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Heikinpiv
offers parade, cross-country ski races and more
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Reindeer join
the 1999 Heikinpiv Parade in
Hancock.
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HANCOCK The City of Hancocks Heikinpiv
festivities this weekend, Jan. 19-21, include
something for the whole family. Even those who dance
their feet off at the Heikinpiv
Dance, following the Smrgsbord Friday evening,
wont want to miss the parade, the Tori Market,
the reindeer camp with snow sculpture and vipukelkka
rides on Saturday. The more athletic crowd will have
a chance to compete in the Heikinpiv
Hiihto Cross Country Ski Races or the Polar
Bear Dive on Saturday, while the organ concert on
Sunday offers a cultural finale.
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Hancock
Elementary second graders wore
special "I love Finland"
aprons in last years Heikinpiv
Parade in Hancock.
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Parade and other fun
Everyone loves a parade. Hours of work and
creative energy are often invested into designing
and building floats and creating interesting
theme-based marches, dances or other presentations
for the event. This year, that investment may pay
off in more than just pride and satisfaction for
participants in the third annual Heikinpiv
parade, which will begin at 11 a.m. at Hancock
Hardware, proceed down Quincy Street and end at the
Finnish-American Heritage Center.
The Finnish Theme Committee, the sponsors and
organizers for the mid-winter festival, are hoping
to make this years parade bigger and better than
ever by offering a top prize of $300 to the parade
entry which, in the judges opinion, best captures
the pride of Finnish heritage and culture and the
spirit of the Heikinpiv
festival. A second-place prize of $200 and a $100
third-place prize are also being offered.
Heikinpiv
celebrates not only mid-winters day, but also the
passing on of Finnish and Sami culture and ethnic
pride to the next generation. Contest entries should
reflect these themes.
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Kenny Svenson
of Calumet frolics as Heikki Lunta,
the Finnish snow god, during the
1999 Heikinpiv parade in
Hancock. (Parade photos courtesy Jim
Kurtti)
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Since the contest is not limited to float entries
and has no categories all entries to be judged
against each other contestants will be able to
let their imaginations run free as they approach the
subject. Song, dance, humor, historical perspective
or cultural displays are just some of the many ways
the theme can be explored with winning results.
Last year approximately 25 groups marched along
Quincy Street through downtown Hancock. The
procession included reindeer, marching bands, a
sleigh, "the bear who rolls over" on
mid-winters day, skiers and an abundance of blue
and white. Anyone is welcome to join the parade and
vie for a prize simply by showing up on the morning
of the parade. However, they are asked to
pre-register at the Community Arts Center in
Hancock. Registration can be handled in person or
over the phone by calling 482-2333.
Before and after the parade, from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m., the Tori Market will feature Finnish crafts,
foods and imported items at Finlandia Universitys
Finnish-American Heritage Center, while the reindeer
camp, snow sculpture and vipukelkka rides will
delight the younger set in front of the Hancock
Middle School. These events are free and open to the
public.
Cross-country ski races and Polar Bear Dive
The Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club has organized a 22
km cross-country ski race at Maasto Hiihto in
Hancock for age groups from 12 to 60+, a 5 km race
for age groups from 10 to 60+ and two short kids
races. Kids of ages 8 to 13 can compete in a 2 km
race, and 4 to 9 year olds in a 1 km race.
Jeff Crumbaugh, race director, said both the 22
km adults race and the kids races are on new
trails developed this year. The kids races will
start at 1 p.m. at the ballpark trailhead, and the
adult races will start after that, probably at about
1:30 p.m., at the same location, Crumbaugh added.
"Whats great about this race is everyone
starts in the same place and finishes in the same
place," Crumbaugh noted. "The 22 km race
is especially exciting. It has every kind of terrain
a skier could want."
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Cross-country
skiers who enter the 22 km race will
ski the length of the
picturesque River Trail along
Swedetown Creek at Maasto Hiihto,
photographed last spring. (Keweenaw
Today file photo)
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Crumbaugh said the 22 km course, designed by
Craig Hughes, includes challenging descents into and
climbs out of the beautiful Swedetown Creek Gorge;
rolling terrain; trails that wind back and forth
through pine forests; and several nice, easy flat
stretches.
"You ski the entire length of the River
Trail," he said. "You get to ski past
little waterfalls and over four bridges."
Ski awards include blue and white custom ceramic
mugs to age group winners and porcelain medallions
for the top three in each age group. Local artist
Denise Vandeville made these prizes.
"One of the things we like to do with our
races is to support the local artists,"
Crumbaugh said.
He noted custom-designed, long-sleeve, organic
cotton T-shirts will be on sale at the race.
Refreshments will include beverages and bars, hot
cranberry sauce, and Finnish coffee and cardamon
rolls. The coffee and rolls are guaranteed to be
authentically Finnish since Arja and Pekka Karstu,
owners of Hancocks Finpro Bakery, will make them.
Ski equipment from Rossignol and Swix will be
awarded from a drawing of all participants.
Registration is from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at the
Houghton County Arena or online at www.xmatic.com.
Entry fees are 22 km, $20; 5 km, $10; 2 km, $5; 1
km, $2. Entries can be mailed no later than
Wednesday, Jan. 17, to KNSC, P.O. Box 564, Hancock,
MI 49930. Skiers can also register during store
hours at Downwind Sports in Houghton, sponsors of
the race. For more information call Jeff Crumbaugh
at (906) 487-6671.
Another Nordic challenge is the Polar Bear Dive
at 2:30 p.m. at the Hancock waterfront near the
Ramada Inn.
Concerts
Parade watchers, skiers and divers can warm up
and wind down with an evening concert at the Sylvia
Eskola Auditorium, Hancock Middle School. The music
starts at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are $2 at the door.
The finale to the Heikinpiv
festival will be Sundays organ concert featuring
Vicki Lundberg Gornick, Finlandia Foundation
Musician of the Year. The concert will begin at 2
p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock. For
more information call (906) 487-7302.
Click
here to read about Fridays
Smrgsbord and Dance Ķ
Click
here for the Heikinpiv
Schedule of Events Ķ
Karin Emond and Michele
Anderson
January 15, 2001
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