PASTY Fest: a success of community

The 16th Annual Pasty Fest was great success, a wonderful celebration of the Copper Country, pasties and the beautiful weather we were lucky to have on Saturday, August 17th. Our vendors sold over 1400 full size pasties, plus 400 minis that were part of our Bake-Off event, Jon Ziemba ate 3 pasties in 5 minutes in the Eating Competition and hundreds of kids got soaked in the foam machine. It was a great day.

After all the fun is over, and every tent, tote and banner is stowed you realize that community events are not just for a community, they are about community. Pasty Fest is an event that is dependent on good weather (and boy have we had some bad weather) and lots of cooperation from lots of people.  In a political environment where no one seems to be able to agree on anything; immigration, insurance reform, international trade, etc, it is refreshing to see a community come together over something as simple as a pasty. Many, many people worked across the aisle to make this event happen and we appreciate all of their commitment, effort, patience and willingness to work together. 

The following is a list of all the people  and organizations who came together to create this great event;
Volunteers;  Sharon Turovaara, Candy Pham, Brendan Clark, Marshall Weidenhammer and family, Caleb Catz, Heather Grundy, Jim Dee, Diane Teddy, Deb and Lew Lambert, Ed Hallquist, Krissy Kovachich, Sara Heikkila, Joan and Dennis Polzien, Phil Roberts, Rev, Robert Langseth, Andrew Reed, Al Ayotte, Debbie Polis, Kathie Dianda, Pete Hahn, David Crowley, Tom Cash,  Brenda Bonen, Sue Dana, Laura Cooley, George Siira, Jared Howard, Jaime Jams, Sue and Lee Peterson, Ernie Tepsa, Tom Bowles, Joe Locatelli, and Keweenaw National Historical Park Staff; Lynette Weber, Valerie Newman, Katie Keller, Nick Clark, Ian Ochoa, Summer Thorsten, Georgann Larson, and Karl Larson.

Parade Participants; Ken Bracco, CLK Marching Band,  CLK JR ROTC, Copper Country Paranormal Investigations, Calumet Laurium Community Center, Calumet Copperbots, Howard Junkin and family,  31 Backpacks, River Valley Bank,  Copper Tips 4-H Archery Club, Calumet Hockeyville, Calumet Floral, North Shore Cottages, Calumet Figure Skating Club, Kingsford Marching Band, Calumet Laurium Senior Center,  Keweenaw National Historical Park, Keweenaw Chevrolet Buick GMC, Carmelita's, Calumet Floral, Laurium Manor Inn, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Houghton Community Broadcasting,  4-H group that came with the goats, Spider Man,  owners of the 1969 Oldsmobile, and Santa Claus. 

Sponsors;  Houghton Community Broadcasting - the Voice of Pasty Fest and Main Street Calumet,  2nd Sandbar - Official Videographer of Pasty Fest 2019, Copper Island Printing, Pats IGA, 
River Valley Bank / Incredible Bank, Keweenaw Heritage Center, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Calumet Floral, Bucko's Party Store, Ace Hardware, Calumet Electronics, Reeves Painting, Hahn Hammered Copper, Michigan American Water Company, Michigan House Cafe, Farmers & Merchants Fire Insurance, Mike Lahti Properties, Universal Metal Works, Carmelita's, Copper World, Copper Island Chiropractic, Shelly Larson Edward Jones, Amora Wellness & Gifts, High Rock Designs, Dave Geisler, Aalto Woodworking, North Shore Cottages, Fire Tower Engineered Timber, 2nd Sandbar Productions, Faith Lutheran Church, Miners Cafe, and Brick Restoration Specialists.

Car Show Sponsors; Peninsula Auto, North Star BP, North Side Auto Sale, Auto Value, Harter's Auto Supply, Superior Auto Tech, JP's Fast Track, Ace Hardware. 

Service Providers; A1 Toilets, Universal Metals, Copper Island Printing, Toni’s Country Kitchen, Bob Hiltunen, Dig Niddy, Jessica Kilpela, The Copper Country Clown Band, Jaime Jams, 2nd Sandbar Productions, and KML Woodsmith.

Vendors; Suomi Restaurant, Connie’s Country Kitchen, Lindell’s, Carmelita’s, The Matador, B Daddy’s Smoke N Grill, Tim Raymond, Copper Country Humane Society, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Isle Royale National Park, Kraft Hockeyville, Copper Country Habitat for Humanity, Calumet Keweenaw Sportsmen’s Association, Finlandia University, Little Laurium Luxuries, The Scenic Route Publications, Yooper’s Love Tupperware, Life & Oils with Aryel Joyal, Mucked Up, Jade Enterprises, Doris Poshak Delightful Designs, Kel’s Krazy Bags, Country Wood and Leather Crafts, 2B Crafts, Steeped Tea, Circle Back Farm, North Harvest CSA, Boersma Family Roots, Charity’s Daily Bread, Annikakes, Kris and Michelle Southerland, Laura Moore, Taara Ryan, Jeanne Medlyn, Sandy Soring, Ashli Wells, Mark Cavis, David Harju, and Rebecca Ferrell.

Coordinating Municipalities & Utilities; Michigan American Water Company, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Calumet Township, Village of Calumet, Village of Calumet Fire Department, Village of Laurium, and the Houghton County Road Commission.

Demos; Kivajat Finnish Dancers, Supernova Yoga, and Cardio Drumming with Laura Hamlett

While we don't have names for all the people who entered cars in the Cool Cars From Near and Far Car Show or the people who played in the Horseshoe Tournament we'd like to thank them as well! 

​If you'd like to be a volunteer for Pasty Fest or any other Main Street Calumet event we'd love to hear from you! 

Become a Main Street Volunteer