Photo courtesy of Visit Keweenaw Teams work on their masterpieces in 2024's Hancock Ice Sculpture Competition.

HANCOCK — Get ready for a weekend of frosty artistry and festive fun during this year’s Heikinpäivä Mid-Winter Festival in the City of Hancock. In collaboration with Visit Keweenaw, the City of Hancock announces the return of the Annual Snow Sculpting Competition, Jan. 23 – 25, our second year of hosting the competition and our first as part of Heikinpäivä, one of the Copper Country’s most cherished winter festivals, in downtown Hancock.

This is an extra special year as the City of Hancock celebrates its designation as the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture for 2026, recognizing our city’s Finnish heritage and vibrant community spirit. Heikinpäivä will be the first celebration within the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture year, and this year’s snow sculpting competition will add to this milestone year in grand style.

Here is just a taste of what is being planned during this year’s Heikinpäivä Snow Sculpting Invitational …

* Jan 23: Team arrivals at Noon, sculpting competition Begins at 1 p.m. (times approximate)

* Jan. 24: Sculpting Competition Continues all-day. Extended TORI and Neighborhood Market will be at the Finnish American Heritage Center

and the First United Methodist Church. Food vendors will be at the Finnish American Heritage Center and First United Methodist Church

* Jan. 25: Final Sculpting during the morning with ​tools down at 1 p.m. A Community Snowman Building contest will begin at noon hosted by the Hancock Business Association (HBA) with prizes going to the winners. Judging and Deliberation of the Snow Sculpting Invitational to follow, with the winners announced at 2 p.m.

Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to bundle up, stroll Quincy Green, and experience the magic of winter creativity while enjoying the full slate of Heikinpäivä events throughout downtown Hancock.

For more information on Heikinpäivä events and schedules including the Heikinpäivä Snow Sculpting Invitational, please visit www.cityofhancock.com or www.visitkeweenaw.com