Ilomantsi Museum Foundation's destination Parppeinvaara Poetry Village opens its doors for the summer season again on June 1st. The summer promises interesting exhibitions, captivating stories, and great events.
Parppeinvaara Poetry Village, located near Ilomantsi town center, offers a breath of Karelian culture. Our kantele players and rune singers alternate as guides throughout the summer. Their guided tours can be experienced during the poetry village's opening hours. The entrance ticket to the poetry village includes exhibitions in Luontopirtti Mesikkä, our own nature museum; Mateli's museum granaries, and Rajakenraali Raappana's cabin. Additionally, the ticket includes Runonlaulaja's Pirtti and its summer exhibition Minä ja eläinkunta - Karoliina Ahvenaisen taidetta (Me and the Animal Kingdom - Art by Karoliina Ahvenainen). The art exhibition Metsän neito, kultakämmen - Virve Kallion tilataidetta karhunpeijaisperinteestä (Forest Maiden, Golden Hand - Virve Kallio's Spatial Art from the Bear Feast Tradition), on display in Korhonen's museum granaries, in turn, opens our mythical relationship with the bear.
In our summer events, the themes include war history, folk traditions, and art. The Vaaraviikko event series at the beginning of July, in week 27, starts with Rajakenraali Day on Monday, July 3rd. During the event, historian Heidi Ruotsalainen will talk about the early years of the military attaché system. In addition to the presentation of Rajakenraali's cabin, Raappana's monologue highlights the warm personality of lumber chief Erkki Johannes Raappana. On Tuesday, July 4th, Vaaraviikko continues with the Kansanperinnevaara event day. The day's program includes guided tours and workshops on kantele playing, traditional ways of living in harmony with nature, and the Ilomantsi rune-singing tradition. Additionally, our rune singers will perform heartfelt excerpts from the songs and laments of the evacuated Karelians. Our kantele workshops for the whole family, Soiva Satuhetkemme (Our Musical Story Moment) and the Otavaisen olkapäillä (On the Shoulders of the Great Bear) themed tour into the world of bears, are aimed especially at children and young-at-heart museum visitors. On Wednesday, July 5th, Taidevaara celebrates various art forms and the richness of art creation. During the day, you can participate in poetry and writing workshops, paint the views of Parppeinvaara under the guidance of an artist or independently, discuss art, enjoy poetry and poetic tradition, and be enchanted by music.
In July, on Thursdays from July 6th-27th, you can also enjoy cottage concerts in Runonlaulaja's Pirtti at Parppeinvaara. The concerts feature skilled instrumentalists, from pianists and kantele players to rune singers. July culminates in Mateli's Day on July 22nd, organized in memory of the rune singer Mateli Kuivalatar. During the day, the legacy of perhaps the most famous Ilomantsi rune singer is celebrated with Mateli-themed guided tours and rune-singing performances. In the evening, the Mateli's Day concert concludes the festive day with a performance by kantele artist Hanna Ryynänen.
Parppeinvaara Poetry Village is open daily from June 1st to August 31st. The exception is Midsummer's Eve, when the poetry village is closed.
More information about our events, exhibitions, opening hours, and ticket prices can be found on our website at www.parppeinvaara.fi.
