St Mary's Day, known locally as Marianpäivät or Heahttá Márjjábeaivvit, is one of the best times to see Hetta as more than a trailhead. The late-March gathering brings Sámi families, music, handicrafts, church events, and reindeer competitions into the village.
It is not staged only for visitors, which is exactly why it is worth timing for if you can. Expect a northern village festival rather than a slick show: people come to meet, trade, listen, compete, and keep an old seasonal gathering alive.