Hurmos is the joint academic year opening celebration organized by the student unions of the University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences and the Diaconia University of Applied Sciences.
By working together, they’ve managed to organize a large event featuring well-known artists. The festival is held at the Kuusisaari Recreation Park.
Mouhous, Etta and Isac Elliot drove the crowd wild on the main stage, while talented student bands Aamun Kuningatar and Postvision captivated their audience with a more rock-inspired vibe at the smaller Hurmos Stage.
The event’s hosts were the charming Drag Duo: Carrie & Aurora the Queen of Stars. The stylish duo took on the Hurmos Stage in the early evening to show how to put on a proper show. Their performance was filled with energy and excitement, featuring familiar characters such as Ellinoora and Käärijä.
The city’s official greeting was given by Oulu’s Director of Communications, Events and Marketing, Mikko Salmi. Salmi highlighted that Oulu is the 13th happiest city in the world.
Ranking cities by happiness is at the very least a bit peculiar, but at least we know how to throw good student parties!
At the stands, various student organizations shared information on their activities and engaged in friendly chats with students. A few stands offered snacks to ensure that the partygoers had enough energy to last until the end.
At the Student Union stand, Manta Mankinen, Eveliina Tiusanen and Vilma Sippola mentioned that they also serve as a small information desk for the event.
“The most important thing is that we’re here for the students. Many want to talk to us about their studies and sometimes about student advocacy.”
In the early evening, the crowds consist mostly of small groups of first-year students. The more seasoned students are still at their pre-parties and usually arrive at the scene once the event really gets going.
There’s a shared excitement about kicking off the new academic year with a celebration. People have come to dance, to have fun and to meet old and new friends.
No one really thinks that the performers are the event’s main attraction; they’re simply a welcome addition to the party. The consensus seems to be the same as at Qstock: meeting friends is the most important thing.
Qstock sells out every year, and even though the headliners canceled their performances the past few years, no one really seemed to mind. Maybe the secret to happiness in Oulu is the sense of community.
But music does have significance; it moves people. Mouhous, Etta and Isac Elliot drew a crowd of partygoers to the front of the stage. A bit further back, people had more room to dance more freely with friends. Needless to say, there were also fans of the artists’ in attendance.
ITE students Kyösti Kiljala, Jere Metsävainio, Elias Rekilä and Valtteri Määttä have come for the friends and the company.
“The artists themselves don’t really interest me at all, I mostly listen to metal music,” Metsävainio says, and the others agree.
As night falls over the festival, the area fills with colorful overalls, loud echoes of sing-alongs led by the artists and celebratory crowds of students. Though the largest crowds can be found partying at the front of the stages, all around the area you can see the cheerful faces of people enjoying drinks, food and other activities.
OYY’s event producer Katri Jämsä says that she’s happy with the overall atmosphere of the evening and the development ideas they’ve implemented this year. According to the partygoers, a new layout of the festival area and three headliners have brought more of a festival feel to the event. “We’re developing the event every year. We’ve listened to feedback and responded to it the best we can,” Jämsä says.
Check out the Hurmos photo galleries here and here.
Translation by Anna Tiira. Photo galleries by Miia Torro and Tuuli Heikura.
