Balint Bakondi, the charge d’affaires for the Consulate General of Hungary, will be in Hancock to participate in the city’s upcoming Juhannus celebration. (Facebook photo)

HANCOCK — For what is almost certainly a first in the history of Upper Michigan history, says David Maki, director of the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, high-ranking officials from three countries will be in Hancock at the same time to take part in the city Juhannus (midsummer) celebration.

Last week, the Daily Mining Gazette announced Ambassador of Finland Leena-Kaisa Mikkola and her Estonian counterpart Kristjan Prikk, will be in the Keweenaw on Friday, June 19 as part of the Juhannus (Midsummer) celebration in Hancock. The ambassadors will deliver remarks at 11 a.m., followed by a brief question-and-answer period at at Hancock Central High School.

They will be joined by Balint Bakondi, the charge d’affaires for the Consulate General of Hungary, as special guests of the Juhannus planning committee, Maki said Friday morning. The three dignitaries will deliver keynote addresses from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 19 at Hancock Central High School, offering insights about their respective countries and exploring cultural commonalities. There will be a brief question-and-answer period following the presentations. There is no admission fee for these presentations.

The school is also the site of a day-long lecture and presentation series that day, and is hosting the festival’s tori (marketplace) that’s taking place June 19-20. Hancock Central High School is located at 501 Campus Drive in Hancock, only three miles from downtown.

“All three keynote speakers represent Finno-Ugric nations,” Maki said, “and are coming to Hancock to celebrate the city’s recognition as the world’s Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture for 2026.”

Maki said it is the first time in history that honor has been bestowed upon a location outside of Europe, and the celebration planning committee has developed a multi-day slate of family-friendly events that get under way on Wednesday, June 17.

For a full schedule, visit hancockfinnougric.com.