Flow Festival FIN

One of Europe’s most acclaimed music and arts festivals

Client since 2004

Flow is an urban festival known for its unique atmosphere and A-list lineups. Sun Effects designs and produces the festival’s recognisable area lighting and selected stages.

Design scope

Festival area lighting · Selected stages (stage, lights & video)

Design objectives

To foster Flow’s unique atmosphere while surprising returning audiences every year.

Held on a former industrial site in the heart of Helsinki, Flow has a strong identity of its own. The client wants the festival grounds to feel distinctive and memorable, with a focus on strengthening the brand, shaping its image and enhancing the attendee experience.

Sun Effects design concept

Creating a magical and cosy atmosphere in the dark August nights while keeping the massive festival area safe.

Sun Effects plays a major role in creating the Flow atmosphere. Our work extends across the entire site through the area lighting, making it feel cohesive wherever you go. Recognisable Flow elements are bulbs, gobo projections, rainbow colours and innovative use of surrounding architectural structures. We’re also taking care of the Black Tent end to end: from stage and lighting, to sound and video. Additionally, we handle the lighting design and setup for Garden and Backyard.

The Flow design process begins in February or March and is completed by the end of July.

Client Flow Festival Country Finland Attendees 92,000 Venue Suvilahti, Helsinki Venue Area 119,000 m² (1,280,905 ft²)

Elevated dusk view of the Flow Festival grounds on the former Suvilahti power-plant site in Helsinki, with stages and colourful lighting across the area
Festival-goer filming on a phone under green beam lighting and warm bokeh lights at Flow Festival
Crowd outside Flow Festival’s tent stage at dusk, lit pink and strung with warm festoon lights beside the industrial buildings
Flow Festival main stage lit in purple and blue at dusk, with the old power-plant chimney behind a large crowd
Night lounge area at Flow Festival with deck chairs, blue bulb-lit trees and a rainbow-lit doorway on an industrial building
Colourful neon wireframe sculptures and rainbow gobo projections lighting a walkway at Flow Festival at night
Blue laser beams over the industrial gasometer frame at night at Flow Festival, with warm-lit bars and a crowd below
Flow Festival’s ‘FLOW’ lettering installation against red vertical strips beside the blue-lit gasometer at night
Interior of Flow Festival’s large tent stage lit teal along the roof beams, with a lighting rig above a dense crowd
White neon tube sculptures glowing in front of red-lit cube structures at Flow Festival at night
Illuminated ‘BLACK’ sign of Flow Festival’s Black Tent stage lit blue with beams over the crowd
Large glowing pink dome installation among the trees at Flow Festival at night, ringed with warm bulb lights
Concert stage at Flow Festival lit in pink and red, with screens showing the performer, beams of light and red discs on the ceiling above a packed crowd
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