By Annie Alleman
Aurora Beacon-News
The 73rd Swedish Days returns to Geneva this week with music, food, a carnival and history.
The festival runs June 23-25 in downtown Geneva. A Kid’s Day is from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 23, featuring interactive booths and located in the Geneva Public Library parking lot, said Laura Rush, communications coordinator with the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. A Kid’s Parade is at 11 a.m.
The highlight of the festival is the Swedish Days Parade, which kicks off at 1 p.m. June 25. There are 65 units and the parade lasts about 90 minutes, she said. It goes from Anderson Boulevard and Center Street, south to State Street, east on State to Third Street and south on Third to the Metra train station.
“It should be a fun parade. I think everyone will really enjoy the parade this year,” she said.
Live entertainment is a hallmark of Swedish Days and can be found on the Central Stage on Third Street. The MacCartyns Band performs at 3 p.m. June 23 playing tunes from the 1960s and ’70s — “songs you can tap your feet to,” she said. At 5 p.m., a New Orleans-flavored group called No Turn on Red plays horn-infused funk. At 7 p.m., the popular Blooze Brothers Band pays tribute to Jake and Elwood Blues with a choreographed, 12-piece show band that covers Motown, R&B, soul, current favorites and of course the music of the original Blues Brothers.
At 5 p.m. June 24, Student Body will play all your favorite songs from high school (from all different eras) and at 7 p.m. Generation performs hits from iconic artists like The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin and Sly and the Family Stone.
Acoustic musicians will perform in the craft beer tent beginning at 1 p.m. daily.
“We’ve got some really great music and it’s always nice to have bands we haven’t had before,” Rush said. “I’m looking forward to hearing them.”
Activities kick off at 8 a.m. June 24 with a 5K Lopp at Peck Farm. Other activities on June 24 include a Swedish Cottage Walk from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (tours of historic Swedish “tiny houses” known as Stugas) as well as tours of the 1893 ship, “Viking,” from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., both at Good Templar Park.
The popular Sweden Vast, a celebration of all things Swedish, returns from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 24 and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. June 25.
“If you want your Swedish trinket or souvenir, that’s where you’re going to find it,” Rush said.
Sweden Vast started about 11 years ago with the intent of bringing the “Swedish” to Swedish Days, she said.
“Over time, it’s become a staple.”
That’s where you’ll find Swedish wares, representatives from the Swedish American Museum in Chicago and from the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center doing Swedish ancestry, she said.
While you won’t find much Swedish food at Sweden Vast, many local restaurants will add Swedish items to their menus during the run of the festival, she said. Additionally, there will be plenty of food booths at the festival selling items like brats, corn dogs, turkey legs, sandwiches, meatballs, pizza, pasta, roasted corn and sweet treats.
The wonderful thing about Swedish Days, Rush said, is that it’s always been a community festival and place to see friends and family year after year.
“For a festival to last 73 years, we’re doing something right,” she said. “We wouldn’t do it if people didn’t enjoy it and people didn’t keep coming back.”
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.
Swedish Days
When: June 23-25
Where: Third and James streets, Geneva
Tickets: free
Information: 630-232-6060; genevachamber.com
