Danish Festival in Greenville, Michigan celebrates 50th Anniversary

The Danish Pioneer Newspaper in Hoffman Estates, Illinois sends its heartiest congratulations to the Danish Festival in Greenville, Michigan on its 50th Anniversary! Enjoy the special celebration!

“Red Shoes” is the theme for the 50th Annual Danish Festival in Greenville, Michigan

The Danish Festival Board of Directors would like to invite everyone to join in the celebration of the 50th annual Danish Festival. The theme this year is “Red Shoes.”

This year’s Danish Festival is August 14-17, 2o14.

“Red Shoes” is a Danish fairytale that was written by Hans Christian Andersen and published in 1845. The story is about a peasant girl named Karen who comes upon a pair of red shoes, and when she tries them on, she is forced by the haunting power of the shoes to dance continuously.

It is said Andersen based the story on a childhood memory, where his father was requested to make a pair of red dancing slippers for a rich woman’s daughter.

Andersen recalled the rich lady told his father, who put careful work into the shoes, that the shoes he made were trash, saying he had done nothing but spoil the red silk she gave him to make the shoes with. Being offended, Andersen’s father replied “In that case, I may as well spoil my leather, too,” and cut up the shoes in front of her.

During the 50th annual Danish Festival, the “Red Shoes” theme will be seen, in a poster contest, parades, plays and other forms of artwork and events.

See more about the Danish Festival events online at www.danishfestival.org.

Enjoy a Danish treat — aebleskivers! — at the open air Breakfast on July 18, 2014

Considered the official kick-off of the annual Danish Festival, the Open Air Breakfast will be held from 7 to 11 a.m. July 18, at the corner of Cass and Lafayette streets.

The Open Air Breakfast invites the public to an outdoor treat of eggs, casserole, sausage, fruit, drinks and, of course, aebleskivers, which are pancake-like balls of dough cooked in a special aebleskiver pan, a Danish breakfast tradition.

Cost is $5 per adult and $3 for children ages 11 and younger. Aebleskivers can also be purchased to go during the Open Air Breakfast.

Danish Festival’s Queen & Court pageants will be held on August 9, 2014

The crowning of the 50th annual Danish Festival royalty will be held at Greenville High School Performing Arts Center Saturday, Aug. 9.

At 2:30 p.m., the 2014 Danish Festival Young/Junior Outstanding Teen Pageant will get underway. The Junior Miss competition includes 11- and 12-year-olds and the Young Miss competition includes participants 13- to 16 years of age.

The main event — the Danish Festival Queen competition — starts at 7 p.m. and is open to all young ladies ages 17 to 24. The crowning of the Danish Festival Prince and Princess (open to ages 4 to 6 years old) will also be underway then. The queen competition is an preliminary qualifying event for the Miss America Pageant.

For registration forms and other Danish Festival royal events entry information, contact the Danish Festival office at (616) 754-6369 or go online to www.danishfestival.org.

Tickets to the events are $10 for adults (at the door) and $5 for children ages 12 and younger. Those who attend the Young/Junior Miss Outstanding Teen Pageant will receive a wristband, which will allow free entry into the Danish Queen competition.

The Danish Festival Queen and Court competitions are sponsored by Dr. Lisa Pullum of the Michigan Pain Consultants in Greenville.

Plenty of fun for children at Hans Christian Andersen Park

One of the hottest places for children to be is at Hans Christian Andersen (HCA) Park during the 50th Annual Danish Festival.

Times for the park are from noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 15 and from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 16.

Danish-related arts and crafts, Lego contest, storytelling, inflatable fun, face painting and a visit from Miss Danish Festival and her court will be just a few of the highlights of the event.

Admission to the event is free and a complete schedule of events will be posted in the park to make sure families do not miss out on anything.

The Lego Masterpiece Building Contest will take place at 5 p.m. Aug. 15. Children ages 3 to 12 years old are encouraged to show off their Danish-themed Lego masterpiece. The winner of the contest will get a $50 gift card from Meijer.

“This is such a fun event,” said HCA Park Director Deann Oliver. “It is fun to see what all the children can come up with when it comes to the Danish theme. I am always surprised at how elaborate and special each piece is. The kids work hard at winning the contest and showing their Danish flair.”

Dee Jay The Clown will be at the park from 3 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 15, making balloon animals and delighting children with his antics.

“Dee Jay truly has a way with the children,” Oliver said. “The children love him and all of his balloon tricks. It is one of the highlights of the park.”

Also that day, an Ice Scream for Ice Cream Contest will be held at 6:30 p.m., following the Fairy Tale Parade at 6 p.m.

All kids are given an ice cream and a chance to let ‘er rip when it comes to their vocal styling’s.

“It’s not how loud you scream, but the style in which you do it,” Oliver laughed. “We always have a few unique entries each year that has the audience laughing.”

About the Danish Festival in Greenville, Michigan

Danish Festival, Inc.’s mission is to host a festival that celebrates the homecoming of family and friends and our area’s Danish heritage. Please join us with “The Red Shoes” theme this year on Aug. 14-17, 2014. For more information, visit the website at www.danishfestival.org or contact the Danish Festival office at (616) 754-6369.

The complete 50th Anniversary schedule can be found at: http://www.danishfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/50th-schedule-final-v2.pdf

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