The ’20s are Roaring Already! St Urho Wrap-up Info
The theme of Finland’s 45th Annual St Urho’s Celebration was St Urho Makes the ’20s Roar! The big weekend was March 13th, 14th and 15th, 2020.
2020 Button design by Audrey Ferris
Paljon kiitoksia (Thank you very much!) to the many many people who helped to make the 45th 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!
The festivities were impacted somewhat by the developing situation with COVID19, but the parade went on as scheduled, and it was a beautiful day!
This year’s raffle drawing winners were:
1st Prize: $600 – Dave McDonough from New Hope, MN
2nd Prize: $300 – Darlene Hoff from Little Marais, MN
3rd Prize: $200 – Dani Lehtinen from Finland, MN
4th Prize: $100 – Tom Mealey from Lax Lake, MN
5th Prize: $100 – Linda Carlson from White Bear Lake, MN
6th Prize: $100 – Cindy Hoiland from Prior Lake, MN
Pat Ramsdell and Owen Klinker represent Finland MN on Fox 21 News
Two of the winning tickets were sold at the Trestle Inn this year, one by Julie’s Variety, one by the Four Seasons Supper Club, one by Northwoods Family Grille, 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 many beautiful items donated and it always helps to make the drawing a festive event. Thanks this year to the Silver Bay AmericInn, 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, Bri-Esa’s, Beaver Bay Mobil, Norshor Agency, North Shore Federal Credit Union, Quilt Corner, Christmas Up North, Lake Bank, Julies Variety, Vicki’s License, Four Seasons, Maple Grove, Hugo’s, Our Place, Wildhurst, Hooterville, and Whitetails Unlimited Cabin Fever Chapter. Thanks also to Leroy and Colleen at Wildhurst for hosting the drawing this year!
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. Especially not this year.
Thanks to all of the Miss Helmi Contestants this year: Steve, Brock, Carter, and Derek! Also, big thanks to Herbie (Pat Ramsdell) and Owen Klinker for being the Emcees. You were great! Also thanks to Kaare and Karl for being our sound crew, Papa Jeff Mitchell for the use of his vehicle, Ashley, Rachel, Miranda, and Aili, the real ladies who helped us with makeup and everything else, and all the people who put up with us. We had such a fun time doing the show! Steve Solkela from Palo was the winner as “Gladys.”
Extra thanks to Steve Solkela and Aili Lund for jumping right in to the festivities with both feet and having good humor and flexibility when things did not go as planned. Steve was scheduled to play music at the Clair Nelson Center, but when that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation, instead he won the Miss Helmi Contest, skateboarded in the parade, and crashed the Our Place and the Four Seasons and the square dance at the Finland School with his accordion. We really hope they will both come back to Finland MN again in the future!
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 Pam Kettunen for driving the Urho Car in the parade, to Adam’s AutoValu for the sober cab service, and to Bob and Diane at Our Place for feeding the Miss Helmi Crew! You guys all rock! Thank you to our Grand Marshal Betty Josephson! 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 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/LjA9rj7THvXHQ3oQA
Float Workshop photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/w1GnV4sRmiPZSm6V8