Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette From left, Jon Luse and Todd Gast go over reports during the Hancock DDA meeting on Monday. Gast shared committees were created to prepare the city for its upcoming celebrations and events affiliated with its designation as the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture. Groups, clubs and businesses are encouraged to attach their own events to larger city ones in order to capitalize on larger crowds.

HANCOCK — Hancock’s Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture committees have been established to oversee areas of preparation for celebrations to accompany the city’s special designation. The report and more came from Todd Gast of Hancock’s Development Downtown Authority (DDA) during the its meeting Monday. A marketing promotions committee, planning and programming committee, budget and financial committee and hospitality committee were created in preparation for upcoming events.

While the committees are focused on how the city will proceed with the Capital of Culture events, Gast said businesses and organizations will participate. Gast reported the Hancock Rotary will host a fall wine tasting and a talent show the club was planning to incorporate into the 2026 Heikinpäivä. He explained groups are considering lining up their events in coordination with larger celebrations affiliated with the Capital of Culture.

Hancock is also preparing for the upcoming Harvest Festival at the city’s campground on Sept. 19 and 20. Gast said the event will include trick or treating and a competition regarding the best decorated campsite. Those judged to have the best site will win two free nights of camping. There are also plans in motion to include a screening of “Hocus Pocus” at the campground.

The Hancock Business Association will put up autumn decorations which include corn stocks on light poles, hay bales and scarecrows throughout the city.

The winter event “Hancock Lights the Night” reached its registration deadline on Aug. 29, and the city officially has 22 teams registered. Gast said there will be a full on push for volunteering, since he believes “Hancock Lights the Night” might be the biggest community event the city may be doing.

“It’s going to take quite an effort to get that park decorated for the Holidays,” he said. “It’ll be all hands on deck for that, but we’re really looking forward to it. This is something that the City of Hancock has been wanting to do, and then getting that seed money from Visit Keweenaw really kind of pushed us into it now, and we’re committed, and we’re super happy for that because we had a goal of 20 teams, and having 22 is really a great– two plus over your goal is always a good thing.”

In other news, Gast reported the Celtic Quarter Corner House on 222 Hancock St. was sold to the Hancock Housing Foundation for $1. After failing to qualify to be entered into the National Registry, the city has planned to utilize the building for housing units.

“This will give the Foundation the opportunity to work with the city of Hancock on the state’s Mi Neighborhood Community Development Block Grant opportunity that allows $100,000 per residential unit,” Gast said. “The building will be used for three units, one two bedroom and two one bedroom units.”

Gast also gave a recap of the End of Summer Celebration held on last Saturday. Gast said despite five vendors having to cancel due to illness, the event was well attended. He said attendees he spoke with were not only locals and came from areas such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas and even a family traveled from Japan.