Geneva a good home for Swedish Days
With Swedish Days in Geneva following a trend and going green this year, Ron Rawson couldn't help but think of a time when the festival went green in the past - although he didn't mean the exact same thing.
When Rawson was a boy, he saw a change in the annual celebration.
The focus moved away from Swedish heritage and more toward making money.
Rawson said it bothered him.
"They used to always have Swedish dancers or Swedish bands or something on the stage," he said. "That was up until the 1970s. Then you started to get a little more commercial, a little more carnival-ish."
The 59th Annual Swedish Days begins Tuesday and will include a green event - a weekend environmental expo.
The Geneva Chamber of Commerce also plans a return to the festival's roots. A lingonberry pie-eating contest, a Swedish-American children's choir and a show with Rosemaling decorative art, which originated in Scandinavia, are all attempts at honoring that tradition.
Rawson, 51, the archivist at the Geneva History Center, has attended the event every year since 1961.
He said one of the biggest changes he has seen has been the language.
In the early years of the event, merchants were encouraged to speak Swedish to their customers. People throughout the city would wear traditional Swedish garb throughout the day.
But in the 1970s, the trend toward commercialization hit the festival. The main attractions were carnivals and sidewalk sales.
"It started out with a real Swedish flare an then it kind of got away from that," said John Costerisan, the history center's curator. "There was really very little to do with Swedish heritage (after the 1970s) and now they're getting back to it."
In the early 1900s, the International Order of Good Templars wanted to find a permanent location for their annual celebration of Midsommar - the summer solstice.
Geneva looked like a good fit. Swedish immigration had occurred since the railroads were built in the mid-1800s. By 1900, half of Geneva's population and a large portion of Batavia and St. Charles' population were Swedes.
"They had a regular system: They'd get people from Sweden, get them by boat to New York, they'd relay them by train to Chicago," Costerisan said. "There'd be people in Chicago at the station to make sure they got out to Geneva. They'd end up in Geneva and either go to St. Charles or Batavia."
The order bought Good Templar Park on the city's east side in 1925. Swedish Day, which celebrates the summer solstice, has been held there ever since.
Rawson grew up right next to Good Templar Park.
"We would go to the 'real' Swedish Days, what we called 'real' Swedish Days, and enjoy having fun there eating ice cream and hanging out with Swedish people," he said.
The Geneva Chamber of Commerce recognized the success of the celebration -more than 20,000 people from around Illinois and the Midwest packed Good Templar Park each year - and in 1949 gave its annual Geneva Days celebration a Swedish theme.
After two years, however, organizers did not want to overdo it and departed from the theme until 1958.
The Good Templar Park celebration and Swedish Days in downtown Geneva haven't always had a relationship that helped each other. But the chamber and the order have worked together recently to promote each others' festivals.
"I've lived here for 30 years," Costerisan said. "We never even knew the stuff was going on at Templar Park. Now it's kind of hard to miss."
The Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St., will have a display of Swedish heritage throughout Swedish Days.
The connection is not lost on Rawson and he hopes the wood carvings, Swedish garb and other artifacts help explain why Geneva serves as an appropriate setting for Swedish Days.
"From my perspective, a lot of people thought we were kind of exaggerating the Swedish heritage to make it more commercial," Rawson said. "The truth is, we're not exaggerating; if anything, we were not telling enough about it."
And Rawson is ready to show off his half-Swedish, half-Norwegian heritage.
"I bought a pair of clogs especially for the Swedish Days in Geneva."
Tuesday
All day - Merchants offer special sales
10 am-1 p.m. - Creation Station-Build it!-Home Depot Kids Workshop, Campbell and 3rd Street
10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Trolley service, North 3rd Street at Hamilton and South 3rd Street at Fulton Street
10 a.m.-7 p.m. - SAAB, see the new '08 vehicle lineup, South 4th and James Street
10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. - Craft show, Hamilton Street
10 a.m.-9 p.m. - Nintendo Wii Fit Interactive Display, courthouse lawn at 3rd and James streets
11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. - Postmark cancellation ceremony, Geneva post office, 26 S. 3rd St.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. - Swedish Heritage Exhibit, Geneva History Center, 113 S. 3rd St.
