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Hosting Finn Funn Weekend October 2, 3, 4, 2009 This year Finn Funn Weekend is October 2, 3, 4 with early arrival October 1, 2009 and is being hosted by the Finger Lakes Finns. The event is being held at the Clarion University Hotel, Ithaca, NY. The committee has been very busy arranging tours, entertainment and scheduling cultural activities, ethnic demonstrations and displays. This program was made possible by support from the Tompkins County Tourism Fund. For 17 years, Finn Funn Weekend has evolved into a festival whose programming now reaches out to the entire American community. Each year, as it travels to a new site, Finn Funn Weekend has awakened latent interest in things Finnish among Finnish Americans and provided leadership in the effort to make Finnish culture visible. Finn Funn Weekend has become a major vehicle through which all Americans learn to know and appreciate Finland and Finnish America. It serves as a unique illustration of how an ethnic American culture can help Americans gain international perspectives and culturally pluralistic understanding. Finn Funn Weekend has become a known and respected entity. Since its first weekend in early 1982 when about 75 attended, the attendance has developed audiences of at least 200 – 300 persons. Finn Funn Weekend has developed a reputation as a major vehicle used to bring Finnish and Finnish American culture to general audiences throughout the northeast and other parts of the US and is advertised to the entire community. Friday begins with our Cayuga Lake Winery tour with a box lunch at one of the wineries. Friday night’s program will include entertainment by Kent Washburn, pianist from Washington, DC, 2005 Finlandia Foundation Performer of the Year Richard Koski, Trumansburg, NY with Jason Koski and Thomas O’Connor playing old-time Finnish tunes on button accordion, mandolin and violin, 2009 Finlandia Foundation Performer of the Year, Terhi Miikki-Broersma from Lynden, Washington to name a few. There will be dancing to the music of Vic Aijala from Arnold, Maryland. Master of Ceremonies will be Osmo Kanerva from Lakeworth, FL who comentates the Finnish Window radio program. Saturday is a full day of demonstrations, lectures/presentations, exhibits, musical jam session and plenty of coffee and pulla. Some of the highlights include performances by the Finnish American Singers, Farmington, Michigan, a Finnish food demonstration by Jaana Nislin, Petäjävesi, Finland, presentations by Dr. Carl Rahkonen, Dr. Sharon Franklin-Rahkonen, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Marita Cauthen, Royalston, Massachusetts, Donna Palomaki, Ithaca, New York, Lisa Koski, Trumansburg, New York, tracing your roots with Krister Björklund, Turku, Finland, Finlandia Board Meeting, special performance by the Spencer -Van Etten School Band, children’s activities and a large Tori are a few of the events happening during the day. Saturday’s banquet program will include more entertainment and dancing. If you haven’t sent in your reservation, don’t delay or you will miss this fabulous weekend. You can download reservation forms from our website or call Jean Lindblad at 607-229-3012 to get a copy. Registration is also available at the door. >>Registration<< The Finger Lakes Finns 2009 Finn Funn Weekend Committee: Jean Lindblad, Eeva Krusius, Judith Maxwell, Susan Pakkala, and Nancy Quaif This program was made possible by support from the Tompkins County Tourism Fund.
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