​​​Past Events​​

​Juhannus (Midsummer Celebration)
Saturday, June 24, 2023 from 3-7pm
Birch Bay State Park
Activities for the day included a talk on midsummer traditions across Europe by WWU professor Dr. Vajda, a campfire and picnic fare (hotdogs, salads, s'mores supplies). We had a banquet permit, so people were able to bring their own beer or wine to enjoy! We also had lawn games (Molkky anyone?) and the beach was a short walk away with low tide at 4pm that day. It was a great time for all those who came to celebrate!

Vappu (May Day) celebrated on
Sunday, April 30, 2023
The event was held at the lower, fully-enclosed pavilion at Fairhaven Park from 12:00 until 2:30.  All Finns, Finnish-Americans and friends of Finland were welcomed.  Refreshments were of the pot luck variety, and many people brought along their favorite Finnish or Nordic dishes which they shared with others. 

Very Successful Finnish Film Festival at the
FireHouse Arts and Events Center in Fairhaven
From Friday evening, February 3, until Sunday evening, February 5, our Finnish Film Festival was a tremendous success.  Roughly 250 people came to see 9 films and listen to a guest speaker talk about Tove Jansson.  The films ranged from full-length feature Finnish films to documentaries about Finland to shorter movies made by local Bellingham students in association with students in Finland.  Finnish snacks were available in addition to a variety of Finnish merchandise items for sale.  The event was a great time to learn more about Finland, its history, its culture and enjoy some famous Finnish movies.  Please click on the Film Festival link above e to see some photos of the event.​

We want to hear from you!
Are you a Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter member or interested in joining us at any events? Do you read our newsletter? Are you a Finn, Finnish-American, or otherwise have a connection to Finland and are living in the Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan county area? We want to hear from you! Please take some time to fill out a questionnaire about our organization and how we can better serve you.

Finlandia Foundation National was founded by Yrjö A. Paloheimo on January 21, 1953 in Southern California. The idea to form an organization to nurture ties with Finland and promote a sense of Finnishness for younger generations in the U.S. was first conceived by Paloheimo in 1945. However, it took him eight years to gather enough interested individuals to form the first of the current 58 chapters in the national organization.

​ The Foundation’s mission is to promote Finnish-American culture in the United States and ancestral ties with Finland. The National Chapter celebrated its 60th anniversary in March 2013 in Pasadena, California.

The Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter was founded in 2010 and three of the founding members are still active and with the board: Tapio Holma, Asko Hamalainen, and Brend Hunt-Holma. FFSC serves as the local Finlandia Foundation chapter for Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties.

Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter

Music

Become a member!

Your annual dues help support FFSC's events and newsletter.

CONTACT US
​Let us know if you would like to join our email list, become a member or volunteer.
P.O. Box 2544, Bellingham, WA  98227
ffsuomi@gmail.com
​

Everyone is encouraged to offer suggestions for future events that focus on Finnish culture, food, history, etc.  If you have ideas, please feel free to submit them to 
ffsuomi@gmail.com​

Single membership: $30
Family/Couple membership: $45
Supporting membership: $50
Lifetime membership: $300

Please click the Donate button above to pay by PayPal (or credit card). If you prefer, please fill out the membership application and mail to: 
Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter
P.O. Box 2544
Bellingham, WA 98227

Please email ffsuomi@gmail.com 
for other payment options or questions.

Annual Independence Day Dinner
Sunday, December 10, 2023

See announcement below under

Upcoming Event heading

​​​​​​Upcoming Event

Annual Independence Day Dinner

Sunday, December 10, 2023

We will be meeting at the Northwater Restaurant located in the Holiday Inn & Suites, 4260 Mitchell Way, Bellingham 98226.  It is located between the airport terminal and I-5.  Join us from 5:00 to 8:00 PM for a Mediterranean dinner, speaker and festivities.  We are requesting advance payment of $50 as your RSVP.  You can pay online either via PayPal or by debit or credit card.  Just use the Donate button at the top of this page.  Make sure to include "Independence Dinner" in the membership/donation section so we will know your intentions.  Please contact us via email at ffsuomi@gmail.com if you would like us to call you to make the payment over the phone or for other forms of payment.  Final day to make a reservation is Friday, December 1st.​

Items to be auctioned off include three 26" long kanteles (one with a walnut case) and a 24" x 24" walnut framed LED backlit photo of a Finnish sauna built on a lake.

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FFSC has been promoting both local and Finnish musicians since its foundation. Concerts have included jazz musician Olli Hirvonen, soprano Maria Mannisto, violinist Kati Valimaa, pianist Marja Kaisla, the Starry Night Quartet, Mt. Baker Youth Symphony, and the Wade King Singers. In 2017 Tapio Holma served as tour guide for the North Stars Chamber Orchestra on their visit to Finland as a part of the centennial celebration of Finland's independence from the USSR.

​Welcome to the Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter’s website! 
The Suomi Chapter serves Finns, Finnish Americans and friends of Finland in Whatcom, Skagit and Island Counties. Annual events include a Juhannus (“midsummer” summer solstice) celebration in June and a Finnish Independence Day celebration in December. We also hold our annual meeting for all members and interested parties in the spring. Check out our events page for more information.

Click the Donate button below to pay your annual dues or donate to Finlandia Foundation Suomi Chapter.

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