While most festivals come with big-name performers and crowds of screaming fans, a new event taking place in Finland next month is offering something rather different.

When Hiljaa Fest makes its debut on October 10, the headline acts will include things like the wind, local birdlife, water and even the faint rustle of bog moss.

Billed as the “world’s first festival of nature listening” — and playfully dubbed “Quietchella” by its organisers — the free event will take place in the Valkmusa National Park in south-eastern Finland.

Instead of musicians taking to the stage, Hiljaa Fest will feature sounds from nature, with some performers guaranteed to make an appearance, while others — particularly the local birdlife — set to perform entirely on their own terms.

The idea is to encourage visitors to slow down and experience the national park with all their senses, paying attention to the small details that can easily go unnoticed.

The festival feels particularly well suited to a place like Valkmusa. Located about a 90-minute drive east of Helsinki, the national park protects an extensive natural mire landscape that is relatively rare in southern Finland. It is home to about 40 different mire habitats and diverse birdlife, with boardwalk trails allowing visitors to venture through the wetlands without disturbing the delicate environment.

Those visiting in October will also get to see Finland’s autumn colours unfold, as the surrounding landscape shifts into shades of red, orange and gold.

And, unlike other events, it doesn’t matter if you miss the opening of this festival. After its official launch on October 10, Hiljaa Fest will continue throughout autumn as a free, unguided experience, allowing visitors to follow Valkmusa’s trails and discover its natural line-up at their own pace.

Just don’t expect an encore on demand . . . as the organisers point out, nature cannot be rushed.