Heikinpäivä 2016 to offer parade, races, rides, art, music, dance, more -- Jan. 29-31

Kids line up for a kicksled race during Heikinpäivä 2015. (Keweenaw Now file photos)

HANCOCK -- Whether your favorite Heikinpäivä event is the parade, the wife-carrying contest, Tori shopping and snacks or music and dance, this last week of Hancock's mid-winter festival will offer fun-filled events for the whole family.

Here is the Schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 29-31:

Friday, Jan. 29:

3 p.m. -- Presentation by Consul General Jukka Pietikainen, Jutila Center Chapel, Hancock. Sponsored by the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce - Upper Michigan Chapter.

7 p.m. -- Nyckelharpa concert with Cheryl Paschke and Jaana Tuttila of the Finn Hall Band ... and more! Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Hancock.

Saturday, Jan. 30:

Carol Williams sells her lovely hand-crafted jewelry at the Tori (market) in the First United Methodist Church, Hancock, during Heikinpäivä 2015.

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- Tori Market, Finnish American Heritage Center and First United Methodist Church, Hancock.

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.  -- Vipukelkka (Whipsled), kicksleds, mölkky, World's Largest Kicksled, more! Quincy Green.

Kids enjoy riding the vipukelkka (whipsled) during Heikinpäivä.

Another ride option will be a sled-dog ride around the perimeter of the Quincy Green. A team from Otter River Kennels will be offering folks a sampling of what it’s like to be mushed along the trail in a true dogsled race. These rides will be starting from the area of the Green nearest the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC).
  
11 a.m. -- Parade, downtown Hancock. Line up at BRIDGE School at 10:30 a.m. Prizes.

"The Bear Rolls Over" is the tradition marking the middle of winter and the reason for the Heikinpäivä celebration.

Following parade -- Wife-carrying contest and kicksled races, Quincy Green. Prizes.*

Saturday music performances in Finnish American Heritage Center:

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. -- Finn Aire

11:30 - Noon -- Duo Nyckelharpa

Noon - 12:30 p.m. -- Kivajat Dancers

The Kivajat youth dancers perform Finnish folk dances in the gallery at the Finnish American Heritage Center during Heikinpäivä 2015. At right is their teacher, Kay Seppala.

12:30 p.m. –  1:30 p.m. -- Tanja Stanaway
 
1:30 p.m. –  2:30 p.m. -- Finn Hall Band
 
3 p.m. -- Polar Bear Dive, Hancock waterfront. $5 fee for competing divers; $1 all others.

3 p.m. -- Closing reception for "Art from the Kalevala," Community Arts Center, Hancock. (See notice in our right-hand column.)

7 p.m. -- Heikinpäivä iltamat (hors d’oeuvres and dance), live music, Finnish American Heritage Center.

7:30 p.m. -- Consul General Jukka Pietikäinen bestows honors from the Republic of Finland upon two prominent Finnish Americans.

Sunday, Jan. 31:

2 p.m. -- Finn Hall Dance, Eagles Hall, South Range.

* Click here to see our videos from last year's Heikinpäivä.