The Rochester Citizens Group has announced the schedule for this year’s Swede Day celebration, which will take place on Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, in Rochester.
This annual festival features a weekend filled with traditional Swedish culture, food and community fun, according to a news release from the Rochester Citizens Group.
Highlights of the festival include the traditional Swedish pancakes breakfast, a meatball lunch, strawberry shortcake, the Swede Day Parade and the festive Maypole Dance.
“We are excited this year to announce that in addition to our Grand Marshals Dick, Nancy and Stan Erickson, we have selected Inger Svensson Jullery from Sweden as our first ever Honorary Rochester Citizen for the Day,” Barb Hangartner, Swede Day Committee chair, said in the release. “Inger has traveled many years from Sweden to attend Swede Day, and we will also have a special interview session with her at Swede Hall in the afternoon.”
On Friday, June 20, the Royalty Coronation will take place at Swede Hall and a new Swede Day Queen will be chosen. The current court consists of Jamie Arreglado, Naomi Hayden and Lizeth Venegas. The free-to-attend coronation will take place at 6 p.m. It will feature strawberry shortcake after the queen is announced. Following the coronation will be the Royalty Court Coronation Ball from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Swede Hall Main Event Room. Admission is $10.
Saturday, June 21, will start off with a traditional Swedish pancake breakfast at Swede Hall from 7 to 9 a.m. It will include Swedish pancakes with loganberry jam and cool whip, sausage, coffee and orange juice. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under. The breakfast is being coordinated by Rochester Scout Troop 9317.
A free-to-attend presentation by Dick Erickson about the history of Swede Hall and Independence Valley will be held from 8 to 8:45 a.m. in the Swede Hall Main Event room.
The Swede Hall parking lot will have arts, crafts and food vendors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The 46th Annual Swede Day Rochester Mid-Sommer Festival Parade will take place at 11 a.m. The parade route takes place on U.S. Highway 12 and begins at Paulson Street, proceeds west to Albany Street, turns left, and continues to Swede Hall. The parade is sponsored and coordinated by Umpqua Bank.
A free shuttle starts running at 7 a.m. and will run every 10 to 15 minutes as the bus circulates. Parade spectators are encouraged to park at the shuttle stops. Stops include the Gresham Street field across from Subway, the middle school parking lot and the school district office parking lots. Handicap parking is available at Swede Hall. U.S. Highway 12 closes at 10:30 a.m. and will not reopen until the parade is complete.
A traditional Maypole dance to Swedish music will take place in the afternoon in front of Swede Hall at the flagpole.
Swede Day is coordinated by the Rochester Citizens Group Swede Day Committee of about 20 members who meet monthly year-round to plan the festivities.
For more information about Swede Day, visit https://www.swedehall.org/events/#swede-day.
