Huge crowd enjoyed ‘ABBA Salute’ at 34th Annual Scandinavian Day Festival in Illinois on Sunday, September 8, 2013
A very successful 34th Annual Scandinavian Day Festival was held on Sunday, September 8, 2013 as Scandinavian Park, Inc. NFP in South Elgin, IL celebrated the 60th Anniversary of Vasa Park in 2013.
The Danish Sisterhood members led the way in the Parade of Nations. (Photo courtesy of Amber Chesley for The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
Perfect weather, energetic entertainers, an enthusiastic crowd, dedicated board members and countless volunteers combined to make the 34th Annual Scandinavian Day Festival an outstanding success on Sunday, September 8, 2013 at Vasa Park in South Elgin, IL. In 2013, Scandinavian Park, Inc. NFP celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Vasa Park, the beautiful 25-acre park located on Route 31 along the Fox River in the western suburbs of Chicago.
ABBA Salute was the headline entertainment for the Scandinavian Day Festival and the popular ABBA tribute band had people streaming into Vasa Park to dance and hear the great music into the late afternoon.
The 34th Annual Scandinavian Day Festival featured delicious Scandinavian foods, crafts, vendors, exhibitors, displays and additional entertainment, including the Bjornson Male Chorus, Swedish American Children’s Choir, The Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago, Leikarringen Heimhug Norwegian Folk Dancers of Chicago and Festival Folk Dancing Classes.
There was also a Morning Church Service, led by David Foster, Lay Leader of Irving Park UMC, and Musician Joni Shaw. Along the riverfront, re-enactors portrayed Settlers from New Sweden, a Leif Erikson Viking Settler, a 15th Wisconsin Civil War Nordic Unit and an 1850’s Immigrant Farmer.
During the festival’s opening ceremonies, Scandinavian Park, Inc. NFP President Judy Seifert and Scandinavian Day Festival Chairperson Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates bid welcome. Lynn Sove Maxson from the Norwegian-American community served expertly as the Master of Ceremonies. In addition to the Invocation, the Flags of the Nations & the National Anthems of the USA, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden were all presented by the local Scandinavian community members and ethnic groups.
The stars of ABBA Salute enjoyed entertaining at Vasa Park also. (Photo by Amber Chesley for The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
Scandinavian Day Festival Chairperson Joy Thorbjornsen-Coates says, “My paternal grandfather came from Norway and my maternal grandfather came from Sweden. My Scandinavian heritage has always been an important and an active part of my childhood and growing up years. As a young adult I fell in love with this heritage and when the kids and I visited Norway in 2006, I truly felt like I was home. Honoring my family and the traditions is so very important but just as important to me is to celebrate the Scandinavia of today. For me this is what my dream is for our Festival. To not only remember and honor what was, but to look forward and to enjoy what is and what will be.”
UPCOMING SCANDINAVIAN PARK, INC. NFP EVENTS:
- Saturday, October 5, 2013 marks the 13th Annual Fish Boil & Harvest Festival at Vasa Park (1 p.m. – 5 p.m. RSVP to the park hotline at 847-695-6720 – Donation: $20 before Sept. 25 and $25 after Sept. 25, Kids under 12 $5).
- Saturday, October 26, 2013 is the Annual Scandinavian Park Membership Meeting and Complimentary Breakfast at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln Ave., Batavia, IL (Complimentary breakfast begins at 9 a.m.)
- Saturday, November 2, 2013 is the End of Year Clean-Up Day at Vasa Park with Volunteer Lunch.
Historic 25-acre Vasa Park is located at 35W217 IL Route 31 along the Fox River in South Elgin, Illinois, just 7 miles south of the I-90 Northwest Tollway and 5 miles north of IL Rt. 64 North Avenue. Come celebrate the culture, heritage and traditions of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Everyone is welcome!
Great dancing and music made for a wonderful day at Vasa Park. (Photo courtesy of Dave Yaeger for The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
The music had the young and young-at-heart dancing. (Photo courtesy of Debbie Hoppe for The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call the Park Hotline 847-695-6720 * E-mail: vasaparkil@yahoo.com. SEE THE PARK’S NEW WEBSITES FOR 2013: www.vasaparkil.com and www.scandinaviandayil.com
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It was an absolutely beautiful day at Vasa Park in South Elgin, IL. (Photo courtesy Lars Rasmussen for The Danish Pioneer Newspaper)
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