by Diane Pearson
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Hei Kaikki! Greetings from a lush, green Twin Cities. The July 4 long weekend measured 2-1/2 inches of rain in the gauge.
My zinnias are showing bright reds and pinks, and I have a second robust bloom of lupine in purple, yellow and pink.
Lupines have a place in my heart as they remind me of my trips to Finland and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where my parents were raised and my Finnish grandparents emigrated to in 1910.
On Saturday, June 27, six Finnish organizations, based in the Twin Cities, hosted the second annual Juhannus (aka Midsummer) celebration in Bloomington at the newly renovated Bryant Park. After last year’s heat index of 110, we were happy for 80 degrees and a beautiful sunny afternoon.
A nominal entrance donation included free coffee for all attendees. Although, I didn’t see any saucer slurping with a sugar cube from the kids.
We were pleased to have a bigger group than last year’s event. Several people mentioned it felt like a family reunion with many familiar faces and new people to meet.
Every generation was represented — babies, pre-teens, young adults and seniors.
Guests were greeted by Finnish flags, maps and a handcrafted 5′ faux red, yellow and orange kokko aka bonfire.
Ralph Tuttila organized the music for our Juhannus celebration and first featured Dennis Halme, and the Finnish and Finnish-American folk music played by Finn Hall.
Finn Hall delighted audiences for decades with their signature sound and dance repertoire.
Then, Kyle Gray Young was featured, singing and playing songs from his favorite Finnish band “Egotrippi,” and other tunes. Lauluaika played many of the Finnish and Finnish-American songs from Finn Hall’s playbook, and other melodies they discovered from Finland and played at their dances and concerts.
A sing-along booklet was available near the musician’s stage, and everyone was encouraged to sing familiar favorites such as “The Sauna Song,” “Raatikkoon,” “Kulkurin Valssi,” “Väliaikainen” and others.
While everyone sang “Raatikkoon,” a group of dancers twirled a familiar step around the kokko which added to the celebration!
We had delicious food. Daina Lautinen Rosen woke up early in her Northern Minnesota farmhouse and made delicious munkki (cardamom doughnuts).
She then drove 140 miles to deliver them fresh to the event site along with raspberry, rhubarb, strawberry punch. While Lotta Kiuru-Ribar sang and played music with Lauluaika, her son, Eli, made fresh lettu topped with jam and whipped cream.
Finally, we had a British invasion, a Cornish pasty food truck. They served a more traditional pasty and other flavors: pork and apple, chicken, and sausage. An hour and a half into the three-hour event, they ran out of ketchup.
The food truck worker said he’s never had so many people order traditional pasties and use so much ketchup! Next year we will be sure to add “Plenty of ketchup” to our contract.
Attendees had the opportunity to bid on 14 Finnish themed baskets in the silent auction.
Baskets included coffee, Fazer chocolate, mustard, knives, 20+ hours of family research, books, customized handmade mittens and so many more treasures.
The auction was a fundraiser for the event and will also provide seed money for next year.
It’s not too soon to get the third Annual Juhannus Celebration on your calendar, Saturday, June 19, 2027.
Details will be coming out as we get closer to the date.
Echoing last month's greeting: Twin Citiesin suomalaiset toivottavat teille kaikille ihanaa kesää!
Twin Cities Finns wish you all a lovely summer!