Sweden Days in Geneva, Ill.

with Sweden West and Midsummer celebration in the center of town. 

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  The Lutefisk chef Margit Lundren, sister to Ingrid Rowlett who sponsored the event, working hard to serve the delicacy to expectant guests.

• Sweden Days in Geneva, Ill. welcomed 200,00 visitors to a smorgasbord of events and activities during six days. Sweden Väst, a festival within the festival on June 21 and 22 featured a taste of Sweden - lutefisk for the brave and meatballs for the rest of us. The lutefisk became a hit.
  "I actually tried it for the first time. I too am Swedish, but had not tried it. Not bad. Tastes like clam chowder," says Laura Rush, Geneva Chamber of Commerce. Visitors enjoyed Dala horse carver Ted Bowman at work, demonstrations by Sandy Braun Dala painting, plenty of Swedish gifts and food supplied both by local The Gift Box and other Swedish groups. You could try your hand at meatball tossing, kubb or venture to a meeting with Pippi Longstocking and a real viking. The Swedish American Children's Choir and Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago performed, and Chicago Spelmanslag and Swedish Folk offered traditional Scandinavian tunes for accordion, violin and guitar. Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago kept things moving around the May pole. Plan ahead: Next years Sweden Days are slated for June 23-28: www.genevachamber.com
  Looking for a Swedish summer festival, see our earlier listing, Summer Festivals 2014 or look under http://www.nordstjernan.com/calendar/