Midsummer Celebration, Swedish-Style
Swedish pancakes, meatballs, herring, open-faced sandwiches and korv o mos (hot dog and mashed potatoes) are some of the Swedish delights promised during the Midsummer Celebration at Erlander Home Museum, 404 South Third Street, Rockford, Illinois.
Held (inexplicably) a week ahead of the summer solstice, the festivities will be underway from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 14, 2014.
Now in its 75t year, this traditional Swedish festival, which is celebrated worldwide, welcomes the arrival of the summer.
Promised is a “Nordic village” featuring Mormor’s Attic, Blackhawk Wood Carvers, blacksmithing, and artisans’ shops in the “Marknad.” The Erlander Home Museum will be open for tours throughout the day, and visitors will be able to meet “Pippi Longstocking” and mingle with residents in Swedish costumes adding to the flavor of Midsommarafton.
There will be music and dancing with Rockford’s own Ernie Sandquist, the Swedish Folk Dancers, Spelmanslag a Scandinavian Folk Dance band, Nordic Dancers of Chicago, and entertainment by Michael Beert from RSO. Visitors will be given the opportunity to join the dancers and learn a few steps while dancing around the Maypole (Majstangen) at noon.
(Photo courtesy of Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
