Finlandia to celebrate Finnish Independence, honor FinnFest USA volunteers Dec. 6

The Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock will be the scene of a Finnish Independence Day celebration from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. The Center now has a new dance floor. Check it out and dance to the music of Wil Kilpela and Friends! This photo, taken last summer at the time of FinnFest USA 2013, includes the giant chairs, labeled Äiti (Mother) and Isä (Father), on display during the festival. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- Every year since Finland became independent in 1917, Finlandia University has celebrated this achievement. They’re doing so again this year and honoring the folks who made the area’s most Finnish event possible.

The public is invited to a celebration of Finland’s independence from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, at Finlandia's Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC). This event will also honor the countless donors and volunteers who made FinnFest USA 2013 an event the Copper Country -- and thousands of guests -- will remember for decades to come.

The event is free and open to the public. It will feature refreshments, door prizes, dancing to the music of Wil Kilpela and Friends, and the reenactment of some of your favorite scenes from FinnFest’s opening ceremony.

At 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, the FAHC will host a screening of the new film Red Metal: The Copper Country Strike of 1913, a documentary that commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Italian Hall tragedy and the copper miners' strike that took place in the Copper Country a century ago.

The film is about one hour long. Afterward, some of the people featured in the film -- including author Steve Lehto and FAHC Director Jim Kurtti -- will be on hand for a discussion.*

The film screening is free and open to the public; donations are appreciated. All proceeds from this event will support the Finnish American Heritage Center and Historical Archive at Finlandia University.

For information about either or both events, call the Finnish American Heritage Center at (906) 487-7302 or (906) 487-7549.

*Editor's Note: Read more about the documentary Red Metal: The Copper Country Strike of 1913 and see a trailer of the film in our Dec. 3 article about the premiere screenings of the film.