Hancock awarded 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture following Juhannus Solstice celebration

By Michele Bourdieu

During Hancock's June 20 Canal Rock music event, City of Hancock Fire Department personnel supervise a bonfire for Juhannus, the Finnish Summer Solstice celebration, one of Hancock's many Finnish American cultural events that contributed to the  recent designation of Hancock as the first American community to receive the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture Designation. (Photo © and courtesy John Peiffer)

HANCOCK --  Following Hancock's Juhannus Summer Solstice celebration last weekend, the City of Hancock received word of a historic international honor: Hancock has been designated the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture, becoming the first-ever community in the United States to receive this title.

Awarded annually by the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture, this designation spotlights communities that actively preserve and promote Finno-Ugric cultures, languages and traditions. Past recipients include towns in Estonia, Hungary and Russia with deep Finno-Ugric Roots. Hancock’s selection recognizes its vibrant Finnish-American Heritage, long standing cultural traditions, and the city’s commitment to honoring its immigrant past through festivals, education and community spaces like the Finnish American Heritage Center.

David Maki, left, executive director of the Finnish American Heritage Center, introduces speakers at a June 25, 2025, press conference presentation on Hancock's Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture Designation for 2026. Pictured at right are Jim Kurtti, Honorary Consul of Finland, and Brad Barnett of Visit Keweenaw. (Photo by Keweenaw Now) 

According to Jesse Wiederhold, Public Relations/Events coordinator of Visit Keweenaw, the Capital of Culture designation for next year will bring an international spotlight to the city in 2026 -- with cultural exchanges, performances, lectures, and special events (like Juhannus and Heikinpäivä) expected to draw visitors and partners from across the Finno-Ugric world. The program aims to strengthen ties among indigenous and diaspora Finno-Ugric communities in the modern world and promote their values -- including sustainability, resilience, and cultural diversity.

During a press conference held in the Finnish American Heritage Center on June 25, 2025, Jim Kurtti, honorary consul of Finland, spoke about Hancock's application for the Capital of Culture designation and the importance of keeping Finno-Ugric culture alive.

During a June 25, 2025 press conference in the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, MI, Jim Kurtti, honorary consul of Finland, speaks about historical background for the recent designation of the City of Hancock as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture, a historic international honor. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Kurtti said the designation would offer the opportunity for learning -- to share experiences and events with Finno-Ugric people outside the U.S. who, like Finnish Americans here, are trying to maintain their cultural identity.

"We're going to be looking east and they're going to be looking west," he noted. "Because we've been doing this for 150 years -- keeping Finnish identity alive -- maybe we have something to share with them. And they certainly have a lot to share with us." 

Kurtti mentioned plans to form a committee to direct events for the Capital of Culture year and welcomed ideas and suggestions from the public.* (See below for contact information.) 

During the press conference, representing Community Development for the City of Hancock Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Todd Gast said, "We are just so excited about this honor of being named the Finno-Ugric Cultural Capital."

Gast mentioned the City of Hancock working with Visit Keweenaw on the Juhannus celebration last weekend and experiencing the excitement to cap off that celebration with this news of the Finno-Ugric Cultural Capital designation. He added the City will be asking the community to help with planning events and he believes residents will be excited to do so.

"It's going to shine quite an incredible bright light on this area," Gast said. 

During Hancock's Juhannus Summer Solstice celebration on Quincy Green, Jesse Wiederhold of Visit Keweenaw, second from left, one of the main organizers of Juhannus -- and his parents, Shelley and Mike Wiederhold of Caro, Mich. -- chat with Keweenaw Now. They are joined by Jesse Justice, at far left, a Houghton resident who hails from New Mexico. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

One of the musical groups who entertained during Juhannus, John Snyder, at left, and Matt Bradley, play and sing a variety of fun and danceable songs on Saturday afternoon, June 21, on Quincy Green. (Photo © and courtesy John Peiffer)

Mary Babcock, Hancock city manager and zoning administrator, spoke with Keweenaw Now about the City's role in the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture.

