FEE: $50 per child | $100 family maximum | Teens and adults participate free

Scholarships available

2026 Kalevala Puppet Pageant Community Workshops

Dates: August 10–20, 2026
Location: The Barn, New York Mills Sculpture Park (with select rehearsals and performances at other locations)

Youth, teens, adults, and families are invited to participate in the 17th Annual Kalevala Puppet Pageant, an annual community theater experience based on stories from the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.

Led by Creative Director Anne Sawyer, this immersive program gives participants the opportunity to explore acting, puppet and prop building, costume design, storytelling, and optional stilt walking while preparing for two public performances later in August.

Participants will take part in a series of workshops beginning Monday, August 10, 2026, with daily sessions, optional evening workshops, rehearsals, and performance preparation.

Who Can Participate

• Ages 5 and up

• Children under age 7 must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling

• Teens and adults are welcome

Cost

• $50 per child

• $100 family maximum

• Teens and adults participate free

• Scholarships available

Volunteers and community helpers are also welcome.

To register or learn more, contact info@kulcher.org or call 218-385-3339.

FEE: Friday- Free will donation | Saturday- $5 adult gate donation; children under 16 free

2026 Kalevala Puppet Pageant Performances

Dates: Friday, August 21 & Saturday, August 22, 2026
Location: New York Mills VFW / Finn Creek Open Air Museum

The 17th Annual Kalevala Puppet Pageant returns this August with two public performances celebrating community theater, Finnish heritage, and large-scale puppet performance.

Created and narrated by Anne Sawyer and performed by youth and community members from the New York Mills region, this original street theater production is inspired by stories from the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.

Performance Schedule

• Friday, August 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM
  New York Mills VFW Post 3289
  Presented during the NYM Corn Feed
  Free to attend

• Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM
  Finn Creek Open Air Museum
  Presented during Finn Creek Festival
  $5 adult gate donation; children under 16 free

Free will donations will be accepted at both performances to help support this community arts experience.

For more information, contact info@kulcher.org or call 218-385-3339.