On June 26th, 2015, for three glorious days, the Finnish Canadian Cultural Federation and the FinnFestival 2015 organizing committees will be kicking off the event of this year, the 75th Annual Finnish Canadian Grand Festival. An open invitation goes out to all Finns and non-Finns alike from across Canada and the USA to join in the festivities and to “Get your FINN on!”.
Our Festival site, the Mel Lastman Square located in the heart of uptown Toronto on Yonge Street, offers you a beautiful, lush and spacious outdoor venue to enjoy. The outdoor amphitheater with ample seating will ensure that you’ll enjoy a great variety of programs throughout the days and you can stroll through the Nordic Fair/Marketplace where the savvy shopper will find handmade, vintage and imported goods with Nordic flair while the various food vendors will keep you fed and happy.
Just steps away, in the various indoor facilities at the North York Civic Centre and Novotel Hotel, the Grand Festival will be showcasing the spirit of our Finnish heritage, featuring concerts, dances, lecturers, films, art and craft exhibits, workshops, religious events including Sunday morning church service with “Suomalainen Messu”, and theatre plays to enhance your FinnFestival 2015 experience.
Also with the public transit, only steps away, you will enjoy the luxury of exploring all the beauty and adventure Toronto has to offer. A trip to Niagara Falls and a sightseeing tour to the Niagara Region and wineries are not to be missed and can be pre-booked on your registration form. For those of you seeking to extend your stay, Toronto will be hosting various Canada Day festivities on July 1st and the Pan Am Games, starting July 12th, 2015. Truly, Toronto is the place to be in.
The FINNfestivities will begin on Friday June 26th at noon with the Grand Opening Ceremonies at Mel Lastman Square Ampitheatre (5100 Yonge Street) and the Square program will continue for three days with participation from Finns, Swedes, Danes and Estonians.
We do have a cavalcade of performers, from Finland, from Canada and from U.S.A.
We have several exquisite concerts and choir performances – The Male Singers of North America in concert. Our own chamber choir Vox Finlandiae singing the music of the rich Finnish choral tradition, bringing together Finnish and non-Finnish audiences. So Many Sisters from Finland with glitter and beautiful singing – kimallusta ja kaunista laulua. Their music is light heated and entertaining giving the listener wonderful musical moments. The “Tenor Lieutenant” Raimo Salo will take us back in time interpreting wartime rarities of Toivo Kärki compositions in honor of his 100th birthday. A spiritual concert with a renowned composer Lasse Heikkilä together with Rainer Lindeman. Our Festival Concert on Sunday afternoon is an event not to be missed. The best of the festival will all be there under one roof.
We have, not one, but two fabulous theatre presentations. The first one, “Harmaat Pantterit” from Finland on Friday evening and our own theatre company’s “Amerikan Armas” Saturday afternoon. You will have an opportunity to practice your Finnish since both plays are done in Finnish. You can find synopsis for these two wonderful, funny plays on the website.
Finns love to dance and we have three great dances in store for you, all in the Ballroom of the Novotel Hotel, Opening Dance will be on Friday night with our own band “Toronton Pelimannit” playing. The Gala Dinner Dance will take place on Saturday evening. Dress to the nines and be prepared to enjoy some great program and a wonderful meal before dancing the night away to the tunes of “Vesipumppu” band from Finland. And as always, we will end the Festival and say our last “goodbyes” at the closing dance on Sunday night.