16 and Speed Friending at 17.30)
- Thu 12 Feb at 13 Valentine’s Week Disco – Cultural Thursday 65+ in the Draama Room at the Main Library
- Thu 12 Feb at 12–15 Valentine’s Week card workshop & coffee break, Finnish Red Cross SPR, the Finnish SPR branch in Vaasa
In addition, various events will be organised at Settlement Vestis in Gerby and Kyläkeskus in Ristinummi. A display of books about friendship is on show in the Main Library’s downstairs lobby throughout February. Find all the events in the City of Vaasa’s Event Calendar at https://www.vaasa.fi/en/events/.
Meeting places
Meeting places are locations where you can spend time with other people. We have gathered information on meeting places, public living rooms, groups, and friendship activities on a single page at https://www.vaasa.fi/en/living/freetime/meeting-places/.
Examples of meeting places:
- Friendship Apps – How to make friends as an adult?
- The Finnish Red Cross friendship activities – connecting volunteers with people who are seeking companionship
- Culture Companion – enjoy Vaasa’s cultural offerings with a volunteer companion
- Side by Side Café for people of all ages at Setlementti Vestis
- A community café at the Settlement Centre in Palosaari
- A conversation club for the lonely at the Settlement Centre in Palosaari
- Conversation club ‘Viriilit huru-ukot’ (Virile old geezers) for men at the Settlement Centre in Palosaari
- Mothers and Children Lounge – meet mothers from different cultural backgrounds while the children play together, at Malmöntalo, MLL Mannerheim League for Child Welfare Ostrobothnia
- Remote and hybrid groups for LGBTQ+ seniors
Self-help programme for loneliness
If you have been feeling lonely for some time and would like closer, more trusting relationships, take a look at the self-help programme for loneliness at: https://www.mielenterveystalo.fi/fi/omahoito/yksinaisyyden-omahoito-ohjelma (in Finnish and Swedish). The programme offers tools and practical plans to help alleviate loneliness.
Friends are often found through activities and interests, such as hobbies or volunteering. So, don’t hesitate to get involved. We hope you’ll take the step to join in and meet new friends!
Remember to be a friend to yourself as well. Sometimes, it can help to think of yourself as a friend and to reflect on whether you treat yourself with the same kindness and compassion as you would a friend.