Catching Hoppers: St Urho Builds a Thingamajiggy!
The theme of Finland’s 44th Annual St Urho’s Celebration was Catching Hoppers: St Urho Builds a Thingamajiggy! The big weekend was March 15th, 16th and 17th, 2019.
Paljon kiitoksia (Thank you very much!) to the many many people who helped to make the 44th Annual St Urho’s Celebration happen. From the guys who put the sign up over the highway, to the folks in the parade, to all the raffle ticket sellers, to the businesses that helped out by donating prizes or selling raffle tickets and buttons, you all help make this event happen. Thank you so much!
This year’s raffle drawing winners were:
1st Prize: $600 – Wade LeBlanc from Silver Bay, MN
2nd Prize: $300 – Rick Ellis from Ely, MN
3rd Prize: $200 – Lori Walewski from Finland, MN
4th Prize: $100 – Tracy Carpenter from White Bear Lake, MN
5th Prize: $100 – Dani Donner from Silver Bay, MN
6th Prize: $100 – Margy Porter from Beaver Bay, MN
Miss Helmi 2019
One of the winning tickets was sold at the Our Place this year, two were sold by Senja Ahlbeck Bates, two by Renee Goneau Maas, and one by Honor Schauland. Thanks again to all the individuals and businesses who helped to sell raffle tickets. Also thanks to everyone who bought raffle tickets and buttons – that’s how we pay for the party! We appreciate your support!
Thanks also to all of the many individuals and businesses that contributed items for the door prizes at the raffle ticket drawing. There were some beautiful items donated and it always helps to make the drawing a festive event. Thanks this year to the Silver Bay AmericInn, the Tofte AmericInn, Jimmy’s Pizza, Thompson Gas (NSOP), Northwoods Family Grille, Zup’s of Silver Bay, North Shore Barber Shop, Holiday Gas Station Beaver Bay, Teddy’s Plumbing and Heating, Elwood and Carol Youngberg, Norshor Agency, HyFashion, North Shore Federal Credit Union, Quilt Corner, Lake Bank, Julies Variety, Vicki’s License, Four Seasons, Maple Grove, Don’s Auto, Finland Co-op, Our Place, West Branch, Wildhurst, Sisuberry, and the Knotted Pine.
Thanks to Carol and Elwood Youngberg for all of their work to gather door prizes. If you won a door prize, please tell them how much you enjoyed it when you see them!
You really can’t do this on Hennepin Avenue.
Thanks to all of the Miss Helmi Contestants this year: Mason, Skyler, Sam and Ethan! You all did great. Miss Oh Feel Ya (Mason Buus) won this year for being such a “Material Girl.” Also, big thanks to Herbie (Pat Ramsdell) and Owen Klinker for being the Emcees. You were great! Also thanks to Jeffrey and Karl for being our sound crew, Kaare for documentation and the use of his vehicle, the real ladies who helped us with makeup and everything else, Charlie and Hannah for being our prop people, and all the people who put up with us. We had such a fun time doing the show!
Special recognition this year to the Berquists and State Farm Insurance for their generous donation, to Cheri Bischoff for an amazing parade, to all of the creative people with their amazing parade floats, to Dawn and Randy at the West Branch for jumping in without hesitation and for hosting the drawing, to Adam’s AutoValu for the sober cab service, and to Bob and Diane at Our Place for feeding the Float Workshop, feeding the Miss Helmi Crew and for the Buus family for providing half of the contestants for Miss Helmi all put together, complete with helpers, handlers, and makeup artists! You guys all rock! Thank you to our Grand Marshals from Manitou Crossing Kennels – you were Freking awesome! Thank you to Silver Bay Area Tourism Association and Welcome to Finland for help with promoting this event. To everyone who helps – THANK YOU! We’ll see you next year!
With love, The St Urho’s Committee
Visit the St Urho’s Celebration in Finland MN’s Facebook page for many photos and videos of the festivities.
Many more photos here – we lifted these from all over Facebook: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HtuDe4bm5FVaNMX99
Float Workshop photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/C4EFmJrUNKEXs7Au6
