Swedish Days fills Geneva with music, entertainment
Swedish Days, one of the biggest festivals in the Fox Valley, will return for its 66th year featuring its usual lineup of crafting events, historical tours and live music.
The six-day festival opens Tuesday, June 23 and runs through Sunday, June 28.
One of the main events taking place earlier in the week is the Geneva's Got Talent Semi-Finals, set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24. Twenty contestants will take their turn onstage in the hopes of advancing to the finals and winning a $1,000 cash prize.
Talents will span a variety of genres and styles, including vocalists, musicians, pianists, dancers and bands.
The competition is presented in partnership between the Geneva Park District and the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. The partnership came in hopes to revitalize a fading battle of the bands competition and merge it with the chamber's existing talent competition.
"We always like to partner with intergovernmental units. It's a great way to max resources," said Traci Wicks, director of marketing and public relations at the Geneva Park District. "Battle of the Bands had just seen a lot of decline, so we brainstormed and they said, 'Hey, do you want to partner up to make it a larger event?'"
The battle of the bands was limited to team performances. But this year, with the newfound partnership, more than 40 acts brought an array of artistry to last month's auditions.
The semifinalists include Dina Bach, Emily Schmid, Megan O'Brien, Lilly Nowak, Molly Carberry, Aliyah Starks, Megan Styrna, Kayla Tejero, Emma Pettyjohn, Courtney Schmit, Madeline Conter, Alyssa Mendoza, Kyle Pullman, Summer Monkeys, Elyse Chapski, Future Rockettes, Hannah Caballero, Matt Skirmont, Rhythm Nation and Fire the Cannon.
"The acts are definitely a little bit diverse and fun," Wicks said. "We're aiming for a broader scope of ages and talents - they can be singers, dancers or jugglers."
After Wednesday's performance, 10 acts will advance to the final round of competition and compete at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 27.
As support for battle of the bands dwindled, organizers said the merger came naturally. Still, the competition is only one of a number of updated events coming to Swedish Days, said Laura Rush, communications manager for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.
"After 66 years, you've got to keep the favorites, but you've got to throw in some new things without disrupting the cadence of the whole thing," Rush said.
One of those new events is Circus on Third, which takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday on Third Street, between James and Campbell. There, kids can interact with circus performers, watch acrobatics, and learn to spin plates and balance on balls.
The Dennis O'Brien Band, a local favorite, will make its first trip to the Central Stage as well.
"I always say you get the whole O'Brien family because they're all so talented really, very personable on stage talking with the crowd," Rush said. "We're very proud that we're able to offer free entertainment."
Other traditional events on Tuesday and Wednesday include the Creation Station, history tours, and concerts on the courthouse lawn.
An ice cream eating concert on center stage will add excitement from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Festival admission is free, and all ages are welcome. For details and a complete schedule of events, visit www. genevachamber.com.
If you go
What: Geneva's 66th annual Swedish Days festival
Where: Various locations throughout downtown Geneva
When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24; 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 25; 8 a.m. to midnight Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 28
Admission: Free
Details: <a href="http://www.genevachamber.com/swedish_days.php">www.genevachamber.com/swedish_days.php</a>; (630) 232-6083