1 p.m.-3 p.m. - Concerts on the Lawn, Greg Boerner: Blues, Folk and Southern Rock, courthouse lawn, South 3rd Street
2 p.m.- 9 p.m. - Quad Power Jump, South 4th and James streets
2 p.m.-10 p.m. - Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and 4th streets
6 p.m.-10 p.m. - Shop late at Geneva stores
7:30 p.m. - Liverpool, The Ultimate Musical Tribute to the Beatles, South 3rd Street at courthouse
Wednesday
10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Creation Station-Create It!-4 stations: Windmill City Quilts, Terra Cottage, Wool and Company, and Revell Make n' Take Model Cars ($5), Campbell and 3rd Street
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Fun at the library tent, Geneva Public Library, 127 James St.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Trolley Service, North 3rd Street at Hamilton and South 3rd Street at Fulton Street
10 a.m.-5 p.m. - Rosemaling Show, Geneva Lutheran Church, 301 S. 3rd St.
10 a.m.-7 p.m. - Craft Show, Hamilton Street
10 a.m.-9 p.m. - Nintendo Wii Fit Interactive Display, courthouse lawn at 3rd and James streets
2 p.m.- 9 p.m. - Quad Power Jump, South 4th and James streets
10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. - Krafts for Kids-Create your own art project (free), Viking Office Supply, 124 W. State St.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. - Swedish Heritage Exhibit, Geneva History Center, 113 S. 3rd St.
11 a.m.-10 p.m. - Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and 4th streets
1 p.m.-3 p.m. - Concerts on the Lawn-Deb Welch Band: feel good pop rock tunes, courthouse lawn, South Third Street
7 p.m.-10 p.m. - Local Geneva Band, Viking Office Supply, 124 W. State St.
6 p.m.-7 p.m. - Swedish American Children's Choir, South 3rd Street at the courthouse
7:30 p.m. - The Blind Roosevelts-Acoustic/electric rock, South 3rd Street at the courthouse
Thursday
8:30-1:30 a.m. - Geneva Settler's Coffee Hour (Old Settlers)-special for those
who have resided in Geneva for 15 plus years, Mill Race Inn, State Street and Route 25
10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Creation Station-Create It!- Take It & Frame It-Build a unique puzzle-
piece picture frame and have your photo taken too, Campbell and 3rd Street
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Fun at the library tent, Geneva Public Library, 127 James St.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Trolley Service, North 3rd Street at Hamilton and South 3rd Street at Fulton Street
10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Craft Show, Hamilton Street
10 a.m.-5 p.m. - Rosemaling Show, Geneva Lutheran Church, 301 S. 3rd St.
10 a.m.-7 p.m. - SAAB, see the new '08 vehicle lineup, South 4th and James Street
10 a.m.-9 p.m. - Nintendo Wii Fit Interactive Display, courthouse lawn at 3rd and James streets
10 a.m.-9 p.m. - Quad Power Jump, South 4th and James streets
10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. - Krafts for Kids-Create your own art project (free), Viking Office Supply, 124 W. State St.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. - Swedish Heritage Exhibit, Geneva History Center, 113 S. 3rd St.
11 a.m.-10 p.m. - Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and 4th streets
1 p.m.-3 p.m. - Concerts on the Lawn-Dan Tedesco: folk and rock, courthouse lawn, South 3rd Street
5 p.m.-9 p.m. - Annual used book sale, Geneva Public Library, 127 James St.
7:30 p.m. - Morry Sochat & The Special 20s-Chicago Blues, swing and rock n' roll, South 3rd Street at the courthouse
Friday
9 a.m. - Dodgeball Tournament-Teams: grades 5-6; 7-8 and High School, Wheeler Park, Route 31
9 a.m.-5 p.m. - Annual used book sale, Geneva Public Library, 127 James St.
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Fun at the library tent, Geneva Public Library, 127 James St.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. - Rosemaling Show, Geneva Lutheran Church, 301 S. 3rd St.
10 a.m.-7 p.m. - SAAB, see the new '08 vehicle lineup, South 4th and James Street
10 a.m.-9 p.m. - Nintendo Wii Fit Interactive Display, courthouse lawn at 3rd and James streets
10 a.m.-9 p.m. - Quad Power Jump, South 4th and State streets
10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. - Krafts for Kids-Create your own art project (free), Viking Office Supply, 124 W. State St.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. - Swedish Heritage Exhibit, Geneva History Center, 113 S. 3rd St.
