NASELLE — Organizers of the FinnFest activities are looking for a few good men and women.

And they want to remind everyone: You don’t have to be Finnish.

The idea is to spread the workload so the stalwarts of the Finnish American Folk Festival (FAFF) can rely on more helping hands.

“We are looking for more volunteers to join our membership and festival,” said Haleigh See, who teaches at the Naselle Schools. ‘The festival takes lots of work, time and volunteers. We have several chairs needing to be filled. Any of your gifts and talents can be put to use in some way with the festival or any of our other events throughout the year.”

Decision

The call for volunteers comes as the group announces a slate of smaller-scale activities coming up between now and the new year.

However, leaders have also announced that they have cancelled the 2025 FinnFest because of work to renovate the Naselle Schools campus, which forms the centerpiece for the three-day event. A decision was made in 2023 to postpone this summer’s festival, for the same reason; instead, a “Mini-FinnFest,” focused on the Appelo Archive Center in Naselle, was held in July.

Lisa Nelson, superintendent of Naselle-Grays River School District, said work includes the renovation of the music/vocational wing for which the district received a $4.88 million grant through the Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction’s small rural school modernization fund.

She noted that bids are due to be returned Oct. 29. Construction should start December and go on through the summer. “We hope to do final systems checks in July/August and then have full occupancy by the time school starts in the fall,” she added.

Because of this, organizers are looking to return with a full festival July 24-26, 2026.

Mission

See and a board of equally enthusiastic volunteers of the nonprofit organization gather on the last Sunday of each month to plan events to keep Naselle hopping year-round.

The mission statement is all-encompassing: “The Finnish American Folk Festival of Naselle preserves, promotes and presents the historic customs and cultures of the Finnish American and broader Lower Columbia communities, connects generations and cultivates community values through events, activities and a biennial festival.”

It has been hosting the FinnFest, which features arts, crafts, music and food, since 1982.

“FAFF has evolved into so much more than just the festival and preserving our Finnish culture, and now includes events such as the Halloween Haunted House, the Easter egg hunts, and more.” she said. “There is a core group that works hard to put these events together and in order to keep providing these events more help is needed.

Activities

A priority is keeping the Naselle Community Center thriving. See noted that they are raising money for a portable public announcement (PA) system, as well as upgrades for the bathrooms and kitchen.

The center, at 14 Parpala Road, is the former home of the Naselle Congregational Church. It hosts community and cultural programs and is available for rental. For details, contact Bill Grimberg at billandjj@wwest.net.

Several events are on the horizon:

• 2 p.m. Oct. 19, paint party with Abbie Mumley at the Naselle Community Center. Supplies will be provided. The cost is $40 and people must register to attend. This can be accomplished online through the FAFF website or Facebook page at https://nasellefinnfest.com and www.facebook.com/NaselleFAFF.

• 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 31, a Halloween Bash at the Community Center. Donations of candy and prizes, as well as monetary donations, are still needed. They can be dropped off with Holly Engelson or Jenny Boggs.

• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 23, a Holiday Bazaar. Booths are still available at $25. To register for a table, contact chair@nasellefinnfest.com.

• 1 p.m. Dec. 8, Concert at the Deep River Church.

• 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 8, a Soup Supper at the Naselle Community Center with Christmas tree lighting and a sing-along at 5 p.m.

• Noon to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Tour of Homes. This is a tour of homes throughout the community to showcase houses decorated for the holiday season. A map will be provided at many locations and is available on the website and Facebook page. Organizers are still looking for people to sign up to be on the tour. Cost is $5.

• 5 p.m. Dec. 15, a lighted parade down Knappton Road (participants will line up at 4 p.m.). For details, email parade@nasellefinnfest.com. Potential entries can register for the parade and sign the waiver on the FAFF website. See make paper copies of the waiver available.

Two other activities round out a busy agenda. The group is offering new FAFF sweatshirts, hoodies and T-shirts at upcoming events. To purchase items, contact board@nasellefinnfest.com.

The group is also putting together a cookbook. Anyone interested in submitting a recipe may send it to cookbook@nasellefinnfest.com. All recipes are welcome, not just those with Finnish flavors. “Our goal is to help preserve and share our favorite family recipes,” See said.

FinnFest contacts

FinnFest contacts

General information, memberships and donations at nasellefinnfest.com.

and www.facebook.com/NaselleFAFF

Email info@nasellefinnfest.com.

By mail to P.O. Box 156, Naselle WA 98638.

To register for the Oct. 19 paint party, contact Barbara Swanson at bibs40@hotmail.com.

To register for a Nov. 23 bazaar table or buy merchandise, email chair@nasellefinnfest.com.

Te register for the Dec. 15 parade, email parade@nasellefinnfest.com

To rent the community center, contact Bill Grimberg at billandjj@wwest.net.

To submit a recipe, email cookbook@nasellefinnfest.com

Membership levels begin at $10 a year; donations are tax-deductible, although memberships are not.