A cultural celebration will have more friends to join the festivities this weekend. Juhannus celebrates life on the longest day of the year, celebrating midsummer. Communities around the region have celebrated the holiday in their way since Finnish immigrants settled in the region as early as the late 1800s. Close to a decade ago, more than 2,000 people joined to celebrate Juhannus at FinnFest.
Ever since then, from 2014 on, we’ve incorporated some of those midsummer traditions here in the city, the most conspicuous of which is the raising of the midsummer pole every June. It’s become kind of a, I don’t like the term low key, but it’s a growing community event. I think people are learning more and more about their traditions just by being exposed to them here in a larger, more metropolitan area, so to speak. – David Maki, Executive Director, Finnish American Heritage Center
Finns and Friends president Jim Kurtti says Johannus and midsummer offers a mystical moment to stop in the hustle and bustle of life and appreciate when things slow down.
I think the most important thing is if you’ve never been to Finland during juhannus, it’s that summer solstice light and it’s different, especially if you’re in the far north. Somehow the sunlight is different and it already gets to be kind of mystical. But at Juhannus there was a lot of folklore, folk tradition, and superstition, relative to a sort of rebirth. Now, the trees were still budding out. – Jim Kurtti, President, Copper Country Finns and Friends
Visit Keweenaw and Long Drink have led this year’s organizing for Juhannus. Jesse Wiederhold says the tourism bureau and corporate sponsor want to highlight the region’s deep Finnish heritage while adding to the festive time of the year.
A lot of these traditional activities and dances will be taking place. So I think the locals are going to love that. And it’s great to show people who are coming into town all of these activities and what makes Hancock so unique. Again, there’s just been so much positioning happening with Haken Piva and all of the work done by Copper Country, Finns, and Friends. – Jesse Widerhold, Events and Community Coordinator, Visit Keweenaw
Juhannus will start on Friday with some music at Canal Rock, the Long Drink Experience at Small Craft, and Takka Saunas, which opens with a midsummer bonfire. On Saturday the community will raise the midsummer pole on the Quincy green in the morning. Followed by games and activities, music, a beer garden, and Finnish Folk school lessons. On Sunday Hancock will hold a pancake breakfast at Porvoo Park.
Juhannus 2025 with Visit Keweenaw and The Finnish Long Drink
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