Swedish Days is celebrating 75 years of history and tradition
Geneva’s Swedish Days is marking 75 years with a nod to history.
Various shops in town are featuring notable moments from Swedish Days past on their shop windows. You can also show your Swedish Days spirit by purchasing a limited edition 75th anniversary T-shirt, available for $28 at the Geneva History Museum gift shop and through the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds benefit both organizations.
The festival runs Wednesday through Sunday, June 18-22. It features a combination of traditional events and new attractions. For a schedule, go to genevachamber.com.
Central Stage
Join the musicians and singers from the Swedish American Children’s Choir as they open the festival Wednesday with a traditional Swedish Välkommen. There will be music, songs and audience participation dances reflecting Swedish Midsummer at 4:30 p.m. on the Central Stage at the historic courthouse on South Third Street.
It will be followed at 5:30 p.m. by live performances by the Geneva Park District’s Angels Cheer & Poms Team, Geneva Gymnastics Academy, Playhouse 38 youth performers, and the Geneva Park District’s Sunset Dance Academy. Then, cheer on your favorite contestants in the Geneva’s Got Talent semifinals at 7 p.m.
On Thursday, the stage will open with the Geneva’s Got Talent Finals at 5 p.m., followed by the smooth jazz saxophonist Harold Dawson at 7 p.m.
On Friday, Afternoon Logic, featuring singer Gretchen DeCraene and multi-instrumentalist Dave Purdy, will perform music from the 1960s to today at 3 p.m.
At 5 p.m., it will be the Vaughan Building, a four-piece Chicago band mixing the sounds of garage and psychedelic rock with the tunefulness of folk rock and power pop.
The Gregory Hyde Band, featuring the Billboard Music award-winning Chicago-based singer and songwriter, will be the headliner at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, The Messengers will blend sing-along favorites from classic hits to today’s current chart toppers at 5 p.m.
At 7 p.m., The Wayouts, with their authentic vision of 1960s rock ’n’ roll, will attract everyone from nostalgic boomers to modern-day hipsters to close out the festival music stage.
Afternoon music
During the afternoons from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, you can enjoy various solo and small band artists in the Craft Beer Tent on James Street. On Wednesday, it will be folk/rock musician Matt Keen, followed on Thursday by singer-songwriter Willard Wilcox offering a distinctive blend of raspy, blues-infused alternative rock. On Friday, Nicole Devine, a singer-songwriter from Elk Grove Village, who currently lives in Geneva, will be performing for her second time at the festival.
On Saturday, Holy Ghosted, featuring Andrea Schmidt, Mat Camerer and Ricky Bosworth of The Well Church in Geneva, will take the stage from noon to 2 p.m. Local favorite Drew Clausen, who specializes in country music from today’s top artists, will perform from 2 to 4 p.m.
Also on Saturday, enjoy traditional Scandinavian dancing with Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago every 45 minutes from 2 to 4:15 p.m. on the courthouse lawn.
Trolley tours
The Geneva History Museum Trolley Tours are returning from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Friday. Enjoy a 45-minute, air-conditioned, guided trolley tour of Geneva including fun stories of houses, businesses and early settlers. Tours leave each hour, on the hour. Participants will receive a swag bag full of offers from Geneva businesses and free admission to all three exhibitions in the Geneva History Museum. Cost is $25 per person. Register via GenevaHistoryMuseum.org or (630) 232-4951. Or register that day at the southeast corner of Campbell and Third streets.
Kids’ Day
The Geneva Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Kids’ Day events on Friday with games, activities, treats, music, crafts, and more. Activities take place in the Geneva Public Library parking lot and inside the building at 227 S. Seventh St. Geneva High School Cheer will be on-site as well.
The Sweetest Adventure, a mobile cotton candy cart, will be serving up fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth treats in two different flavors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The popular Kids’ Parade steps off at 11 a.m. at Campbell and Fourth streets. Get creative and enter into one of these parade categories: Swedish Spirit, Fun with Bikes and Trikes, or Geneva Viking Fans. First place in each category will receive a Graham’s Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream gift certificate, and the first 50 registrants will receive a free ice cream scoop coupon for Graham’s, while supplies last, at check-in at 10 a.m.
Sweden Väst
Purchase Swedish item and learn about your Swedish ancestry at the Sweden Väst on Campbell Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Authentically dressed Viking living historians from the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition Viking Ship in Geneva will be present with their displays to discuss Viking clothing, tools, weapons, artwork, jewelry, and ship models.
Do you have Swedish ancestry? The Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center has helped thousands of Swedish Americans find information about their immigrant ancestors since 1981.
Viking Ship tours
From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, get a tour of the Viking Ship at Good Templar Park, 528 East Side Drive. It’s a 1893 replica of a 78-foot-long, 1,000-year-old Viking ship excavated in Norway. In 1893, a crew of 12 sailed the boat nonstop from Norway to Canada, then on to Chicago to become a star attraction at the famous 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Admission, which includes a guided tour, is $7, $4 for ages 13-17, or free for children.
Swedish Cottage Walk
Also at Good Templar Park, tour historic Swedish “tiny houses” known as Stugas on guided tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Enter at the cottage gate at 628 East Side Drive. Tickets are $10 for adults. The last tour begins at 3:30 p.m.
Swedish Days 5K Lopp
Don your Swedish best and come start the day right at the Swedish Days 5K Lopp at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, June 22, at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road. Register at raceroster.com.
Grand parade
On Sunday, the 75th annual Swedish Days Parade steps off at 1 p.m. from Anderson Boulevard and Center Street, south to State Street, east on State to Third Street, then south on Third to Metra Train Station.
For more on Swedish Days, visit genevachamber.com or call the chamber at (630) 232-6060.