St. Urho’s 2026 was a whirlwind of purple, green, and pure community spirit. From whimsical “Wonderland” floats to the legendary Tug of War, the festivities offered something for everyone.
The celebration kicked off on Friday night, March 13th, as crowds packed local bars to witness the Miss Helmi contest, ending at Wildhurst and hosted by MT. But this wasn’t your average beauty pageant. Contestants brought their unique flair to the stage and performed for the title of St Urho’s girl.
• Wilma Fingerdoo: A cowgirl with a sharp sense of humor.
• Tuhma Tyttö (Bad Girl): Impressing the crowd with feats of super strength.
• May Mojakka: A true devotee of Finland’s favorite soup.
• Alice Hefflefinger (Pat Ramsdell): Who won hearts with a humorous poem dedicated to Urho.
In a “Steve Harvey” moment, Alice was accidentally crowned prematurely to the host’s surprise. After a quick laugh and a return of the crown, Alice was officially named the winner and earned a seat of honor in Saturday’s parade.
Saturday morning began with a hearty pancake breakfast hosted by the Finland Historical Society. Once fueled up, the crowds headed to the West Branch River bridge for the annual Tug of War. This year, the North Side dominated, winning both rounds to the cheers of the suspenseful crowd.
The parade followed shortly after, showcasing incredible local artistry:
• “Most Wonderful”: The Miss Helmi float, featuring an Alice in Wonderland painting created by local youth.
• “Most Original”: The Friends of Finland Youth Night float, decorated with a vibrant “Chester Grasshopper” painted by the younger kids.
• “Best of Show”: Heather Sve, who wowed the judges once again with her vividly painted car.
Music, Mojakka, and Memories
Post-parade, the community split between the Clair Nelson Center for warm bowls of Mojakka, shopping, and music, and the Four Seasons, where a heated tent hosted dancers and musicians all afternoon. Some also hung out at a local favorite, Our Place.
If you missed out on the official 2026 Urho T-shirt or button, don’t worry! You can still grab yours at the Finland Co-op while supplies last.
Congratulations to the Winners
Sunday at Wildhurst served as the grand finale, where door prizes and raffle winners were announced.
Stamp Game & Sculpture Winners:
• Stamp Game: Samara Goutermont, Priscilla Peterson, and Rose Evans.
• Snow Sculpture (In memory of Brad Anderson): Genavive and Galvin George.
Raffle Winners:
• $600, Cheryl Suin Koren – Mt. Iron, MN
• $300, Carolyn Holm – Babbitt, MN
• $200, Al Kornovich – Oak Park, MN
• $100, Barb Blitt – Breezy Point, MN
• $100, Amanda Weeks – Finland, MN
• $100, Laura Hakala – Makinen, MN
The fun doesn’t stop with Urho! There are many upcoming events to look forward to in Finland. Monthly potlucks at the Clair Nelson Center will be taking place again on the last Sunday of every month. Groups or families are welcome to “host” a potluck. They can even decorate or make it a themed potluck if they wish to add some additional fun. Social hour and setup are always at 5 pm, and dinner starts at 6 pm. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share.
This spring & summer, FOF(- Friends of Finland) will be doing a lot of work around the grounds and will need many volunteers for the project. Starting in May, if the weather cooperates, they will start the beautification project, which will include everything from raking, planting, pulling weeds, cleaning up the tennis court, and adding a border around the playground. The fire department and some softball players will be taking on the project of replacing the softball fence.
This summer, instead of the usual youth camp, FOF will be holding day camp activities. Fishing, hiking, painting, diamond art, splash pads, and movie nights will be some of the activities that will be offered.
To help out on the beautification project or sign up for hosting a potluck, contact:
arlene@friendsoffinland.org
218-353-0300
Want to help make next year’s St. Urho’s even bigger? Sign up and help out. If you would like to get involved: Email sturhocommittee@ friendsoffinland.org
There are hopes to get more floats participating in next year’s parade to add to the fun! So start getting your creative minds flowing for next year.
