Heikinpäivä
An Original Copper Country Celebration
Hancock, Michigan is the home of a truly one-of-a-kind festival - Heikinpäivä! Created in 1999, this festival draws deeply from the culture and folklore that followed Finnish immigrants who came to America to work Keweenaw copper mines. This January celebration (part-festival, part-holiday), is a Copper Country homage to Finnish-American identity and a mid-winter burst of joy and quirkiness to hearten the community through the long Keweenaw winter.
Heikinpäivä hosts a bevy of events during a month-long lead up to the main event in late January. During the headliner day enjoy a parade featuring creatures from Finnish legend, the legendary wife-carrying contest, kicksled races, musical performances, cultural and craft-making workshops, and a traditional Finnish contra-dance with a live band.
All are welcome to Heikinpäivä!
Location: Downtown Hancock, Michigan and the Finnish American Heritage Center
Date: Friday, Jan. 22 & Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027
Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture
In 2026, Hancock became the first U.S. community named a Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture. The highlight of the year was Juhannus Suurjuhlat, a five-day midsummer festival that brought visitors from around the world to Michigan’s Copper Country. In a rare gathering for Hancock, the Finnish and Estonian ambassadors to the United States joined Hungary’s chargé d’affaires to celebrate the cultural ties that connect the Keweenaw to communities across the Atlantic.
In 2027, the title passes to Geresdlak, Hungary. Here in Hancock, visitors can still experience the traditions that earned the city international recognition, from the Heikinpäivä midwinter festival to the exhibits and programs at the Finnish American Heritage Center.
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