In September, we will present what everyday life, work and community activities are like in the countryside. On Saturday, September 13, 2025, nine municipalities in Northern Satakunta and Northwest Pirkanmaa invite all residents, associations and companies to join us in making visible what living in the countryside is at its best – everyday, authentic and, in its own way, incredibly wonderful.

The Wonderfully Horrible Countryside Living event day will be held simultaneously In Ikaali, Jämijärvi, Kankaanpää, Karvia, Kihniö, Merikarviain, Parkano, Pomarkku and SiikainenThe aim of the event is to introduce life in one's own municipality to both current residents and those who dream of living in the countryside.

The Ihana kamala maesutu -living event day not only tells, but also shows how vibrant and unique rural municipalities are. It opens doors, windows and yards - and invites you to see what everyday life can be like here. During the day, those who dream of living in the countryside will get a taste of what life is really like in these municipalities. At the same time, locals will also get to know the opportunities in their own area - perhaps a new hobby, activities at the local school or an interesting apartment.

This is a joint call from municipalities – and you are an important part of it.

The event is organized by the participating municipalities, and the Networking Attraction cooperation project is responsible for organizing it. Now the municipalities hope that local residents, entrepreneurs and associations will showcase the best aspects of their services and the community.

Our everyday life in the countryside consists of diverse recreational opportunities created by associations and local experiences and services offered by companies. In the countryside, neighbors are known and people come over for a cup of coffee to exchange news with a low threshold. We want to show all of this to those dreaming of change in the countryside. Would you keep your doors open in your company and could you try out your services with a pop-up theme? What about organizing an excursion to a lean-to in a nature destination with the help of an association, sports trials in sports facilities or a pop-up café at the village hall? Or would you perhaps like to make pot coffees and tell about your life in the countryside as a local?

This is an opportunity to show your home municipality as it is – vibrant, hospitable and unique. What is everyday life for us can be an experience for a city dweller. Now let's attract new residents together!

Every municipality on the map – literally

All event locations will be compiled on a common digital event map, which will be published on the website and widely marketed. It will allow visitors to build their own route and explore different municipalities. Municipalities are fully involved. Every locality wants to be prominently featured – and now we need you to make your municipality shine on the map.

Please include your event location.

You can report your score using the website form at: https://ihanakamalamaaseutu.fi/tapahtumapaiva
Include a short description and a few photos if possible. Give your spot a descriptive name and come up with a program for it – and we'll take care of the visibility.

The event will be jointly marketed on social media via the @ihanakamalaaaseutu accounts and on the website. Publications related to the event day can be linked to the @ihanakamalaaaseutu account so that we can highlight these on a common channel.

More information about the project

The Wonderful, Horrible Countryside Living event day is being implemented as part of the Network for Attraction collaboration project managed by Leader Northern Satakunta, which aims to lower the threshold for moving to the country.

The project is a joint rural vitality development project of nine municipalities and is co-financed by the European Union's Rural Development Fund.
The project period is January 1, 2024–June 30, 2026.

More information about upcoming housing experiments on the website ihanakamalaamaaseutu.fi and on Instagram @ihanakamalaaaseutu

Contact persons

Project Manager Noora-Mari Syväluoma
Leader North Satakunta, Networking for Attraction - cooperation project
noora-mari.syvaluoma@kankaanpaa.fi
040 190 9440

Project coordinator Noora Elonen
Leader North Satakunta, Networking for Attraction - cooperation project
noora.elonen@kankaanpaa.fi
040 577 1300