Newsletter Oct 2024 - Summer Highlights • Knights & Ladies of Kaleva

Kaleva Convention

A group of people posing indoors, with some standing and others seated in front. They are dressed in a mix of formal and casual attire, with a blue and white color theme visible. The setting has stacked chairs and a table with items on the left.

The Convention Board that was anything but “bored” this summer 🤪

A group of women in white tops and blue skirts pose for a photo outdoors, with three flags behind them. They are seated on chairs, with a park-like setting in the background. Text reads,

Our Ladies 👩

A group of people sits in two rows outdoors, with Canadian, American, and Finnish flags behind them. They are dressed formally, and chairs are arranged in a grassy park. Text on the ground reads:

Our Knights 🛡️

A group photo of people gathered outdoors for the 56th Kaleva International Grand Lodge Convention in Virginia, MN, July 2024. Attendees are seated and standing, wearing formal attire. There are flags and trees in the background.

The whole group!

FinnFest USA

Ida Metsberg! From Helsinki Finland!
Started a Band with the me for a handful of Finnish type gigs this summer.

Two people smiling indoors at an event. One is wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt and glasses, pointing at the other, who is wearing a white t-shirt and a cap. They appear to be at a booth or exhibition with banners and items around.

Kyle Gray Young – Musician/Grant Writer
He Quit Smoking by learning a Finnish word instead for every cigarette he would have smoked. 20 words a day!

Four people pose joyfully in front of the large red ship, William A. Irvin. One person holds an accordion, and another takes a selfie. The ship and maritime setting suggest a lively, outdoor event or gathering.

The Hauliwood Vampires
Band living in Hollywood. All members originally from Finland. Met them at FinnFest! Such a fun crew.

FinnCreek Summer Folk Fest

A small brass band performs on stage in a hall decorated with blue and white pennant banners. An American and Finnish flag hang on the wall. The audience sits at tables covered with blue checkered tablecloths.

Finn Creek New York Mills Minnesota!
Amerikan Pojat – The premiere Brass Band of the Midwest!

A group of people dressed in historical military uniforms stand in front of a tent, holding a flag and a framed picture. Various period items, such as boots and weapons, are displayed around them on the grass, with trees and a wooden cabin in the background.

2nd Jäger Battalion
Re-Enactors of the Finnish Winter War (A group I just joined in August)

A man energetically plays an accordion while wearing a humorous hat with a small flag attached. He's singing into a microphone, accompanied by a drum set. An American flag hangs in the background, adding a festive touch to the scene.

Singing his heart out at the FinnCreek Fest.

Red Lodge Montana Trip

A rustic red building with a metal roof and white porch railings on a grassy lawn. A small windmill is mounted on the roof. Trees and a cloudy blue sky are in the background.

Kaleva Lodge August 2024

A community gathering in a room with wooden walls, where people are sitting and standing around tables covered with blue checkered tablecloths. Some are serving food from a buffet setup, while others are seated and chatting.

A Delightful Meal!

Two men stand at the front of a room, one holding a breadboard with loaves. The other gestures as he presents. An audience sits at tables, some with phones, while a slideshow is projected on the wall behind them. The setting is a rustic, wood-paneled room.

Frank Eld Presentation!

Two people pose outdoors on rocky terrain surrounded by trees and mountains. One person is wearing a striped shirt and shorts, while the other is in a blue graphic t-shirt. The scene is bright and natural, indicating a hiking or outdoor setting.

Kaleva Brothers Ken and Steve in the Montana Mountains

Finnish-American Business called Kiitos Brewing – Salt Lake City Utah

A group of people, including five children and two adults, smile for a photo indoors. One person sits, holding an accordion next to a drum set. The background features a textured brick wall. One child lays on the floor, looking up at the camera.

Did a show in Provo Utah with the BYU Finnish Club!

Elgin Illinois Nordic Fest

A person takes a selfie at an outdoor event where a group of people in traditional costumes hold flags and signs of various countries, including Norway, Iceland, and Finland. Trees and a building are visible in the background.

A musician on a stage plays the accordion next to a drum set. Various international flags, including the USA, Canada, and Norway, are displayed in the background. The stage is set outdoors with trees and greenery around.

A man dressed as a one-man band with various instruments stands beside a smiling woman holding a

I got to lead a parade of all the Nordic Countries and represent Finland singing Maame & The Star Spangled Banner

Norsk Høstfest

A person taking a selfie in front of the North Dakota State Fair Center entrance. The wall displays flags from the USA, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Canada, along with the text

Norsk Høstfest – Minot North Dakota Largest Scandinavian/Nordic Fest in the country.

Two men are playing instruments indoors. One man in front is smiling broadly while holding an accordion with blue, white, and red colors. The other man in the background is holding a guitar and looking towards the camera.

Got to share the stage with Miska Kajanus! The 2024 Finlandia Performer of the Year. We did a few Duets as the only Finns in the entertainment lineup.

Three people smiling at a booth decorated with blue ribbons. The man on the left wears a Finland shirt, the person in the middle a purple shirt, and the woman on the right an apron reading

The Finnish booth was selling Mojakka! Felt like I had family far away from home.

4 thoughts on “Newsletter Oct 2024 – Summer Highlights”

Were the Tupas listed? Please include Aallottaren Tupa #15 in Duluth MN. Nice job on the first newsletter. So much information!

Steve Solkela says:

October 16, 2024 at 12:37 pm

Compiling a List. Thank you for your comment.

Reply

Found this site after my cousin texted me—asking,
“What organization sponsored Kaleva Camp?”
We were campers and jr counselors at Kaleva Camp in Minnesota between 1951 to 1959. The week long camp was held variously at Side Lake (on the Iron Range) and Burntside Lake (Ely)Seren, as I recall. Memories include limitless saunas, swimming, Finnish language and dancing sessions…and daily competitive cabin cleanups! Making new friends was such fun!
To reply, (and verify), after googling: “Knights and Ladies of Kaleva” ( the camp sponsors), the search brought me to discover this informative site.
By the time my daughter was “camper age,”she—and later her kids—attended “Salolampi” near Bemidji, Minnesota. It’s a Finnish Language and Culture Camp managed through Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.
Do Knights and Ladies of Kaleva continue to sponsor Finnish Language and Culture Camps in the United States?