"We'll be partnering with the Copper Country Finns, [who] are part of the City of Hancock's structure and with Visit Keweenaw to create and celebrate this designation," Babcock said. "We will be looking for others to help with the celebration, to come up with ideas and to make sure we can make the events the best possible next year."
Inset photo: Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Brad Barnett, Visit Keweenaw executive director, spoke at the press conference about the fact that this Cultural Capital designation is an opportunity -- not only for cultural preservation and tourism, but also for economic development, education, celebration and more.

During the June 25, 2025, press conference, Brad Barnett, Visit Keweenaw executive director, speaks about the importance of the recent designation of the City of Hancock as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

More views of Hancock's 2025 Juhannus celebration

Quincy Green in Hancock was the scene of several events for celebrating Juhannus, the Finnish summer solstice, on Saturday, June 21. Kids had opportunities to play lawn games, including the popular Finnish custom of a Hobby Horse Hoedown offered by Sew Cranky, a Hancock shop where visitors can make a colorful hobby horse with hand-cranked sewing machines.

Ginger Alberti and Mike Sabo, owners of Sew Cranky, are pictured here with hobby horses made in their shop. Next to their booth, kids and adults are offered a course for riding a hobby horse, a Finnish custom. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Visiting Juhannus in Hancock from the Hanka Homestead Museum are Colette McLauglin and Oscar Heikkinen, Hanka Homestead president. The Hanka Homestead, a Keweenaw Heritage site of the Keweenaw National Historical Park, allows visitors to learn about the life of immigrants on a 1920s-era Finnish farm in Baraga, Mich. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

During Juhannus on June 21, representing the Michigan Tech Social Sciences department and their research in renewable energy, are Yi Wang, from China, a PhD student studying local energy systems, and Elizabeth Amoah, of Ghana, a masters student researching sustainable communities. They offered visitors an opportunity to take a survey on renewable energy, which they may use in their research. (Photo © and courtesy John Peiffer) 

Wife Carrying Race

During the June 21, 2025, Juhannus Finnish Summer Solstice celebration, a couple finishes the wife-carrying course, a Finnish tradition, in 17 seconds, one of the fastest in the race. The announcer is Todd VanDyke, KBear local radio station host. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Two young women compete in the Finnish wife-carrying contest. These two women are also energetic members of Michigan Tech's Swing Dance group. (Anyone could compete in the event -- not necessary to be a wife or husband.) (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Among the fastest competitors are these two young men, also participating in the traditional wife-carrying event on Quincy Green in Hancock. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Finnish American Heritage Center

Throughout the year, the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, supported by Finlandia Foundation National, hosts many activities and resources related to Finnish and Finnish American culture -- including a Folk School, a film series, an Art Gallery and a Historical Archive. During Juhannus, the public was invited to view an art exhibit in the Finlandia Art Gallery, attend Finnish American Folk School activities, and enjoy the Saturday Night Dance in the spacious Community Hall with music by the Back Room Boys.

In the Finnish American Heritage Center, the Back Room Boys band play a variety of music for the June 21 Juhannus Saturday Night Dance, including this folk dance as well as traditional Finnish partner dances, which were preceded by lessons. (Video © and courtesy John Peiffer)

In the Finlandia Art Gallery, visitors could enjoy The Folk School at Midsummer, an annual group exhibit presenting the work of the folk school instructors and students. Here are a few examples from the exhibit, which continues through September 10, 2025:

Unwanted socks #2. Rag rug, cotton warp, donated socks. By Sue Ellen Kingsley of Hancock Township. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Sculpture by artist Harriet King of Houghton. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Weaving by Phyllis Fredendall, instructor of fiber arts. Click here for a photo of Phyllis weaving. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

*Editor's Note: 

If you have ideas or suggestions for planning the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture events in Hancock, CLICK HERE for Jim Kurtti's contact information.

