HANCOCK – Continuing a tradition that has been observed since the Republic of Finland’s establishment in 1917, Finlandia University will once again celebrate Finnish independence.

According to a release for this event, this year’s celebration will be held starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Finnish American Heritage Center on Finlandia’s campus. Kris Kyro, who the release said “established herself as a leading Finnish-American stage performer” for her work on FinnFest USA in 2013, has written a short play from the perspective of an immigrant woman, and will perform in one of the play’s two roles at the celebration. Kyro will also share her vocal talents during another segment of the program.

Joining Kyro will be the Kivajat Dancers and the Ilon Kaiku kantele ensemble, and Finnish American Historical Archive intern Emppu Siltaloppi, a Finnish native, will discuss pre-independence Finland. Throughout the program, Michigan Tech student and Ewen native Daniel Grayvold will provide piano accompaniment, and will play a solo performance of Sibelius’ “Finlandia”

The City of Hancock’s Finnish Theme Committee will also announce the recipient of this year’s Hankooki Heikki award, which is given annually to someone who demonstrates exemplary efforts to preserve and promote Finnish culture in the Copper Country.

Refreshments will be provided by the theme committee after the program, which is expected to last approximately one hour. For more information on the celebration, call Finnish American Heritage Center director Jim Kurtti at 487-7302.