volunteer

Sign up to volunteer with Jyväskylän Kesä!

We are looking for hardworking and enthusiastic volunteers to join Jyväskylän Kesä, the oldest continuously running cultural event in the Nordic countries. Next summer’s festival will take place July 1–7, 2026, with the theme of wisdom. The multidisciplinary program includes theater, concerts, dance, films, discussions, workshops, and the Puistojuhlat park festival. So sign up for one of the most exciting event weeks of the summer!

You can find the link to the registration form at the end of this page.

Festival environment

Our team is large, happy, and diverse. We have over a hundred colleagues in total during festival season, so to ensure the festival's success, it's important to work harmoniously and pull together. It's important to us that everyone can be themselves and work safely and with good cheer.

Volunteers will receive volunteer and safety guides via email, which contain all the practical information they need to work at Jyväskylän Kesä. In addition, we’ll hold an info session for volunteers in late June, where we’ll go over the job descriptions in more detail. You’ll also have the support of other staff members throughout the festival.

There are several venues at Jyväskylän Kesä. All festival volunteers are insured for the duration of the event.

Benefits of Jyväskylä Summer for volunteers

The success of the festival week largely depends on the valuable work of our volunteer staff. For our volunteers, we offer the following benefits:

• The Jyväskylän Kesä T-shirt – the symbol of our team and our event.
• Personal STAFF pass allowing you to attend performances even outside your shifts.
• Warm restaurant food on weekdays.
• Break time with snacks.
• Thank you for the evening party including refreshments and entertainment.
• Upon request, you will receive a certificate of your volunteer work.

volunteer tasks

When the festival week kicks off, we'll have a massive amount of events and festival-goers in our hands. Therefore, we require you to have a brisk approach and commitment to your task. We hope you can work throughout the festival week. The amount and daily duration of volunteer work will depend on the number of hours you request on the registration form, as well as the task assigned to you.

TRANSPORTATION

Your task is to transport various goods and personnel before, during, and after the festival. You will be working as part of a transportation team. Your duties may also include festival setup and dismantling work. Appropriate gear is recommended for the job; we will provide a vehicle. The position requires a B driver's license and motivation to follow traffic rules and regulations.

Stagehand

Stagehand duties generally involve constructing and dismantling the stage, and providing technical support. Tasks often include installing and testing equipment, such as lighting and sound systems, setting up and taking down stage sets, and assisting performers and other crew members with moving equipment. You assist performers and technical staff in moving performance equipment as part of the stage manager's team.

PROMO

The work involves distributing festival posters in the Jyväskylä area before the festival and working in the promotion team during the event weeks. The main work tasks take place before the festival, during May-June.

COMMUNICATION

Assist with communication-related tasks, such as entering event details into event calendars, helping to manage the image library on the Jyväskylän Kesä website, assisting with social media communications, and making minor updates to the website. Communication tasks are carried out as part of the communications team, which includes Jyväskylän Kesä’s communications specialist and communications volunteers. You will need your own technical device for work, such as a phone, tablet, or computer.

LIGHT AND VIDEO RECORDING

Your task is to capture the performers, event attendees, and the overall festival atmosphere through photos or videos. Photography will take place at the Puistojuhlat festival grounds, in its immediate vicinity, and, as needed and when possible, at other Jyväskylän Kesä events as well. You must have your own photography equipment.  

CATERING

You ensure that artists, staff, and volunteers are provided with food and refreshments. Responsibilities include maintaining food service and setting up food supplies.

MERCHANDISE SALES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

Your task is to sell tickets and various festival merchandise at sales points, perform wristband exchanges, or carry out other customer service duties. Ticket sales will take place at the entrance points or other designated locations. 

In addition to the festival entrance, wristband exchange points for the park festival are located at the Kauppakeskus Seppä shopping center and Versonraitti. The Versonraitti point handles the distribution of artist and media passes in addition to wristband exchange. At the cloakroom, you will take care of festival-goers' belongings during the festival. At the information points, you will guide in all festival-related matters.

ANNISKELU

Your task is to sell and serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the park festival's serving area. You must be of legal age to perform this task. A serving pass can be an advantage, but it is not required.

SOMISTUS

Decorating and dismantling the decorations for the Puistojuhlat Southwest Park festival area, together with the festival's decoration manager and the rest of the decoration team. Tasks include assembling the festival area and hanging decorations, as well as any potential craft work before the event.

ROUTING AND CONSTRUCTION

Your task will be to move goods, assemble festival structures, and perform dismantling work as part of the stage crew. Most tasks will take place at Puistojuhlat. Appropriate gear is recommended (safety shoes, gloves, etc., whatever you consider safe attire).

RUNNER

You will handle general errands between the festival office and the outside world, either on foot or by bicycle (for short distances). You will be available at agreed-upon times with short notice. You will mainly be on duty in the volunteer break room or in Lounaispuisto during your assigned work hours. A significant portion of the tasks will take place during Puistojuhlat.

CLEANING AND RECYCLING ADVICE

You are part of the cleaning and recycling team. You may also provide recycling advice to festivalgoers. A significant portion of the tasks will take place at Puistojuhlat, where you will be responsible for the cleanliness of the Lounaispuisto festival area during the event.

ORDER SUPERVISOR

Your duties include customer service, maintaining security, and distributing safety instructions to festival attendees. The position requires a valid security guard card, a customer-oriented attitude, and the ability to perform the duties.

Registration form

Volunteer applications are now open!

You can join our enthusiastic team BY FILLING OUT THIS FORM.

Welcome!

more information

Did anything leave you wondering?

For more information and guidance, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Olivia Sievänen (olivia.sievanen@jyvaskylankesa.fi)..