Finn Fun Day to be held Saturday

MARQUETTE — The eighth annual Finn Fun Day will take place on Saturday at the Negaunee Township Hall, 42 M-35, starting at 11 a.m. and continuing until 4 p.m.

All are welcome, there is plenty of parking, and there is no admission charge. Food will be served and entertainment will happen during the entire day-long event.

The Opening Ceremony at 11 a.m. begins Finn Fun Day with words of welcome by League of Finnish-American Societies president Ron Hill. Tanja Stanaway will lead the singing of the American and Finnish national anthems, accompanied by Pauline Kiltinen on keyboard.

Entertainment follows, starting with the Midsummer Strings at 11:30 a.m. This is a group of violin players, Maija Savolainen Niemi, Marianne Saarivirta Kolpack, and Seija Alasimi Kenn and their children.

At noon Tanja Stanaway will sing, accompanying herself on guitar.

At 1 p.m. the Finnish National Dress Review will take place, narrated by Boli Soderberg. National Finnish outfits will be modeled by men, women and children, with brief descriptions of the clothing worn.

Joanna Chopp, archivist for the Finnish American Heritage Center at Finlandia University, will speak to the Finn Fun Day crowd at 2 p.m. Many from the Upper Peninsula and beyond have donated items of all kinds to the Finnish archives. Joanna will also bring greetings from James Kurtti, Honorary Finnish Consul for the Upper Peninsula.

Music with Ken Holster on banjo and Tanja Stanaway on accordion will take place at 2:30 p.m.

Wiljo Kilpela will play his accordion with music for dancing and listening from 3 p.m. until the end of Finn Fun Day at 4 p.m.

Additional entertainment could be added to the schedule. Call 226-7085 to volunteer yourself, your group, or someone you know who plays Finnish music.

Six vendors this year will staff the “tori” (market) which will be open all day long. Among the booths on Finn Fun Day are Tanja Stanaway’s Heart to Finland, and Janet Wisuri’s Home Baked Goods.

Aaren Joki’s woodworking art, Metsami Creations, will also be sold at the festival. Knit clothing from Estonia, called Baltic Inspirations, will be there, along with Jackie Bessner and her collection of jewelry. Anna Leppanen and Megan Packmayer of Finn Sight will sell ther Finnish greeting cards and recipes.

Gloria Alexander will be available for assistance with researching genealogy.

All people attending Finn Fun Day will have the opportunity to sign the Centennial Greeting Card for Finland, designed by John Kiltinen, which will be taken to Finland this fall in time for the 100th birthday celebration on Dec. 6.

The White Elephant Table could use items. Bring items, pre-priced at low prices, to the Negaunee Township Hall by 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25 or by 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. No clothing, please.

A 50/50 drawing will be held twice during the day.

Coffee and “pulla” (cardamom-flavored coffee bread) along with assorted bars and cookies will be available all day long at the kitchen window. In addition, lunch foods will also be available throughout the day, served by Steven Perry of UP Dogs.

Finn Fun Day is sponsored by the League of Finnish American Societies UP Chapter Finlandia Foundation Affiliate. Memberships can be purchased on site.

For more information on Finn Fun Day, call 906-226-7085.