Geneva festival to make its mark

What is it with Geneva and postage?

First Wool and Co. yarn store gets a special cancellation mark at Christmas. Now Swedish Days has a philatelic first, with a pictorial cancellation designed especially for the annual festival.

"We thought that might be kind of a fun thing," said Sandy Portincaso, public relations and event coordinator for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the festival.

The cancellation mark will be unveiled at a ceremony at 11 a.m. today at the Geneva Post Office, 26 S. Third St. in downtown.

Lennart Jonsson, owner of the Gift Box store in downtown Geneva, will speak a few words in Swedish, as his store also features Swedish items. And Dave Oberg, executive director of the Geneva History Center, plans to dress up as a Viking. Swedish cookies will be served.

The design incorporates the festival's logo. The first 50 people at the event will receive a free Geneva postcard with the cancellation. The cancellation can also be placed on Swedish Days brochures in the special spot, on a blank card or piece of paper, or on your own envelope or postcard. The envelope or postcard must have current postage on them.

You can also obtain a Swedish Days postmark cancellation by sending an item to Swedish Days Postmark Cancellation, Postmaster, Geneva Post Office, 26 S. Third St., Geneva, IL 60134. Requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the cancellation date, and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for returning the items.

"There are a lot of people who do collect cancellations. It's amazing to me," Portincaso said.

For more information on Swedish Days, which begins today, call the Geneva Chamber of Commerce at (630) 232-6060 or visit www.genevachamber.com.

Swedish Days schedule

Today

10 am-1 p.m. -- Creation Station-Build it!-Home Depot Kids Workshop, Campbell and Third Street

10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Trolley service, North Third Street at Hamilton and South Third Street at Fulton Street

10 a.m.-7 p.m. -- SAAB, see the new '08 vehicle lineup, South Fourth 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 Third and James streets

11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. -- Postmark cancellation ceremony, Geneva post office, 26 S. Third St.

11 a.m.-7 p.m. -- Swedish Heritage Exhibit, Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St.

1 p.m.-3 p.m. -- Concerts on the Lawn, Greg Boerner: blues, folk and Southern rock, courthouse lawn, South Third Street

2 p.m.- 9 p.m. -- Quad Power Jump, South Fourth and James streets

2 p.m.-10 p.m. -- Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and Fourth 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 Third 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 Third 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 Third Street at Hamilton and South Third Street at Fulton Street

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Rosemaling Show, Geneva Lutheran Church, 301 S. Third 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 Third and James streets

2 p.m.- 9 p.m. -- Quad Power Jump, South Fourth 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. Third St.

11 a.m.-10 p.m. -- Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and Fourth 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 Third Street at the courthouse

7:30 p.m. -- The Blind Roosevelts-acoustic/electric rock, South Third 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 Third 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 Third Street at Hamilton and South Third 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. Third St.

10 a.m.-7 p.m. -- SAAB, see the new '08 vehicle lineup, South Fourth and James Street

10 a.m.-9 p.m. -- Nintendo Wii Fit Interactive Display, courthouse lawn at Third and James streets

10 a.m.-9 p.m. -- Quad Power Jump, South Fourth 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. Third St.

11 a.m.-10 p.m. -- Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and Fourth streets

1 p.m.-3 p.m. -- Concerts on the Lawn-Dan Tedesco: folk and rock, courthouse lawn, South Third 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 Third 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. Third St.

10 a.m.-7 p.m. -- SAAB, see the new '08 vehicle lineup, South Fourth and James Street

10 a.m.-9 p.m. -- Nintendo Wii Fit Interactive Display, courthouse lawn at Third and James streets

10 a.m.-9 p.m. -- Quad Power Jump, South Fourth 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. Third St.

11 a.m.-10 p.m. -- Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and Fourth 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, Second and James streets

12:30-1 p.m. -- Judging of parade entries

1 p.m. -- Go Green Kids' Day Parade, James to Third 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, South Third Street at the courthouse

7:25 p.m. -- Geneva Lions Club Lucky 13 Cash Raffle Drawing, South Third Street at the courthouse

7:30 p.m. -- Maggie Speaks-classic '60s through today's pop, South Third Street 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. Third St.

9 a.m. -- 3-on-3 basketball tournament-ages 10 plus; registration required, Central Stage at South Third 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. Third St.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Green Geneva-An Eco Fun Expo, Campbell at Third Street

10 a.m.-7 p.m. -- SAAB, see the new '08 vehicle lineup, South Fourth and James streets

10 a.m.-9 p.m. -- Nintendo Wii Fit Interactive Display, courthouse lawn at Third and James streets

10 a.m.-9 p.m. -- Quad Power Jump, South Fourth 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. Third St.

11 a.m.-10 p.m. -- Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and Fourth streets

1 p.m.-3 p.m. -- Concerts on the Lawn-Shawn Maxwell: eclectic and fresh jazz styles, courthouse lawn, South Third Street

6 p.m. -- Trucks and Ladders Static Display presented by the Geneva Fire Department, South Third 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 Third Street at courthouse

7:15 p.m. -- Delnor Men's Foundation-Drive for Cancer Wellness Car Raffle, South Third Street at courthouse

7:30 p.m. -- Maureen Christine & The 1st Choice Orchestra Swing Band and Sinatra-style favorites. South Third 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 Third Street

10 a.m.-6 p.m. -- Quad Power Jump, South Fourth and State streets

10 a.m.-8 p.m. -- Nintendo Wii Fit Interactive Display, courthouse lawn at Third and James streets

11 a.m.-8 p.m. -- Carnival, courthouse parking lot, James and Fourth streets

1 p.m. -- 59th annual Swedish Days Parade steps off at Anderson, ends at South Third at Metra Station