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A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Cloquet's own Ward 5 city councilor Lyz Jaakola performs at FinnFest
There's plenty of food, art and more at the Torii.
With many residents of Finnish descent in Carlton County, some may be traveling to Duluth this weekend to learn more about their country of origin. FinnFest began Wednesday and runs through Sunday at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center, offering a plethora of Nordic-influenced entertainment, lectures and activities to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Festivalgoers can choose from more than 150 performances, lectures, exhibits and other activities, including exhibits and discussions about saunas, Finnish comedy, art and fashion; and unique approaches to wellness, leadership, politics and environmental concerns, and more.
Pekka Haavisto, a popular Finnish politician, will be the keynote speaker, presenting "Finland's Role in the Changing World – How Can a Small Country Build Peace in a Time of Conflict?" at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Other special-interest events include a sauna seminar and raffle, and a family history seminar, with new insights into how to use Nordic genealogy data.
FinnFest: Happening this Week in Duluth!
Here's a rundown of other highlights:
● Finland and Russia Panel: Featuring high-level military and cybersecurity expert Jarno
Limnell, a member of the Finnish Parliament (National Coalition Party) and an Aalto
University professor.
● Photo exhibit, “From Vietnam to Ukraine,” by Rauli Virtanen, acclaimed
photojournalist and foreign correspondent.
● Panel discussing the climate change policies of Minnesota and Finland
● Architecture + Sustainability track, with a focus on wood as a building material.
● NAFL Floorball Season Finals Tournament featuring some of the best floorball players
from nine different countries.
● Women in Leadership panel discussion featuring Hanna Snellman, vice president of
the University of Helsinki
● Tori Nordic Fair, a traditional Finnish marketplace with food, music, vendors, exhibits,
artisans and demonstrations.
● Sauna-oriented activities and merchandise, including a full-day Sauna Seminar and a
sauna raffle.
● Family history seminar, with new insights into how to use Nordic genealogy data.
● Finnish language seminars and historic area tours.
FinnFest ticketing details
FinnFest Festival Passes:
1-Day Pass $60
Tori Nordic Fair + Floorball Passes
1-Day Pass $10
4-Day Pass $20
*The Tori Nordic Fair + Floorball are free every day for kids 14 and under
