Snowflake Challenge
Date: Now through February 14, 2026
Location: Sew Cranky | Hancock, MI
Details: Learn to sew on a black felt square on antique hand crank sewing machines. All designs are eligible for contest prizes. Appropriate for all ages! $4 to enter. Call ahead: 818-606-0065.
Finnish Language Beginner & Refresher Course
Date: Wednesdays, January 7th - February 11th, 2026
Location: Finnish American Heritage Center | Hancock, MI
Time: 5:30 - 7PM
Details: This is a six-session course with Randy Karpinen, meeting on Wednesday evenings through February 11. $90. Advance registration required, registration opens November 25, 2025. *A Finnish American Folk School course.
Inkle Band Weaving
Date: Tuesdays, January 13 & 20, 2026
Location: Folk School Fiber Studio | Skyline Commons Room 105, 200 Michigan St., Hancock, MI 49930
Time: 5:30 - 8:30PM
Details: Inkle Band Weaving with Phyllis Fredendall - $60. Advance registration required, registration opens November 25, 2025. *A Finnish American Folk School course.
Chip Carving
Date: Friday, January 16, 2026
Location: Folk School Wood Shop | Skyline Commons 102, 200 Michigan St., Hancock, MI 49930
Time: 9AM - 5PM
Details: Chip Carving with Alice Margerum - $90. Advance registration required, registration opens November 25, 2025. *A Finnish American Folk School course.
Hobbyhorse Hoedown
Date: Friday, January 16, 2026
Time: 6 - 8PM
Location: Finnish American Heritage Center | Hancock, MI
Details: Kay Seppälä ("Kivajat Dreaming of Finland" director) and Ginger Alberti (Sew Cranky) host a family fun night featuring hobby horse games, classic Finnish dance, and music. $5/family. For more information called 818-606-0065 or email KivajatDancers@gmail.com.
Club Finndingo—"Fallen Leaves"
Date: January 23, 2026
Location: Calumet Theatre | Calumet, MI
Time: 5:30PM
Details: Dinner and a movie at the Calumet Theatre. Enjoy a screening of “Fallen Leaves” by Aki Kaurismäki. Doors open at 5:30PM, dinner at 6PM, movie begins at 7:30PM. Call (906) 337-2610.
Date: January 23 - 25, 2026
Location: Quincy Green | Hancock, MI
Times:
- Friday, January 23rd:
- NOON: Team Arrivals
- 1PM: Sculpting Competition Begins
- Saturday, January 24th:
- ALL DAY: Sculpting Competition Continues
- Extended TORI and Neighborhood Market will be at the Finnish American Heritage Center
and the First United Methodist Church
- Food Vendors will be at the Finnish American Heritage Center and First United Methodist Church
- Sunday, January 25th:
- MORNING - 1PM: Sculpting Competition Continues
- NOON: A Community Snowman Building contest will begin at noon hosted by the Hancock Business Association (HBA) with prizes going to the winners
- Final Sculpting during the morning with tools down at 1PM
- Judging and Deliberation of the Snow Sculpting Invitational to follow
- 2PM: Winners announced
Details: Abundant snow from Heikki Lunta makes for epic sculpting! The Copper Country tradition gets competitive as pro snow sculptors go head-to-head with local talent in crafting the most epic designs! Free to view.
Kick-off to Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture Year
Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
Location: Hancock, MI
Schedule:
- 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Tori markets
- 11 a.m. – Parade, Quincy Street, Hancock
- Following parade on the Quincy Green: passing of the symbolic Finno-Ugric "Tsirk”; Bear Spiral (Karhunpeijäiset - led by Tsirk carriers); Outdoor games - wife carrying contest and children's kicksled races
- 1:30 p.m. – The Magic of Sauna Textiles
- Lisa Steinmann and Karen Rue (of Saunamekko) host a free talk in the United Methodist Church Fellowship room
