Several Minnesota towns will host St. Urho's Day festivals this month, celebrating the saint who supposedly chased the grasshoppers out of Finland's vineyards. Here are two worth noting:
Menahga, Minn.
The St. Urho's Celebration takes place next weekend at various sites. Festivities begin Friday at 6:30 p.m. with opening ceremonies and a coronation of the St. Urho king and queen, followed by a St. Urho look-alike contest, a meat raffle (both days) and more. On Saturday the festival continues all day with a parade (12:20 p.m.), horse-drawn wagon rides, a volleyball tournament, cultural games, a changing of the guard at the St. Urho statue (noon), ethnic food and drinks and music (tinyurl.com/y6fq42xs; 1-218-564-4557).
Finland, Minn.
The 44th annual St. Urho's Festival Saturday features a day of family-geared events including a pancake breakfast, a parade (noon), games, crafts, live music and other activities held at the community center and nearby sites. Also, on Friday the popular annual Miss Helmi contest will be held (friendsoffinland.org; 1-218-353-0300).
Freeman, S.D.
Get your tickets now for Schmeckfest, an annual German festival, before the two weekends of food and fun sell out. The event, held March 29-30 and April 5-6, celebrates the town's German-Russian heritage, with an authentic German meal, demonstrations, exhibits and museum tours. Tickets for the meal and performance are by mail advance order (schmeckfest.com; 1-605-925-4542).
Colleen A. Coles
