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THE INTERNATIONAL ACCORDION MUSIC FESTIVAL
Ikaalinen has a strong musical tradition. The Museum of Musical Instruments and the School for Instrument Construction operate in Ikaalinen, and serve as an excellent introduction into the musical world of the area. The International Sata-Häme Music Festival is one of the most prominent music events in Finland. The festival lasts seven days in the beginning of July, and gives you a splendid opportunity to hear tunes of genuine Finnish accordion music and light entertainment music from jazz to tango. The heart of the festival is the accordion, also called the national instrument of Finland. Also open-air concerts and folk dance performances stand in the program. An essential part of the festival are the national accordionist and other folk music competitions. Fitly, Ikaalinen is the central of the International Accordionist Association.

THE POPULAR SPA RESORT
The first spa facilities were established in Ikaalinen in the 19th century. Today, the Ikaalinen Spa on the lakeshore of the pictoresque Lake Kyrösjärvi close to the town center, is the biggest multipurpose spa in the Nordic Countries. There are two modern therapy departments where you can have relaxing and beneficial treatments. The big crowd puller is the Water Park where you can enjoy the tropical warmth, bathe in the pools with whirls, swirls and showers, and relax in the herbal steams of the Finnish Sauna or the Turkish Sauna.

During summertime there is a boat service to the Spa from the town center. In connection with the Spa, there are five hotels with altogether over 400 comfortable rooms available for visitors, several restaurants and bars, a pub-pizzeria and cafeterias. The conference facilities include alternatives from intimate rooms for small groups to large halls for up to 500 people. The Ikaalinen Spa has also jogging tracks, tennis and squash courts, a bowling hall, a golf training course, surfing, a slalom slope and cross-country tracks.