Heikinpäivä 2023: Enjoy Parade, Tori markets, Games, art, music, dance, more Saturday, Jan. 28

The Heikinpäivä Parade will head down Quincy Street in Hancock at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, the final day of Heikinpäivä festivities. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

Heikinpäivä 2023, the Finnish-American Mid-Winter Festival in Hancock, is underway. The main events, open to the public, will happen on Saturday, January 28, on Quincy Street in Hancock. The celebration’s themes are taken from a Finnish folk saying associated with the name day for Heikki (Henrik’s day, 19 January). See Saturday's schedule below:

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

11 a.m. -- The Heikinpäivä Parade begins near La Cantina Mexican Restaurant on Quincy Street and heads toward the Finnish American Heritage Center. The Parade includes Finnish characters from the Kalevala (Finnish epic) along with St. Henrik and Heikki Lunta. Cash prizes will be awarded for entries.
Karhunpeijäiset -- Join the costumed parade participants in a circle dance.

Immediately following the Parade:  Outdoor Games (including vipukelkka (whip sled), kick sled races, Eukonkanto (Wife Carrying), etc. Quincy Green next to Finnish American Heritage Center.

Kids enjoy riding the vipukelkka (whip sled) during Heikinpäivä. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

Kids line up for kicksled races on Quincy Green. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

Hannu and Lilli from Finland were winners in a previous Heikinpäivä Eukonkanto (Wife Carrying) contest. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

Polar Bear Dive -- Has not been announced.

1 p.m. -- Mark Munger, Duluth author: book talk and signing at North Wind Books, 601 Quincy Street.

2 p.m. - 4 p.m. -- Animal Life: Art from the Kalevala -- Opening Reception. Traditional Finnish refreshments will be served. Copper Country Community Arts Center, 126 Quincy Street, Hancock. The Kalevala is a 19th century work of poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology. It is regarded as the national epic poem of Finland and is one of the significant works of Finnish literature. The annual open call exhibition asks artists to create artwork relating to the many animals that are part of the Finnish epic poem, as imagery and symbolism. The exhibition ends on Kalevala Day, Tuesday, February 28.

7 p.m. - 10 p.m. --Iltamat (dance and buffet). Finnish American Heritage Center. $15. Music by Back Room Boys, featuring the accordion and Finnish vocals of Pasi Lautala. Family-friendly. Bring the kids, the old folks, and your dance slippers.

Celebrate Mid-Winter at Heikinpäivä 2015 in Hancock

A highlight of the Heikinpäivä Mid-Winter Festival is the parade on Quincy Street in Hancock. This year's parade will begin at 11 a.m. this Saturday, Jan. 31. (Keweenaw Now file photos)

HANCOCK -- Heikinpäivä celebrates the midpoint of winter, when the hibernating bear rolls over; but he’s not the only creature revolving on that particular day. Finlandia University’s Quincy Green will be filled with folks who will have plenty of opportunity to take a "spin" through some Finnish-American fun.

Immediately following the parade, which gets under way at 11 a.m. this Saturday, Jan. 31, Quincy Green will be the site of some longtime festival favorites, as well as some new attractions.

Kids enjoy a ride on the vipukelkka (whipsled) during Heikinpäivä in Hancock.

In one part of the Green, a group of intrepid volunteers led by Hancock High School teacher Steve Aho will be manning the vipukelkka (whipsled), on which young people can have a human-powered ride in a sled around a snowy and icy track. With all of this circular motion, both the pushers and riders can enjoy the ride.

The first competition on the agenda is the annual wife-carrying contest, with a mid-winter spin on a longtime Finnish tradition. Couples navigate a short obstacle course, with the "husband" carrying the "wife" (participants need not be married) while completing a series of tradition-based tasks in preparation for having guests at their home. Whoever does this fastest will leave the course with some prizes in hand.

A bit of role reversal sometimes happens during the "wife" carrying contest. The "husband" seems to be enjoying the ride here.

Once the wives are all carried, the young people can spin around a race course on some youth-sized potkuri (kicksleds), with the fastest in each age bracket earning himself or herself a prize as well. Age brackets will be determined on-site dependent on number and age of participants.

Kids line up for the kicksled race on Quincy Green during Heikinpäivä games. 

