By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

Finn Creek Open Air Museum, a longtime project of the Minnesota Finnish American Historical Society, Chapter 13 of New York Mills, is celebrating its 50th year in operation and has a variety of Finnish-American talent lined up for all to enjoy.

The festival will kick off on Saturday, Aug. 16 with a pancake and pannukakku (Finnish oven pancake) breakfast at 7 a.m. in the pavilion. At 9 a.m., a local talent show will showcase anything from poetry to storytelling to jokes and more on the main stage in the pavilion and a pioneer suitcase simulation will also take place in the shed near the sawing demonstration.

Kyle Gray Young, Twin-Cities based musician, will play at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. while the children’s tractor pull takes place at 10:45 a.m. in the outdoor picnic pavilion.

At 12 p.m., the Cultural Center’s local community students and volunteers will perform its annual Kalevala Puppet Pageant, inspired by the Finnish national epic. Seats next to the bandstand will give viewers an opportunity to watch the details unfold as legendary Finnish characters overcome the powers of old Pohjala.

Longtime Finnish-American favorite, Kip Peltoniemi, will share songs, history and stories at 1 p.m. and master kantele player, Diane Jarvi will be on the stage at 2 p.m. She will be joined once again at 3 p.m. by Sheila Coughlin, who will both be giving a kantele workshop, before Diane finishes out the afternoon at 4 p.m.

Both days will feature Finnish and American foods, desserts, drinks, and treats throughout the Pavilion all day long.

Sunday will begin with a celebratory chapel service, which also celebrates 25 years of worship services this year, with Finnish-American musician and pastor, Jonathan Rundman. Rundman and his family will also be performing the worship music. Some of the hymns will be from Rundman’s book: Lost Songs of the Suomi Synod.

Rising Finnish-American star, Steven Solkela, will be performing at 11 a.m. at the Pavilion and shares both melodious as well as rousing songs from the Iron Range.

The Perala Brothers Auctioneers will be holding a live auction outdoors with a variety of local artwork, Finnish finds, and many goodies to be purchased at 12 p.m.

The antique tractor pull will begin at 12:30 p.m. and features a number of pullers from all across the region. The pull will take place behind the school house, on the south side of the property.

Jonathan Rundman will return at 1 p.m. to perform his musical stylings. Rundman has a long history of regional music and Finnish-American involvement in the Twin Cities.

Children’s activities including a bean bag toss, hula hoops, relays and more as well as the petting barn, which will be open at 2 p.m. for all to enjoy. At the same time, another suitcase simulation will be available at the shed near the sawing demonstration.

Steve Solkela will return at 3 p.m. to finish out the entertainment for the Festival before the event to cap it all off, the Finn Creek raffle prize drawing takes place at 4 p.m. where a large variety of prizes will be given away.

A daily gate donation of $5 per adult will be taken and children under 16 years old will get in free. RV parking and camping is available with a suggested $30 donation.

The Finn Creek Board of Directors has been working on this festival for a while and are looking forward to seeing many faces, both new and familiar, to celebrate 50 years of Finn Creek.

“Finn Creek Museum started out as a dream, a concept, to preserve the culture of the early settlers,” said President Shirley Quist. “That dream has carried on for 50 years. We are thankful and grateful for the support of our volunteers, the community, and the businesses who have played an important role in the success of Finn Creek: yesterday, today, and tomorrow.”