Naselle's Finnish-American Folk Festival and Finn-Am Jams!

Finns swarmed their way upstream (and downstream) to Naselle, beginning Friday morning, July 25th, till the festival closed on Sunday afternoon.

People of all ages came from six different countries and many states to experience the festival. Some locals hopped the Wahkiakum County trolley and rode back and forth from home.

Nearly 1400 signed in and wore the customary name tag, “Hyvaa Paivaa” — hello in Finnish. Registration chair Sherrill Hartline said, “Lots more came through who did not take time to register. We had people from six countries and 16 states. People came from all over. Attendance was down a little, though; people just aren’t traveling as much as they usually do with the price of gas. It’s hard,especially for families now.”

Flowers and decorations coordinated by Rosie Johnson and Anita Raistakka welcomed visitors to the courtyard (also known as “the blacktop”) which created the feeling of a country marketplace held in many Finnish towns. The weather went from light drizzle to dazzling sunshine, the clouds holding back from a real downpour. Visitors enjoyed the excellent choices offered in food booths and at dinners and by late Saturday afternoon the last of the rice pudding , the pea soup, the salmon dinners, the Finn “biscuit” (cardamum bread) and the squeaky cheese and other pastry specialties from Maija’s booths were all sold out. The Tori was bustling all day long; t-shirts, bags, mugs, and posters featuring the logo “Knee Deep in Finns” (which was designed by Debbi Littlefield) went “like hotcakes” selling out on many items.

Two key players, May Saari Adair in Genealogy and Audrey Wirkkala in photography present the community as a whole with their priceless exhibits. May maps out the families, showing the interconnections in families in Naselle, Astoria, the Northwest, across the U.S. to Finland. The genealogy room was full, helping people from dawn to dark, as they traced their roots and tracked down family mysteries.

The photo gallery by Audrey Wirkkala had people coming back again and again, commenting on all the people who have lived in the area, pioneers and old timers as well as pictures from past festivals and many of the other themes emphasized over the years including marriages and sporting events. Years of Naselle students stared bravely into the future in their graduation photographs. “Do you think we’ll be looking this good and doing as well when we’re their age?” pondered Janna Salme Katyryniuk.

Other exhibits included the art display, the craft rooms and lingering at the Country Store put together by Glenrose Hedlund. Visitors stopped to talk to spinners and weavers in the craft rooms as they inspected the traditional arts of knitting, needlepoint, embroidery, weaving, quilting, and tatting. Hand-made wooden boats, floats, and fishing gear and salmon packing labels attracted attention as well to an exhibit put together by Deanna and Tim Wilson.

The 17 lecture and film presentations organized by Anita Raistakka sparked interest and lively discussions. More than 50 people came early Friday to see the film, Mother of Mine about children refugees during the Winter War of the 1940s. Benita and Norm Westerberg led a discussion afterwards. Many enjoyed the mini-education course offered in Finnish and Finnish-American as well as informative presentations about the Northwest and Naselle area. More than 100 attended a lecture by Brian Penttila who has recently launched a new magazine of our North Coast. The logging film shown by Greg Wirkkala attracted much interest.

The opening ceremonies on Saturday brought co-chairs Jennifer Johnson and Michael Swanson to the podium introducing Consul Emeritus Norman Westerberg of Seattle to give an address reflecting on past and present FinnFests and the percentage of Finns in the Northwest. The Maypole Dancers of Naselle were lively and lovely as ever. The results of the oh-so Finnish competitions — including the wife carry and the phone toss — will be posted later.

Performances began at noon Friday, featuring acts for and by young people. But the Kantele was King, a fitting tribute to the national instrument and the many ways in which it is plucked, strummed, and played.

The featured Kardemimmit quartet of young ladies from Finland strummed their 15 string kanteles like they were guitars or banjos, singing hauntingly, “From Finland we sailed away/ to the land of the USAÉ”, a cheerful-yet-tearful song of parting. Wilho Saari played with his sister May Saari Adair and daughter Karen Saari Nelson; the Kantele Kids that Wilho coaches during the year presented a fresh and young face to the instrument. The Kantele Mass by combined groups and featuring the Evergreen Kanteles from the Northwest provided a peaceful interlude Saturday afternoon.

John Kulm, comedian and poet, joked with MCs Mike Swanson and Greg Nelson at the Saturday night show. The Naselle Choir sang their best under the direction of Cliff Weimer. The evening dance was full of experienced dancers like those from the Katrilli of Seattle and especially the families and young people of Naselle. Whenever it was time for a mixer like the humpa or the schottische and “The Chicken Dance” the dance floor was full.

The 27 different performing groups provided enough diversity to please anyone. Bobby Saari and his girls Megan, Emily, and Hannah sang a true simple harmony of gospel that could have done well in a Carter/ Cash program, while consummately schooled musicians like Maria Mannisto (a much-honored soprano from Seattle) and Richard Ellis of our area, echoed programs from august concert halls. Carl Wirkkala with his Ghost Town Boys sang country western and gospel while our own Naselle choir provided more traditional four-part music.

