On Saturday, May 10th, the Finnish Heritage Museum made history by hosting its inaugural Vappu Spring Festival, a joyful celebration of Finnish culture, student graduation, and town pride.
The event took place in the Village of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, bringing traditional Vappu festivities to life when community and museum members reconnected with their roots and created a new American audience to enjoy the popular Finnish holiday. Our visitors left knowing they just had an amazing experience.
The all-day festival featured a live DJ on an open mic stage. Visitors created Marimekko-inspired artwork and the tots had their faces painted. Elders shared stories of Finnish ancestry as families enjoyed picnics, games, and tours of the FHM exhibits. There were even complimentary golf cart rides to the town’s historic lighthouse. The art showcase, music, cultural displays, and interactive activities kept the crowd engaged and entertained.
The festival was preceded two weeks earlier by an FHM sponsored Vappu Spring Fest Talent Show at Fairport Harding High School, where students in grades 6–12 performed singing, dancing, comedy and magic. This high-energy show served as a prelude to our main event, with student performers invited back for encore appearances on the Vappu main stage on May 10th. The Finnish Heritage Museum gave high school graduating seniors a custom festival backpack featuring Vappu the Blue Moose, the event’s cheerful mascot, along with a detailed activity map guiding them to many local businesses that were happy to celebrate the new graduates by giving them gifts.
With sunny weather, a turnout that exceeded expectations, and an atmosphere full of laughter and local pride, organizers declared their first-ever Vappu Festival a resounding success. Sisu runs deep in Fairport. And now, so does the Vappu spirit. 
Finnish Heritage Museum leaders
Author Matthew Penttila, Finnish Heritage Museum
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