Traveling sauna helps to kick off Juhannas weekend celebrations

A traveling sauna stopped at Hanka Homestead on Friday for the start of this weekend’s Juhannus Festival in the Upper Peninsula. The sauna has traveled more than 9,000 miles from the Twin Cities in Minnesota, with stops in Texas, along the West Coast, and the upper Midwest.

The sauna is traveling this year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Finnish Independence.

“We knew that there are Finns all across the United States and we knew that they are celebrating the centennial not only on December 6, but throughout the year like today at Hanka Homestead,” Chief Sauna Ambassador Risto Sivula said. “So, we wanted to highlight that American Finns are celebrating the centennial together all year long."

The sauna will move on to the East Coast and travel from Boston to Florida before being auctioned off in December. Proceeds from the auction will go toward travel expenses.

The traveling sauna has funded by corporate and non-profit sponsors.

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