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.
Club Finndingo—"Fallen Leaves"
Date: January 30, 2025
Location: Calumet Theatre | Calumet, MI
Time: 5PM
Details: Dinner and a movie at the Calumet Theatre. Dinner is $25 and movie is $5. Enjoy a screening of “Fallen Leaves” by Aki Kaurismäki. Doors open at 5:00PM, 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
- 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
- 2:30 p.m. – "Finno-Ugric World Tour" Talk by Gage Keränen
- Location: United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, Hancock
- 2:30 - 4 p.m. – Animal Life: Art from the Kalevala
- 7-10 p.m. – Iltamat (evening dance)
Takka Flow Yoga
Date: January 25, 2026
Location: Takka Sauna - Portage | Hancock, MI
Time: 9 - 11:30AM
Details: Takka Flow yoga and sauna sessions
Sauna Stories Oral History Project
Date: January 25 - 30, 2026
Time: By Appointment. To book contact (906)281-5671 or daena@2ndsandbar.com
Location: Takka Saunas Portage | Hancock, MI
Details: Share your memories of family sauna or your own personal connection to the tradition. All are welcome - locals and visitors, Finns and Finn-spired! MUST pre-schedule appointments.
Date: January 31, 2026
Time: 10AM - 3PM
Location: Sites throughout the Keweenaw - TBD
Details: Take a self-guided tour of Copper Country Saunas! Each sauna unique, set off on an afternoon adventure to discover the saunas that reside within our community. Tickets can be purchased at North Wind Books in Hancock, MI. Each ticket includes a map with a list of addresses for the tour. Call (906) 370-2339 for information.
Date: February 7, 2025
Time: 1-3PM
Location: Navy Street Boardwalk between Takka Saunas & Ramada | Hancock, MI
Details:
- Where to go: Head to Takka Saunas — this is the official event location and check-in spot.
- Saunas will be open, so plungers can warm up before and after.
- Bring your own towel! Towels will not be provided.
- Bring shoes to protect your wet feet from the cold!
- There will be a donations box at the check-in table.
- All participants must check in when they arrive, whether you registered ahead of time or not. Pre-registration simply speeds up the process.
- Plunge rule: Please enter in groups of 3–4 people max — no large group jumps for safety.
- BONUS:
- Copper Country Curling Demonstration & Beer Poking at Small Craft
- SKIP THE LINE, sign your waiver ahead of time!
