Kiikoinen
In addition to the Purpurit event, key attractions in Kiikoinen include the Kiikoinen Summer Theatre and the Myllymäki Tenant Farmer’s Museum. Visitors are also encouraged to explore the Polvijärvi Museum displaying various artefacts, Kiikoinen Church and the well-maintained churchyard, as well as the Rajalahti recreation area by Lake Kiikoisjärvi. Also worth a visit is the idyllic “Lilac Village” of Jaara that is being regenerated with a project called Jaaran raitti (“Jaara High Street”).
The Kiikoinen area has become familiar to many thanks to the Kiikoinen ABC service station at the intersection of Highway 11 and Main Road 44. From ABC, you can, for example, begin your journey into Kiikoinen’s folk dance tradition or head out to the “Kuasman Kiäppi” hiking trail starting a few kilometres away. In the future, it is also possible to follow the local life and purchase some regional products at the market area that will be built on the location.
KIIKOINEN
Located in Kiikoinen, the village of Jaara sits by the River Jaaranjoki teeming with fish. There have been settlements in the area already in the Stone Age, in about 2000 BC. The name Jaara (wether) is a primitive name based on society and religion. The old-age artisan village has retained its village-like atmosphere with old wooden houses. Lilacs bordering the High Street have earned the place a nickname “Lilac Village”. Jaara lives vibrantly in the present. Various events are arranged, and people work together for common good, which creates an atmosphere of solidarity among the villagers and those who spend their summer in the area.