South Elgin, Geneva offer Scandinavian festivals this Father’s Day weekend
One festival turns six years old this weekend, while the other will celebrate a century. Regardless, Scandinavian pride will be alive and well in South Elgin and Geneva this Father’s Day weekend.
South Elgin hosts its sixth annual Scandinavian Midsommar Festival Saturday, June 18, while Geneva celebrates the 100th edition of Swedish Midsommar Festival, the oldest Midsummer festival in the Midwest, on Sunday, June 19.
David Nordin, chairman of the Scandinavian Midsommar Festival, said the event, held at South Elgin’s Vasa Park, was started six years ago as a way to tell young people about Scandinavian culture. With today’s children spending more time indoors, and Scandinavian festivals revolving around outdoor activities, Nordin said this was the best way to reverse that trend, even if for a day.
“Midsummer festivals are some of the oldest, and we all thought it was a beautiful festival children would love to know about,” Nordin said.
There will be traditional maypole raising and dancing, pony rides, “troll hunts” where children look for hidden prizes in the park, and Scandinavian food, among other activities.
“The focus is to teach the kids about the most beautiful and significant of Scandinavian culture,” Nordin said.
Started in 1911, the Swedish Midsommar Festival in Geneva was originally intended to “acclimate the Swedes to American culture,” said Pamela Gustafson, business manager of the Midsommar News.
However, as time went on, Gustafson said the festival became more of an appreciation and preservation for Swedish culture and heritage.
“We’re trying to bring back the Americans to the culture now,” Gustafson said. “It is now the opposite of what it used to be.”
Main attractions include maypole raising and dancing, a Viking ship presentation and hourly cottage tour walks of summer homes inspired by Swedish stugas, or cottages. There will also be arts and crafts, carnival games and live Scandinavian music.
Gustafson said many of the visitors are repeat visitors. Many of them pick out the same location and enjoy the similar activities from years past.
“For many, Father’s Day was spent at the park back when the festival used to be a picnic,” Gustafson said. “What we’ve heard from people last year is that they want to revisit all those old memories.”
South Elgin’s Scandinavian Midsommar Celebration runs on Saturday from 2 to 9 p.m. at Vasa Park, 35W217 Route 31. For details, see vasaparkil.com.
Geneva’s Swedish Midsommar Festival runs Father’s Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Good Templar Park, 528 East Side Drive. For details, visit swedishday.net.
Both festivals charge a $5 admission fee for teens and adults.