Karenni DeeKu Festival 2026

Mark your calendars! The Karenni Community of Minnesota is hosting the annual Deeku Festival the weekend of September 19-20, 2026 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Visit their Facebook page for more details about the event, performances, sports tournament registration, and more.

🌿The DeeKu Festival is a celebration of freedom and unity, named after DeeKu, a traditional Karenni food made of sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves and boiled. Often tied in bundles of three, the DeeKu symbolize unity. The celebration commemorates Karenni victory over Yuan invaders and helps preserve Karenni culture and heritage through the years. (Description paraphrased from a post by the Karenni Community of Minnesota).

Minnesota is home to a growing Karenni community, one of the ethnic groups of Burma, also known as Myanmar, a neighbor to the Karen ethnic group. Read more about the ethnic groups from Burma in Minnesota, including the Karenni, here.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Saturday, September 19, 2026:

DEEKU CEREMONY
🕙 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 St. Bernard / Prodeo Academy Big Gym – 187 Geranium Ave W, St Paul, MN 55117

⚽🏐 SPORTS
📍 North End Community Center – 145 Lawson Ave W, St Paul, MN 55117
📌 Please note: The Deeku Ceremony and Sports will take place at two different locations.

Sunday, September 20, 2026:

⚽🏐 SPORTS CONTINUE…
📍 North End Community Center – 145 Lawson Ave W, St Paul, MN 55117
Please refer to the flyers shared on the Karenni Community of Minnesota’s Facebook page for more details, schedules, and locations.