Celebrate mid-winter with Heikinpäivä dances, parade, Tori, family fun

The bears that "roll over" in mid-winter lead the 2010 Heikinpäivä Parade on Quincy Street in Hancock. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

HANCOCK -- Heikinpäivä events continue this week with events for the whole family this weekend. Here are some highlights:

Thursday, Jan. 27: MTU MUB Commons, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. FREE dance lessons: Finnish Tango and Humppa, taught by Ralph Tuttila from St. Paul, Minn. Sponsored by the MTU Social Dance Club.

Friday, Jan. 28: "Karhun Tanssi" at Michigan Tech MUB ballroom. Dance lessons 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. ($3 for the public) by Ralph Tuttila: Schottische and more, Finnish Tango. The dance (only $5 --note change from previously listed price) will start at 8 p.m. and will go to 11 p.m. Music by the PasiCats. Sponsored by the MTU Social Dance Club.

Note: Pasi Cats will also play from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tori (Finnish-American Heritage Center) on Saturday, Jan. 29 (FREE).

Saturday, Jan. 29:

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- Tori Market, Finnish American Heritage Center and First United Methodist Church. Featuring ethnic crafts, foods and Finnish items.

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Family Fun Day — Vipukelkka - Whipsled, Hancock Middle School lawn.

During the 2010 Heikinpäivä Family Fun Day kids enjoy the whipsled (Vipukelkka) while, in the background, parents and kids learn about the visiting reindeer. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

11 a.m. Parade, downtown Hancock. Line up at BRIDGE School at 10:30 a.m. Prizes.

Immediately following parade -- Boot-throwing and Wife-carrying contests, Hancock Middle School lawn.

1 p.m. -- Snow volleyball and pond hockey, Copper Island Beach Club, Hancock. Call (906) 482-2422. Tournaments continue on Sunday if necessary.

2 p.m. - 4 p.m. -- Closing Reception for "Art from the Kalevala" group exhibit, Community Arts Center, Hancock. Call (906) 482-2333.

Death and Rebirth, by Paul Osmak, is part of the "Art from the Kalevala" group exhibit. (Photo courtesy Community Arts Center)

3 p.m. -- Polar Bear Dive, Hancock waterfront, near Ramada Inn.

6 p.m. -- Seisovapöytä (Finnish buffet), Finlandia Hall, Finlandia University. Silent auction during the banquet.

8 p.m. -- Heikinpäivä Tanssi (Dance) at Finlandia Hall, Finlandia University, following the banquet. Music by Wilho Kilpela and Friends. ($5, or dance free with banquet ticket.)

Click here for the complete Heikinpäivä 2011 Schedule.

Editor's Note: For more photos of last year's Heikinpäivä events, see our January 2010 slide show.