The Tori Finnish Marketplace and Music Festival drew 4x more vendors and doubled attendance at its event this past weekend
Aug 15, 2023 12:18PM ● By Content Editor
By Tryg Solberg - Boreal Community Media - August 15, 2023
The Finland Minnesota Historical Society hosted the 2023 Tori Finnish Marketplace and Music Festival at the Finnish Heritage Site, located north of Silver Bay on Saturday, August 12. The Finnish Heritage Site consists of 40 acres that were originally settled in the early 20th century by John Pine, whose cabin is still located and maintained on site.
Saunas, a blacksmithing shop, a schoolhouse, and other buildings make the site feel like a homestead with a visitor center. The Heritage Site also houses the Marketplace and Music Festival tent every year for the weekend. The historical society is hoping to raise funds for a permanent timber-framed pavilion structure to replace their high-maintenance festival tent. They’re planning on building a 100 x 40-foot structure to make sure all guests have a good view of and acoustics from the musicians.
Bonnie Tikkanen has been on the Finland Historical Society Board for over 30 years and currently serves as the Board Chair. Tikkanen said that there were four times more vendors than in the past and about twice as many event attendees, that perused the local vendors, music performances, and pieces of history on the site.
The Saturday festival hosted several musicians including Charlie Parr. After the music, raffle prize winners were announced with a $500 grand prize and many additional prizes. New additions to this year’s food options included pork chop on a stick covered in lingenberries, which joined many other food options of sandwiches, brats, snacks, and ice cream.
True to the Festival and the site’s Scandinavian roots, it produced a very welcoming and cozy atmosphere, even on a dreary and cool summer day.
To learn more about the Finland Minnesota Historical Society visit: https://finlandmnhistoricalsociety.com/membership/
The museum building was built in 2007 as a solid timber building.
The museum building hosts many different tools and artifacts that are relevant to the history of homesteading and logging in the area
The museum building hosts many different tools and artifacts that are relevant to the history of homesteading and logging in the area
John Pine, the original white homesteader, built this cabin in 1906 and is the only original building located on their 40 acre site.
The 2023 Festival attracted double the amount of visitors, and 4x the number of vendors as previous years
The 2023 Festival attracted double the amount of visitors, and 4x the number of vendors as previous years
Omar and Ric's woodworking crafts, based out of Finland, MN. Their affordable and custom crafts are often made from repurposed or locally sawn logs.
Minnesota-based musician Charlie Parr was just one of the musical acts at the festival.
Charlie Parr's concerts never fail to get the audience up and moving.
Minnesota-based musician Charlie Parr was just one of the musical acts at the festival.
