Summer Festival

95^th SUMMER FESTIVAL-KESÄJUHLA

JUNE 23-24, 2001

Saturday, June 23^rd
7:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.	MIDSUMMER DANCE, featuring Veikko Honkala, Eric Honkala and Juhani Puutio.
9:00 p.m.	NORTHERN LIGHTS (REVONTULET) folk dance group
9:30 p.m.	CEREMONIAL FIRE with folkdancers and accordionists
10:00 p.m.	COFFEE AND COFFEE BREAD

Sunday, June 24^th
8:00 a.m.	RAISING OF THE FLAGS
9:00 a.m.	FINNISH MEMORIAL ROAD RACE
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	VIDEOS IN CLUBHOUSE
9:00 a.m.	ENTER COFFEEBREADS INTO CONTEST in the pavillion
	CLASSIC AND ANTIQUE CARS ON DISPLAY
	EXPANSION FUND TABLE and information
	RAIVAAJA BOOKSTORE
9:00 a.m.	Coffee and Finnish Coffee bread on sale all day
9:00 a.m.	FESTIVAL ARTIST, LINDA WIDSTRAND in the restaurant building
11:00 a.m.	HOT DOG STAND open for the day
11:00 a.m.	FIRST SERVING OF CHICKEN BARBEQUE
11:30 a.m.	OIVA'S DAUGHTERS (OIVAN TYTÖT) instrumental group in the pavillion
NOON - 1 p.m.	OPEN MIKE perform your own songs, music, recite a poem....
NOONTIME	BEER ON SALE
12:30 p.m.	Coffebread contest winner announced
1:00 p.m.	SECOND SERVING OF CHICKEN BARBEQUE
2:00 p.m.	CULTURAL PROGRAM IN THE CLUBHOUSE
	Greetings from Vilho Lucander, Festival Chairperson
	Muscal Presentation
	Remarks by Brian Knuuttila, State Representative
	Featured Speaker
3:00 p.m.	DANCING IN THE PAVILLION, music by Veikko Honkala and Juhani Puutio
4:00 p.m.	LOWERING OF THE FLAGS

We welcome everyone to our 95^th Summer Festival at Saima Park. Please note the date change from the past. Our Summer Festival will continue many of the traditional events that we all enjoy and we plan to try some new events, also. This festival has continued because many generations of Finns and their friends have participated; we believe that this will continue! This festival benefits all who participate (often in proportion to their involvement). Continuing another tradition, this Summer Festival is a joint venture of The Finnish Center at Saima Park and Raivaaja; endorsement comes from the Boards of Directors of both organizations.

Saturday, June 23,2001 will feature a dance in the evening. The Revontuulet will perform their traditional Finnish Folk Dances. We also hope to have a koko with a Juhannus flavor; possibly a small, ceremonial bonfire floating on Saima Pond similar to our memories of Finland!

Sunday, June 24, 2001 Athletics will feature the track meet and roadrace. Food will include coffee, pulla, soda, hot dogs, etc. plus the chicken barbecue; the beer and wine shed will also be open. We also plan to sponsor a Finnish coffee bread contest to try to determine the "best of the best!" Entertainment at the pavilion will feature traditional Finnish music and entertainment. We welcome "volunteer musicians, singers, and entertainers" who would like to perform short segments (15-30 minutes) at a "managed, hopefully planned open microphone!" Raivaaja will again offer books, tapes, CDs, etc. for sale. We also plan an Antique Automobile display along the field side of the pavilion; this is still being planned so perhaps we may feature competition and prizes if interest warrants same. Sunday afternoon Program at the function house is still being developed.

We welcome and anticipate your participation in our Summer Festival!! Together we can all make this happen and we can all enjoy it. Marita Cauthen, Maija Mård, and I (Vilho) volunteered to be the steering committee. We have tried to generate ideas from the past and our own imaginations. We need your ideas, help, time, and talent--please contact one of us with your help, concerns, and other positive input. You can reach Maija or myself with e-mail by clicking on our names, above.

Future developments will be posted in Raivaaja and The Finnish Center at Saima Park Newsletter. We will also update you via this, or adjacent pages on our web site.

Most important action item now---Mark your calendar for Summer Festival for Saturday, June 23 and Sunday June 24, 2001. TERVETULOA!!!

Vilho Lucander

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