Location: Minneapolis
Venue: Minneapolis Orchestra Hall, Hilton Hotel, American Swedish Institute

What would happen if FinnFest collaborated with local institutions? The answer: a lot more people exposed to things Finnish, less cost for FinnFest, and much more mainstream media attention…including “above the fold” in Friday’s Minneapolis Star Tribune. Minnesota Orchestra, with President Niinistö in attendance, had close to 2000 in the auditorium and several million more listening to the live broadcast on the radio, listening to an incredible concert of music by Finnish composers (Kalevi Aho, Jaakko Kuusisto and Jean Sibelius). The Economic Club of Minnesota hosted President Sauli Niinistö who both spoke and participated in a lively Q&A shared with over 650 in attendance, a speech recorded for listening. We discovered that Finns and friends of Finland were everywhere.