Earth Day Festival at Finlandia April 19

HANCOCK, MI - Finlandia University encourages the public to participate in an Earth Day Festival Tuesday, April 19, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Finnish American Heritage Center and on the adjacent lawn.

Festival-goers will enjoy an afternoon of music, dancing, games, earth-friendly food, and student presentations and informational booths.

Participants who "BYOM" (Bring Your Own Mug-or water bottle) can enter a raffle for prizes, including a grand prize mountain bike, donated in part by Hancock Bike Shop. Prizes will be awarded throughout the afternoon, and include t-shirts, gift certificates, books, edible medals, and more.

Music will be performed by Captain Woody Boogie and The Pirates of Groove, an eleven-piece band that features rock, blues, R&B, funk, and pop. The upbeat, high-energy band is described on their Facebook page as "pure musical pleasure" with its blend of rich horns, an experienced rhythm section, and talented vocalist Ansley Knoch.

The Earth Day Festival is organized by the Finlandia University Sustainability Committee, and funded by the Office of Student Affairs and the Finlandia Campus Enrichment Fund.

For more information, contact associate professor  of English Suzanne Van Dam at 906-487-7515 or suzanne.vandam@finlandia.edu

Schedule of Earth Day Festival events:

3:30-4:30 p.m. - Games: Relay races, volleyball, face painting, and more on the lawn of the former Hancock middle school.

4:30-5:30 p.m. - Dinner: Earth-friendly food served in the Finnish American Heritage Center theatre. Bring your own mug or water bottle for a free drink and to enter the raffle!

5:00-6:30 p.m. - Music and dancing featuring The Pirates of Groove, along with student presentations and informational booths, in the Finnish American Heritage Center theatre.