MARQUETTE, Mich.—A dance and potluck celebrating the unique Finnish-American holiday, St. Urho’s Day, and one of the world’s most popular ethnic festivities, St. Patrick’s Day, will be held on Friday, March 16. The meal begins at 6 p.m. at the Dance Zone on Lincoln Avenue in Marquette. Dancing will follow from 7-9 p.m., with traditional music provided by Tim Clancy, Tim DeMarte and Barb Rhyneer. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students/children.

The Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University is sponsoring the event. Attendees are encouraged to bring Finnish or Irish dishes for the potluck. Marge Sklar will offer instruction on traditional dances. There will also be poetry readings and folk tales related to St. Patrick and St. Urho. The legend of the latter, which originated in Northern Minnesota in the 1950s, is that St. Urho chased the grasshoppers out of ancient Finland, saving the grape crop and the jobs of Finnish vineyard workers. St. Urho’s Day is celebrated the day before St. Patrick’s Day by Finnish-Americans throughout the Upper Midwest and even in Finland.  It is customary to wear purple.

For more information on the potluck and dance, call 227-1219.