You can download a printable version of this month newsletter as a PDF file here or calendar here.

The Kalevala, Finland’s National Epic
By Carol Melancon

Finland’s national epic, The Kalevala, compiled by Elias Lönnrot, was first published in 1835 by the recently founded Finnish Literature Society and in its final form in 1849. Lönnrot spent almost ten years traveling throughout Karelia, gathering the ancient stories and poems that had been passed down from generation to generation with songs called runos, a cross between a poem and a song.   Lönnrot organized his collection of 50 runos into an adventurous tale about three legendary Finnish heroes: Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen and Lemminkäinen.  The bravery of these mythical Finns and their interwoven stories of magic and courage were the inspiration for the works of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, author  J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic Hiawatha.  Most importantly, Lönnrot’s work gave Finns a new pride and strength that eventually led to their independence from Russia in 1917.

Kalevala: Land of Heroes, a play by Paul Olson, is based on The Kalevala.  On Saturday, August 22, members of the Peninsula Arts Appreciation Council community theater group of Negaunee will perform Olson’s play in the Finn Camp Dance Hall.  The Finn Camp, along with the Knights and Ladies of the Kaleva and the Finnish Center Association, are jointly sponsoring this important Finnish cultural event.

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Tags: Newsletter

Registration for swimming lessons will be on Monday, July 6, at 12 noon at the beach. This day will include a swimming assessment (water test) to determine the placement of the children in classes and the establishment of class times. Swimming lessons will be held Mondays through Thursdays, with Fridays as a makeup day, if needed, due to inclement weather. Swimming lessons will run through Thursday, August 6. The annual Swim Meet will be held on Saturday, August 8, at 1 p.m. This is a time for all swim lesson participants to display their newly developed swimming skills through friendly competition.

Cost of lessons
Members: $30/1 child $50/2 children $65/3 children
Nonmembers: $75/1 child $130/2 children $180/3 children

Saturday, July 18, 9 .p.m., Dance Hall
Sponsored by the Bar committee.
Get out your grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts and you aloha spirit and come to the dancehall for fun, food and prizes!

The Future Planning Committee will be serving breakfast at the Ravintola on Sunday, July 5 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Saturday, August 22, performances at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Location: Finn Camp’s Dance Hall
A play written by Paul Olson, is based on The Kalevala.  Members of the Peninsula Arts Appreciation Council (PAAC) will perform Olson’s play in the Finn Camp’s Dance Hall. PAAC is a community theater group located in Negaunee, Michigan. The Finn Camp, along with the Knights and Ladies of the Kaleva and the Finnish Center Association, are proudly sponsoring this important Finnish cultural event.

Performance times are: Matinee at 11 a.m. and Evening at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are $12 per adult and $8 per child (0 to 17 years). Tickets purchased at the door are $15 per adult and $10 per child (0 to 17 years). Pasties will be served between performances. If you would like to reserve tickets now, please send an Email to FinnCulture@Yahoo.com. Include the number of tickets and the performance time (matinee or evening).

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Tags: Play

Friday, Aug. 14th:  Kitchen and beer truck open at 5 p.m. Home Run Derby begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by entertainment and dancing in the clubroom.

Saturday, Aug. 15th: Kitchen opens for breakfast with food available all day in the kitchen and food tent. Softball tournament begins at 8 a.m. on our A-field and the Gilbert Willis Park fields. Opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. with flag raising by the Wixom VFW Post. Continuous music entertainment  from the dance hall’s porch, 50/50 raffles, pitching booth, horseshoes, bocci ball, kids activities, concessions, and Finn Camp/Finn Fest wearables all day with live music for dancing in our newly renovated dance hall beginning at 9 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 16th: Kitchen open for breakfast and food available all day. Softball continues on all 3 fields with the championship game on Finn Camp’s A-field in the late afternoon. More music, raffles, kids activities, etc…

Many workers are needed in all areas, all weekend, to help with kitchen and food tent, concessions, raffles, set up/clean up, and security. Work hour sign up sheets are posted at Sun Lake sauna. Please consider giving a couple hours of your time to make our festival successful.

For further information or questions, contact Robyn Jokinen, Finn Fest Chairman.
E-mail to rbjokinen@gmail.com or call 810-287-4591.

Here are some photos of last year’s Finn Fest:

Tags: Finn Fest

Thursday, June 25, 6 p.m.
Location: Gilbert Willis Park
Event hosts entertainment and fun for all. Enjoy Fireworks in celebration of the 4th of July. Kids games and inflatables too! Check out Wixom’s favorite Light the Night band “Mass Transit” playing the hits of yesterday and today starting at 7 pm. Concessions will be available to purchase.

Tags: Wixom

Joe Yogus, Kathi Yeager, Keith Holm and Bear.

Tags: Archives

Friday, June 26, 9 a.m. meet at Pole Barn
We have hired a company, with a cherry picker machine, to cut down the tall dead trees around the ground. They only work on weekdays, this is the reason we are doing this on Friday. We need help clearing the logs and branches. If you can’t meet us at 9 a.m., look for the workers on the grounds.

Saturday, June 20, starts at noon

Plan to attend our annual Juhannus, a Finnish mid-summer celebration. Some of the events are the third annual car show,  a raffle 50–50, music for dancing in the newly revamped dance hall, entertainment by Don Reinholm, and of course our famous kokko at 10 p.m., with Finnish music by Don Reinholm.

The kitchen will be open all day, 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., breakfast severed 8-12 a.m. and Sunday morning, June 21, for breakfast 8-12 a.m.

kokko, Juhannus 2008

Tags: Juhannus, Summer Season, Work Hours