Welcome to Father’s Day Swedish Midwummer Festival! The first event originally called Svenskarnas Dag in Swedish which translates to Swedes Day and was held on Sunday, June 25, 1911 at Linden Park in Evanston.  The next year, 1912, it was held on Sunday the 23rd of June at Riesig Grove in Riverside. Then in 1913, Svenskarnas Dag (Swedish Day) was held at Ravinia Park for the next 11 years through 1924. The event out grew Ravinia Park! The organization decided to purchase their own property and acquired our current location and have celebrated a traditional Swedish Midsummer annually every third Sunday in June since 1925 here at Good Templar Park in Geneva, IL.  

This festival is open to everyone and celebrates Swedish Midsommar, the longest day of the year, with a focus on Scandinavian traditions. Families can enjoy activities like raising the Swedish Maypole Raising, folk dancing, musical entertainment and fun activities for kids, 1893 Viking Ship and cottage walks in our beautiful 60-acre park. Traditional Swedish foods are available for purchase or bring your picnic basket. Join us to celebrate this rich heritage! Check our events page for more details.

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Traditional Dancing Around the Maypole 

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Dancing around the Maypole is something most people associate with midsummer and all its festivities. There is a certain connection to that leafy green pole that inten- sifies when everyone starts dancing around it.
Once the pole is raised, traditional ring dances are done by all ages. In Sweden, these are called sång & dans-lekar or singing and dancing games. 

Leading dances around the Maypole is definitely different from performing folk dances. First you have to get people up to participate. Most people really want to do this, but hesitate because they’re not sure what they are expected to do. When leading, the instructors have to be clear and concise and most importantly sound like it will be easy and fun to do. It amazes not only the dancers but those watching that suddenly they are all in a perfect circle around the Maypole and a “Glad Midsummer” is being wished to all.