Friday evening’s program featured MCs Lori Dearmore and Karen Wirkkala twisting their practiced tongues around Finnish name and introducing a program of top notch people. The evening ended with videos by Naselle students saluting Rose E. Johnson of the Sleepy Hollow Motel and Anna Ehrlund, both instrumental members of the festival since 1982.

At the Community Worship Service on Sunday morning, May Saari Adair came to the piano and pealed out the wonderful rolling tones of gospel songs calling people to worship. The Naselle victory bell served as a church bell. Pastor Richard Cary in his sermon even found a reference to “Knee Deep in Finns” in the Bible and the Finnish musicians, Kardemimmit, played and sang once more. As rain threatened and the wind blew, stage manager Stephanie Wise and MC Ken Kandoll rushed out to hold up the flags.

Co-chairs Jennifer Johnson and Mike Swanson, who so bravely sailed through their first festival, were honored with presented birch vihtas (sauna switches) as they closed the festival.

After a coffee hour, folks gathered at Peaceful Hill Cemetery to hear a program organized by Anna Ehrlund, Al Simukka, and John Indermark. Touching on all the settlers of the greater Naselle-Deep River-Salmon Creek-Rosburg and Grays River cemeteries, Anna and Alfred talked of how people have honored these graves and cemeteries over the years, even as the settlers moved in closer to town. John Indermark gave a brief meditation, reflecting on how many times the 23rd Psalms had been recited over graves in these valleys.

It was a day that Grandma Pakenen, a member of the first Finnish family settling in Naselle. On meeting a person, she would say, “Who you be and where you come from?” It was a day for asking that question over and over and being treated to the surprise of finding old friends and meeting new ones and enjoying a day of friendship and fun in the sun.

As visitors packed up for home and locals cleaned and stored treasures away, some enjoyed the sunshine and watched evening stars appear. As FAFF 2008 slipped into the annals of history, volunteers took a well deserved rest and gathered by phone or over coffee and Finn biscuit to contemplate another festival put to bed for another two years.

The Finnish American Folk Festival of Naselle, 2008, is over. But you can take a look at our original pages, which may soon find updates with pictures and reports:

music — a wide variety!

folk

Cultural Programing Series

dance and pageantry

our Paavo Nurmi Run/Walk (5k)

Golf Tournament . . . and the Wife Carry, Boot Toss, Nokia Toss

The Finnish-American Folk Festival presents:

