Try out Maypole dancing, herring and more at Swedish Day June 16

"Svenskarnas Dag," the Midwest's oldest Midsummer festival, dating back to 1911, has entertained the Fox Valley area for generations.

The Viking Midsummer Festival and Swedish Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 16, at Good Templar Park, 528 East Side Drive on Geneva's east side.

This ethnic festival is organized by the Swedish Day Committee of International Organization of Good Templars.

Admission to the park is $5; children 14 years old and younger are admitted free.

Enjoy Swedish pancakes, Swedish meatballs, herring, hamburgers, hot dogs, sloppy joes, and more. Food will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be a worship service at 10 a.m. and a Viking re-enactment at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Join in the Maypole raising and dancing at noon and the Nordic Dancers will perform at 2 p.m.

Geneva's Viking replica long ship, called the Viking, also will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours of the 1893 Viking ship replica are $5 or $3 for teens.

To learn more about Friends of the Viking Ship, visit www.vikingship.us or www.facebook.com/Viking1893/.

The following weekend, step back in time on a guided small group tour of a select group of quaint cottages and learn about the Good Templar Park history at the Historic Cottage Walks held during the Geneva Chamber of Commerce's Swedish Days festival. Tours will be offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 22-23. Swedish treats will be available in the bakery. The tours are $10 per person.

Visit www.goodtemplarpark.org or www.facebook.com/goodtemplarpark/.