Another ride option will be a sled-dog ride around the perimeter of the 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).

After a whirlwind day of outdoor activities, Heikinpäivä-goers should also take a spin through the tori inside the FAHC and also inside the First United Methodist Church at the other end of Quincy Green.

Meghan Pachmayer, left, and Anna Leppänen offer Finnish snacks for sale at a previous Heikinpäivä Tori in the Finnish American Heritage Center.

Visitors can enjoy food, music and gifts to warm both inside and out, before venturing back onto the Green for more Heikinpäivä fun.

Carol Williams offers her lovely handmade jewelry for sale at the Tori. 

At 3 p.m. Saturday don't miss the Polar Bear Dive, near Porvoo Park, Hancock. $5 fee for competing divers; $1 all others.

The Polar Bear Dive on the Hancock Waterfront is only for the brave or (a little) crazy!

Heikinpäivä Dances: Friday and Saturday, Jan. 30, 31

A Finnish music jam session will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday evening, Jan. 30, at the Copper Island Beach Club on the Hancock Waterfront at the foot of Tezcuco Street. Come on down and sing, play, and dance hard enough to roll the bear over onto his other side. Let's make sure that winter's back is broken.

This year, the Heikinpäivä festival will not include a buffet dinner, but you can enjoy plenty of good food at the traditional Saturday Heikinpäivä Dance, beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Finnish American Heritage Center. Festival-goers can wrap up their 2015 experience by dancing to the musical stylings of Aallotar, a duo of Finnish-American fiddler Sara Pajunen and Finnish accordionist Teija Niku, who have traveled hundreds (or in Teija's case, thousands) of miles to share their talents with us. Admission is only $10 per person. Come and join the fun!

Hancock celebrates Heikinpäivä 2014 despite frigid weather

By Michele Bourdieu

David Maki, staff member of the Finnish American Reporter and Finnish American Heritage Center, as this year's Hankooki Heikki, rides the giant kicksled in the 2014  Heikinpäivä Parade and reigns over the festivities held on Jan. 25 in Hancock. (Photos by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now unless otherwise indicated.)

HANCOCK -- Undaunted by the sub-zero temperatures last Saturday, Jan. 25, Hancock celebrated its mid-winter festival, Heikinpäivä 2014, a celebration of Finnish American cultural heritage. Here are a few video clips of the parade, thanks to Keweenaw Now's Allan Baker, and photos by Allan and also by Arlyn and Sandy Aronson, borrowed with their permission from Gromit the Snow Dog's blog, Trail Mutt Reports.

Gromit the Snow Dog (Lumi Koira), decked out in her January booties, joins a friend in the 2014 Heikinpäivä Parade in Hancock. (Photo courtesy Arlyn and Sandy Aronson. Reprinted with permission from Gromit's blog, Trail Mutt Reports.)

To see all the photos, click here and then on slide show or on any photo in our slide show posted in the right-hand column.

Here are two video clips of some of the hardy participants in the 2014 Heikinpäivä Parade:

Spectators comment as some of the favorite parade characters pass by -- the Suomi Lion of Finlandia University, Heikki Lunta the snow god (calling for "more snow") and the graceful Swan from the Kalevala, the Finnish epic poem. (Videos by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

More characters from the Kalevala, Finnish Theme Committee members, Finlandia University students, members of the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club, the Brrr Maids and the Michigan Tech Pep Band parade down Quincy Street in Hancock during Heikinpäivä 2014.

The Wife Carrying competition follows the parade. Hankooki Heikki (David Maki) presides over the event as Jim Kurtti, Finnish American Reporter editor, takes photos. 

A sign near the Heikinpäivä Tori (indoor market), held in the First United Methodist Church on Quincy Street, announces hot homemade chili and soup, Finnish bread (rieska), and hot drinks for warming up after the parade. 

At the Tori in the Methodist church, people shop for hand-crafted items, warm up with hot drinks and snacks and listen to live music.

Be sure to check out our slide show for more Heikinpäivä 2014 photos.