JULY 28, 2016 // 7
Celebrate heritage at Finnish American Folk Festival
NASELLE, Wash. — The 18th
biennial Finnish American
Folk Festival will take place
Friday to Sunday, July 29
to 31 on the grounds of the
Naselle-Grays River School.
This cultural event pres-
ents a feast for the senses. See
authentic costumes, folk danc-
ers, historic photos, genealogy
charts and cut lower arrange-
ments. Hear presentations
on numerous topics and live
music, including the sounds
of the kantele, Finland’s
national instrument. Taste and
smell Finnish foods such as
makkkara, sima, pannuka-
kku and leipä. The Finnish
American Folk Festival is a
fun-illed event for all ages
and all nationalities; the only
admission is a donation. This
year’s theme is “My Finnish
Memories.”
Golfers can participate in
a tournament at the Peninsula
Golf Course in Long Beach
on Thursday, July 28. Lunch
will be served at noon; the
tournament starts at 1 p.m.
Preregistration is required;
cost is $50. Register by
calling Dave Leeland at 360-
484-3277.
Festivities begin at 10 a.m.
Friday, July 29 at Naselle-
Grays River School, located
at the intersection of Washing-
ton State Routes 4 and 401.
The Tori (aka marketplace)
will be open until 6 p.m. as
will all the exhibits and food
vendors.
The festival will open with
the screening of the documen-
tary “This is My Childhood:
Finland at War.” Produced
by Nordic American Voices,
an oral history program at
Seattle’s Nordic Heritage
Museum, the 58-minute doc-
umentary includes interviews
with 26 Finnish-Americans
who lived in Finland during
World War II. Many were sent
to Sweden for safety.
The festival’s Cultural Pro-
gramming Series will feature
many different presentations
both Friday and Saturday.
Topics include the Finnish
Civil War, Finland in World
War II, the history of Finns
in New Sweden, genealogy,
why immigrants from Nordic
countries came to the lower
Columbia River region, the
history of the Longview/Kel-
so area Finns, Naselle history
and Sami shaman ancestors.
On Saturday, there will
also be a beginning Finnish
language class for youth and a
presentation by Jim Kurtti, ed-
itor of the Finnish American
Reporter, for people interested
in Finnish-American archi-
val materials and keepers of
records.
At 12:30 p.m. Friday after-
noon, hear national anthems,
and watch the May Pole
Dancers. New this year is
Laulaa Out Loud Kids Chorus
with 3 to 11 year olds singing
in Finnish. From 4 to 6 p.m.
Appelo Archives Center will
host a reception for adult
performers and presenters; the
center is located at 1056 SR 4.
Friday night’s performers in-
clude Lisa Bighill, the Naselle
Kanteles, Acustica World Mu-
sic, and the FinnAm Choir.
Saturday starts early with a
pannukakku breakfast from 7
to 10 a.m.
Then comes the Paavo
Nurmi Run/Walk for all ages
at 8 a.m. at the high school
track. Named after the Finnish
runner and Olympic gold
medal winner, the race is a
5K course on a gravel road.
Cost is $15 without a T-shirt
and $25 with a T-shirt (limited
availability). For more infor-
mation, call Haleigh See at
360-484-3878.
On Saturday, the Opening
Ceremony takes place from
10 to 11:30 a.m. in the stadi-
um. Again, the exhibits, lec-
tures, Tori and food booths are
open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Live music during the day
and into the evening will be
provided by Gene Quilhaugh,
Carl Wirkkala, Folk Voice,
Amigos Nobles, Skamokawa
Swamp Opera, Valerie Bless-
ley, the Laulaa Out Loud Kids
Chorus, Dale Bradley, and
Toby Hansen and the Smilin’
Scandinavians. The Astoria
CULTURAL
PROGRAMMING SERIES
Friday, July 29
10 a.m., Commons – “This is My Childhood: Fin-
land at War” ilm
11:10 a.m., Room 203 – The Finnish Civil War &
Finland in WWI by Wayne Beals
11:10 a.m., Room 204 – You Say You’re Finnish – So
Just How Did You Get That Way? by Bill Lagerroos
1:35 p.m., Room 203 – Kalmar Nyckel-Finns of New
Sweden by Frank Eld
1:35 p.m., Room 204 – Ship Jumpers & Mail Order
Brides by Irene Martin
2:50 p.m., Room 203 – The Finnish Settlers of
Longview/Kelso by Carolyn Caines and Maila Cadd
2:50 p.m., Room 304 – Short ilms for children
PHOTO BY NATALIE ST. JOHN
Dancers perform around the maypole at the 2014 festival.
Scandinavian Dancers and the
Katrilli Dancers will be fun
to watch with their colorful
costumes and fancy steps.
Friday and Saturday also
will feature ield games, an
art exhibit, photo displays,
arts and crafts, a Viking ship,
Finnish war memorabilia,
food demos, class reunions
and more. There will be
authentic foods to try and a
salmon dinner.
Sunday will end the
festival with a worship service
at 10 a.m. followed by coffee
and pulla.
Pets are not allowed on
the school grounds with the
exception of service ani-
mals. All school facilities
are handicapped accessible.
Handicapped-accessible
parking is located in front
of the school and in the
back closest to the gym.
Parking for all others is at
the State Patrol and DOT
U-Pic k
2:50 p.m., Library – Beginning Genealogy by
Robbie Johnson
4 p.m., Appelo Archives Center – Reception for
performers
Saturday, July 30
11:35 a.m., Room 203 – The Finnish Settlers of
Longview/Kelso by Carolyn Caines and Maila Cadd
11:35 a.m., Room 204 – Journeys to Peaceful Hill by
Bryan Penttila
11:35 a.m., Room 304 – Home and Hall, the Legacy
of Finnish Americans in the 21st Century by Jim
Kurtti
PHOTO BY NATALIE ST. JOHN
The festival includes photo
and genealogy displays.
ofices at the entrance to the
schools, and across SR 4 by
the coffee kiosk. Parking is
also available at the Naselle
churches: Assembly of
God, Lutheran, and Con-
gregational. Paciic Transit
provides shuttle service to
the school.
For speciic times and
schedules, visit www.
naselleinnfest.com. For
more information, call Mike
Swanson at 360-484-3388.
12:55 p.m., Room 203 – Kalmar Nyckel-Finns of
New Sweden by Frank Eld
12:55 p.m., Room 204 – Visiting Finland: It’s More
than Meets the Eye by Victoria Stoppiello
2:10 p.m., Room 203 – The Finnish Civil War &
Finland in WWI by Wayne Beals
2:10 p.m., Room 204 – Our Sami Ancestors-Sha-
mans, Drums, & Healing by Gary Anderson
3:25 p.m., Room 203 – Beginning Finnish for Youth
by Haleigh See
3:25 p.m., Room 204 – Journeys to Peaceful Hill by
Bryan Penttila
3:25 p.m., Library – “Successes and Frustrations
Tracing Family Genealogy” by Robbie Johnson
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