Finnish sauna for Yarmouth shoppers

Victoria Nicholls

Shoppers wandering through Yarmouth market place for their weekly groceries may be forgiven for doing a double-take when they catch a glimpse of what appears to be a garden shed with steamed-up windows.

One of the quirkier sights of the town's Out There arts festival, this traditional Finnish sauna will entice shivering shoppers in by beaming out images of wintertime in Finland, while a wood-burning stove will fire up the temperature inside.

Open to the public from Friday to Sunday, the sauna is the creation of Finnish sculptor Kari-Petteri Kakko, who wants people to indulge in some relaxation, at the same time as learning about his country's customs. “It's a bit of fun,” he said. “It's also a way of spreading the Finnish culture - it's very much a way of life. People have been born and died in saunas - up to about 100 years ago women used to give birth in saunas. When people arrive in a new place to build a home, the first thing they build is a sauna.”

Mr Kakko, who uses his own electrically-heated sauna nearly every day, said: “It's a really good way to end the day - it can be for spiritual cleansing or physical relaxation.”

He added: “In Finland we usually get naked, although when we don't know each other, men and women use separate sections.”

Shoppers will be relieved to hear that anyone wishing to use the 10-person sauna is asked to stay covered up with a swimming costume.

Young people at the Yard project in Lowestoft are putting the finishing touches to the sauna, which is being made out of recycled wood. Ricky-Lee Hibbert, who is working on the project with Scott Busby, who are both 16, said: “It's something different. I don't think people will expect to see something like this in Great Yarmouth.”

The SeaChange Arts charity's £180,000 Out There festival boasts comedians, street artists and musicians who will transform the town centre into an international festival arena. It started on Saturday and runs until Sunday.