Geneva's Swedish Day to celebrate its 106th year June 19

Visitors to Geneva's Good Templar Park this Sunday can celebrate midsummer the Swedish way by touring cottages, eating fried herring, and dancing around the maypole.

Now in its 106th year, Swedish Day will take place Sunday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 528 East Side Drive, Geneva. The event is expected to draw crowds of 800 to 1,200 people.

"When I see people happy and satisfied and pleased with the entertainment, the ABBA salute, the games, it makes it worthwhile. People enjoy the outdoors and learn about the Scandinavian culture," said Carl Gustafson, Swedish Day 2016 president.

Though the festival has been around for more than a century, Gustafson said many people still don't know the event exists.

"We like to think of it as the best kept secret in the Fox Valley area," Gustafson said. "We will have people who have lived in Geneva for years that have driven past the park and have never come in. They are really surprised and like to come back."

Swedish Day provides an opportunity for the International Organization of Good Templars, an organization that promotes the ideas of temperance, peace and brotherhood, to raise money for the park and introduce people to the Scandinavian culture as well as the culture of the organization. The IOGT also owns Good Templar Park.

Planning for the festival begins in October of the previous year, leaving plenty of time to prepare for all the activities, which include an arts and crafts fair as well as performances from the Swedish American Children's Choir, the Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago and the annual Lutefisk Toss.

Gustafson considers the maypole raising and dancing to be one of the highlights of the day, as it usually draws 250 to 300 participants. Master of ceremonies and member of the Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago Paul Muhr and his wife Linda will lead people through dances as they raise the maypole weaving ribbons around the pole, which is usually done on the summer solstice as a celebration of the start of summer.

Muhr is of Swedish descent and joined the dance group after he graduated from dental school. He met his wife of 35 years in the group and has continued dancing at different midsummer festivals, including Swedish Day.

"It's the culture, the history, the dance, the clothing of the time period; there's a lot that goes into folk dancing," Muhr said.

Attendees can go on a cottage walk to see six traditional Swedish "stugas" (small cottages) for an additional $5. These stugas come in various styles and are generally used as summer homes in Scandinavia.

Admission to the festival is $5 for adults, and free for children 12 years old and younger as well as people dressed in traditional Scandinavian folk costumes. Free parking is available. For details, visit swedishday.net.