Heikinpaiva comes to the Copper Country

Now that Heikki Lunta has brought winter back to the Copper Country, it’s almost time for the Finnish winter celebration of Heikinpaiva.  The annual Heikinpaiva celebration takes place this weekend.

Heikinpaiva marks the traditional midwinter point and literally means “Hank’s Day” in Finnish.

The festival was created by Finnish–Americans in the Copper Country and includes a magnificent parade, an expansive Tori, and great family fun.  To kickoff the event, a Finnish dance and Finnfest U.S.A. 2013 fundraiser called the “Finnfest Fling” takes place Friday night.  The event will be held at the Brownstone Hall in Atlantic Mine starting at 6 p.m.

The parade starts in Hancock Saturday Morning at 11 a.m., and will once again feature the character scavenger hunt and the world’s largest kicksled.

Kivajat dancers, a children’s Finnish folk dance group, have been preparing a special Finnfest Float that will debut during the parade.

Everyone is encouraged to show up with Nordic walking poles to walk in the parade, to get ready to try and set a new record for the most people simultaneously walking with Nordic sticks in June