11 a.m.-10 p.m. - Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and 4th streets
9 p.m.-12 a.m. - Twilight Golf Night-Stone Creek Mini Golf Course: $8/round, Wheeler Park, Route 31
12:15-12:30 p.m. - Go Green Kids' Day Parade-check-in, Geneva Public Library, 2nd Street and James Street
12:30-1 p.m. - Judging of parade entries
1 p.m. - Go Green Kids' Day Parade, James to 3rd Street
1 p.m.-3 p.m. - Creation Station-Paint It!-Help us create a monster mural masterpiece, Campbell Street and Third Street
1:15-3 p.m. - Entertainment on the Lawn with Jason Kollum, Sunset Dancers, Geneva Jumpers, Geneva Angels, Dunk Tank and the Geneva Fire Department Kids Fire Hose Challenge, Courthouse Lawn, South Third Street
3 p.m.-7 p.m. - Kids' Day Mini Golf-Stone Creek Mini Golf Course, Wheeler Park, Route 31
6 p.m.-6:45 p.m. - State Street Dance Studio-Kaleidoscope-Technical Beauty in Diverse Dance Disciplines, S. 3rd St. at the courthouse
7:25 p.m. - Geneva Lion's Club Lucky 13 Cash Raffle Drawing, S. 3rd St. at the courthouse
7:30 p.m. - Maggie Speaks-Classic '60s through today's Pop, S. 3rd St. at the courthouse
Saturday
8 a.m.-5 p.m. - 38th Annual Granquist Music Competition, Geneva High School, 416 McKinley St.
8 a.m.-12 p.m. - Geneva Lutheran Church Breakfast, authentic Swedish pancakes, 301 S. 3rd St. 9 a.m. - 3-on-3 basketball tournament-ages 10 plus; registration required, Central Stage at South 3rd Street
9 a.m.-4 p.m. - Annual used book sale, Geneva Public Library, 127 James St.
10 a.m. - Pets on Parade, Wheeler Park, Route 31 (North Pavilion)
10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Swedish Cottage Walk and Viking Ship Tour, Good Templar Park, 528 East Side Drive
10 a.m.-5 p.m. - Rosemaling Show, Geneva Lutheran Church, 301 S. 3rd St.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. - Green Geneva-An Eco Fun Expo, Campbell at 3rd Street
10 a.m.-7 p.m. - SAAB, see the new '08 vehicle lineup, South 4th and James Street
10 a.m.-9 p.m. - Nintendo Wii Fit Interactive Display, courthouse lawn at 3rd and James streets
10 a.m.-9 p.m. - Quad Power Jump, South 4th and State streets
10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. - Kids invited to create masterpieces from recycled art, Viking Office Supply, 124
W. State St.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. - Swedish Heritage Exhibit, Geneva History Center, 113 S. 3rd St.
11 a.m.-10 p.m. - Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and 4th streets
1 p.m.-3 p.m. - Concerts on the Lawn-Shawn Maxwell: eclectic and fresh jazz styles, courthouse lawn, South 3rd Street
6 p.m. - Trucks and Ladders Static Display presented by the Geneva Fire Department, South 3rd Street between State and James streets
9 p.m.-12 a.m. - Twilight Golf Night-Stone Creek Mini Golf Course: $8/round, Wheeler Park, Route 31
4:30-6:30 p.m. - Lingonberry Pie-eating Contest (3:30-4:30 registration)-Age divisions: 8-15; 16 plus; waivers required, South 3rd Street at courthouse
7:15 p.m. - Delnor Men's Foundation-Drive for Cancer Wellness Car Raffle, South 3rd Street at courthouse
7:30 p.m. - Maureen Christine & The 1st Choice Orchestra Swing Band and Sinatra-style favorites. South 3rd Street at courthouse
Sunday
7 a.m.-11 a.m. - All-you-can-eat parade day breakfast-Swedish pancakes, fried herring and other favorites; 22 S. 2nd St. (American Legion Post 75 tent)
10 a.m.-5 p.m. - Green Geneva-An Eco Fun Expo, Campbell at 3rd Street
10 a.m.-6 p.m. - Quad Power Jump, South 4th and State streets
10 a.m.-8 p.m. - Nintendo Wii Fit Interactive Display, courthouse lawn at 3rd and James streets
11 a.m.-8 p.m. - Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and 4th streets
1 p.m. - 59th Annual Swedish Days Parade, step off at Anderson, ending at South 3rd at Metra Station