At first the chief aim of the association was to attend to the interests of Karelians who had lost their homes in issues of resettlement and compensation. After the resolution of these economic issues in the beginning of the 1960s, the association shifted its emphasis to the preservation of the Karelian cultural heritage. 

The Karelian League arranges a host of activities for example in handicraft, sports, music, theatre, folk dancing and travel. These activities culminate annually in the Karelian Festivities, which gathers more than 10 000 people to attend seminars, processions, concerts and folk dancing and other activities throughout Finland.