	Naselle, Washington & environs	Knee Deep in Finns Finn Am Jams Events to mark on your calendar Local dining & lodging Suomi & America
	posted: 07/29/08 Finns Swarm Upstream to Naselle Reflections by Susan Holway Finns swarmed their way upstream (and downstream) to Naselle, beginning Friday morning, July 25th, till the festival closed on Sunday afternoon. People of all ages came from six different countries and many states to experience the festival. Some locals hopped the Wahkiakum County trolley and rode back and forth from home. Nearly 1400 signed in and wore the customary name tag, “Hyvaa Paivaa” — hello in Finnish. Registration chair Sherrill Hartline said, “Lots more came through who did not take time to register. We had people from six countries and 16 states. People came from all over. Attendance was down a little, though; people just aren’t traveling as much as they usually do with the price of gas. It’s hard,especially for families now.” Flowers and decorations coordinated by Rosie Johnson and Anita Raistakka welcomed visitors to the courtyard (also known as “the blacktop”) which created the feeling of a country marketplace held in many Finnish towns. The weather went from light drizzle to dazzling sunshine, the clouds holding back from a real downpour. Visitors enjoyed the excellent choices offered in food booths and at dinners and by late Saturday afternoon the last of the rice pudding , the pea soup, the salmon dinners, the Finn “biscuit” (cardamum bread) and the squeaky cheese and other pastry specialties from Maija’s booths were all sold out. The Tori was bustling all day long; t-shirts, bags, mugs, and posters featuring the logo “Knee Deep in Finns” (which was designed by Debbi Littlefield) went “like hotcakes” selling out on many items. Two key players, May Saari Adair in Genealogy and Audrey Wirkkala in photography present the community as a whole with their priceless exhibits. May maps out the families, showing the interconnections in families in Naselle, Astoria, the Northwest, across the U.S. to Finland. The genealogy room was full, helping people from dawn to dark, as they traced their roots and tracked down family mysteries. The photo gallery by Audrey Wirkkala had people coming back again and again, commenting on all the people who have lived in the area, pioneers and old timers as well as pictures from past festivals and many of the other themes emphasized over the years including marriages and sporting events. Years of Naselle students stared bravely into the future in their graduation photographs. “Do you think we’ll be looking this good and doing as well when we’re their age?” pondered Janna Salme Katyryniuk. Other exhibits included the art display, the craft rooms and lingering at the Country Store put together by Glenrose Hedlund. Visitors stopped to talk to spinners and weavers in the craft rooms as they inspected the traditional arts of knitting, needlepoint, embroidery, weaving, quilting, and tatting. Hand-made wooden boats, floats, and fishing gear and salmon packing labels attracted attention as well to an exhibit put together by Deanna and Tim Wilson. The 17 lecture and film presentations organized by Anita Raistakka sparked interest and lively discussions. More than 50 people came early Friday to see the film, Mother of Mine about children refugees during the Winter War of the 1940s. Benita and Norm Westerberg led a discussion afterwards. Many enjoyed the mini-education course offered in Finnish and Finnish-American as well as informative presentations about the Northwest and Naselle area. More than 100 attended a lecture by Brian Penttila who has recently launched a new magazine of our North Coast. The logging film shown by Greg Wirkkala attracted much interest. The opening ceremonies on Saturday brought co-chairs Jennifer Johnson and Michael Swanson to the podium introducing Consul Emeritus Norman Westerberg of Seattle to give an address reflecting on past and present FinnFests and the percentage of Finns in the Northwest. The Maypole Dancers of Naselle were lively and lovely as ever. The results of the oh-so Finnish competitions — including the wife carry and the phone toss — will be posted later. Performances began at noon Friday, featuring acts for and by young people. But the Kantele was King, a fitting tribute to the national instrument and the many ways in which it is plucked, strummed, and played. The featured Kardemimmit quartet of young ladies from Finland strummed their 15 string kanteles like they were guitars or banjos, singing hauntingly, “From Finland we sailed away/ to the land of the USAÉ”, a cheerful-yet-tearful song of parting. Wilho Saari played with his sister May Saari Adair and daughter Karen Saari Nelson; the Kantele Kids that Wilho coaches during the year presented a fresh and young face to the instrument. The Kantele Mass by combined groups and featuring the Evergreen Kanteles from the Northwest provided a peaceful interlude Saturday afternoon. John Kulm, comedian and poet, joked with MCs Mike Swanson and Greg Nelson at the Saturday night show. The Naselle Choir sang their best under the direction of Cliff Weimer. The evening dance was full of experienced dancers like those from the Katrilli of Seattle and especially the families and young people of Naselle. Whenever it was time for a mixer like the humpa or the schottische and “The Chicken Dance” the dance floor was full. The 27 different performing groups provided enough diversity to please anyone. Bobby Saari and his girls Megan, Emily, and Hannah sang a true simple harmony of gospel that could have done well in a Carter/ Cash program, while consummately schooled musicians like Maria Mannisto (a much-honored soprano from Seattle) and Richard Ellis of our area, echoed programs from august concert halls. Carl Wirkkala with his Ghost Town Boys sang country western and gospel while our own Naselle choir provided more traditional four-part music. Friday evening’s program featured MCs Lori Dearmore and Karen Wirkkala twisting their practiced tongues around Finnish name and introducing a program of top notch people. The evening ended with videos by Naselle students saluting Rose E. Johnson of the Sleepy Hollow Motel and Anna Ehrlund, both instrumental members of the festival since 1982. At the Community Worship Service on Sunday morning, May Saari Adair came to the piano and pealed out the wonderful rolling tones of gospel songs calling people to worship. The Naselle victory bell served as a church bell. Pastor Richard Cary in his sermon even found a reference to “Knee Deep in Finns” in the Bible and the Finnish musicians, Kardemimmit, played and sang once more. As rain threatened and the wind blew, stage manager Stephanie Wise and MC Ken Kandoll rushed out to hold up the flags. Co-chairs Jennifer Johnson and Mike Swanson, who so bravely sailed through their first festival, were honored with presented birch vihtas (sauna switches) as they closed the festival. After a coffee hour, folks gathered at Peaceful Hill Cemetery to hear a program organized by Anna Ehrlund, Al Simukka, and John Indermark. Touching on all the settlers of the greater Naselle-Deep River-Salmon Creek-Rosburg and Grays River cemeteries, Anna and Alfred talked of how people have honored these graves and cemeteries over the years, even as the settlers moved in closer to town. John Indermark gave a brief meditation, reflecting on how many times the 23rd Psalms had been recited over graves in these valleys. It was a day that Grandma Pakenen, a member of the first Finnish family settling in Naselle. On meeting a person, she would say, “Who you be and where you come from?” It was a day for asking that question over and over and being treated to the surprise of finding old friends and meeting new ones and enjoying a day of friendship and fun in the sun. As visitors packed up for home and locals cleaned and stored treasures away, some enjoyed the sunshine and watched evening stars appear. As FAFF 2008 slipped into the annals of history, volunteers took a well deserved rest and gathered by phone or over coffee and Finn biscuit to contemplate another festival put to bed for another two years. The Finnish American Folk Festival of Naselle, 2008, is over. But you can take a look at our original pages, which may soon find updates with pictures and reports: music — a wide variety! folk Cultural Programing Series dance and pageantry our Paavo Nurmi Run/Walk (5k) Golf Tournament . . . and the Wife Carry, Boot Toss, Nokia Toss You are here — the festival’s main page — finnam.naselle.net/2008/. Site home page: finnam.naselle.net/.

Finns Swarm Upstream to Naselle

Reflections by Susan Holway