What’s Poppin’: March 14 and 15 — Purple and Green to Paint Finland as St. Urho’s Returns
March 14 will be the centerpiece of a weekendlong St. Urho’s celebration in Finland, Minnesota, as the town adopts a “Wonderland” theme and revives five decades of small‑town pageantry and humor. The event, which starts Friday, March 13 and concludes Sunday, March 15, blends traditional purple-and-green pageantry with community parades, music and food.
March 14 Highlights
The weekend’s March 14 lineup centers on longstanding community favorites. Saturday activities include a pancake breakfast at the Clair Nelson Center that raises funds for the Finland Historical Society, followed at high noon by a tug-of-war on the bridge over the West Branch Baptism River and the St. Urho’s Parade. Parade organizers say the route will feature floats and handouts, with candy, treats and beads tossed to spectators.
Key Events, Food and Entertainment
St. Urho’s weekend features a mix of quirky traditions and local hospitality. Friday evening opens with the Miss Helmi competition, a comedic “beauty” pageant in which local men perform in drag; the contest has been part of the festivities since 1984. Food options include a Mojakka (Finnish soup) lunch at the community center after the parade, grilling by the Finland Fire Department throughout Saturday, and free festive cupcakes from the Finland Co‑op for shoppers.
Music and nightlife continue after the daytime festivities. The Northwoods Band is scheduled to play Saturday night in a heated outdoor tent at the Four Seasons Bar and Restaurant, and other local establishments, including Our Place and Wildhurst, will host food and drink specials through the weekend. The celebration concludes Sunday, March 15, at Our Place, where parade trophy, raffle and Passport Game winners will be announced.
History, Community Effort and Fundraising
St. Urho’s Day in Finland has been observed since 1975 and springs from a midcentury Finnish‑American invention: the legend of Urho driving giant grasshoppers from the vineyards with the cry, “Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, mene täältä hiiteen!” A massive wooden statue of Urho carved by Don Osborn in 1982 stands on Highway 1 and serves as a local landmark for the weekend.
Organizers emphasize the event’s intergenerational, volunteer spirit. A recent float workshop brought residents together to paint signs and fashion papier‑mâché decorations for the official Friends of Finland float. Fundraising is woven through the schedule: the pancake breakfast benefits the Finland Historical Society, and an online auction featuring donated items from local businesses is currently live and will close Sunday at 7: 00 pm ET.
The weekend mixes whimsy and tradition while offering multiple ways for visitors and locals to participate—whether by joining a parade float build, attending the Miss Helmi show, sampling Finnish fare, or bidding in the online auction that wraps the celebration.
