Here’s the press release I’m sending out regarding this year’s Midsummer’s Day Festival in Lindsborg.
Thanks to a list provided by Ron Stamm, in addition to the normal local/regional outlets, I’m also sending this release to a number of media outlets in communities outside of Kansas that have a recognized Swedish Heritage; thanks Ron!
Press Release
Available in doc (Word), PDF and .txt formats. Please feel free to share this info with other interested parties. The address for this page is: http://www.littleswedenusa.com/archives/2006/05/lindsborg_celeb.html
CONTACT:
Mike Rodriquez
(785) 227-2928
msd06@littleswedenusa.com
http://www.lindsborg.org/midsummers.html
May 1st, 2006 For Immediate Release
“Midsummer Festival to be held on Saturday, June 17th.”
LINDSBORG, KS - Midsummer’s Day, a traditional Swedish festival celebrated worldwide, returns to Lindsborg: Little Sweden USA, the weekend of June 17th 2006. This festival, held to celebrate the beginning of summer, is one of the most popular of all Swedish celebrations. Lindsborg is proud to host this fun-filled family oriented Swedish-American festival, this year featuring special guest performers from Sweden. Now in its 35th year, Lindsborg’s 2006 Midsummer’s Day promises to be a fun-filled day for everyone in the family, so be sure to join us in Lindsborg’s Swensson Park on Saturday, June 17th!
This year, very special guests will be performing at Midsummer’s. From Mora, Sweden, the Mora Folkdanslag, a Swedish Folk dance group, will be joining the celebration. Also performing will be the Leikarring, which is a Folk dance group whose members belong to the Norwegian Society of Texas. Of course, the high school group Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers and the adult Lindsborg Folkdanslag dancers will also be performing the weekend of Midsummer’s.
On Saturday numerous local Midsummer activities will be held throughout Lindsborg - Swedish Folk Dancing, crafts, food and more in Swensson Park during the day, on to the Bethany College student union for the early evening smörgåsbord, and down to the Old Mill Heritage Square historical complex for evening Swedish folkdancing and maypole (majstång) raising. There is even an afternoon garden tour featuring a few fine Lindsborg homes for those seeking a change of pace. The day concludes with a midnight swim at the Lindsborg pool from 10pm until midnight.
Admission for the day’s events (not including the Smörgåsbord) is $3 adult, $2 children ages 4 to 12, and youth under age 4 will be admitted free. For the second year in a row the first 200 paid attendees dressed in a Swedish costume will receive a commemorative pin. This price includes the evening’s entertainment at the Old Mill.
Celebrate Lindsborg’s “Midsummer’s Day Festival”
Midsommardag ‘06
Midsummer’s Activities & Events Details
While the Swedish Folk Dances are a large part of what makes Midsummer’s enjoyable for the whole family, there’s much more happening at Lindsborg’s Midsummer’s Day Festival. For the little ones, there’s a full slate of activities planned, including games such as the lutefisk toss as well the always popular face painting. In addition, there will be a vending area featuring a wide variety of arts & crafts, as well as a food court where a number of food vendors will provide food and drink, including some local Swedish treats. In addition, a number of local dining establishments are located nearby in Lindsborg’s downtown.
There will be other entertainment throughout the day, including a Swedish Costume fashion show, family games and a preview of Lindsborg’s premiere outdoor theatre, Broadway RFD, who will be performing South Pacific this summer. Throughout the day, many Lindsborg residents will be dressed in traditional Swedish costumes, adding to the atmosphere of Midsummer’s Day.
The Midsummer’s Day celebration continues in the evening, moving from Swensson Park to the Old Mill Heritage Complex. There, visitors will experience the traditional raising of the maypole, followed by traditional Swedish dances. For those still left standing, the day will conclude with a midnight swim at the Lindsborg swimming pool.
Friday, Sunday & Monday Activities & Events
The activities around Midsummer’s aren’t limited to Saturday. On Friday evening, at the Old Mill Heritage Complex, there is an informal Dance Exchange amongst all the members of the dance groups performing during Midsummer’s. Also on Friday evening, the Bloomington Minnesota Covenant Church Choir will be performing at the Lindsborg Covenant Church.
On Sunday, the traditional Vesper’s Service at Bethany Lutheran Church will start at 4:30, followed by a potluck dinner, and ending with Swedish folk dancing.
And finally, on Monday, the 2006 Swedish Jenny Lind winner, soprano Malin Nilsson, will give a concert that evening at the Sandzen Gallery.
Midsummer Information
* Festival contact:
MIDSUMMERS COMMITTEE, c/o Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce
104 E. Lincoln St.
Lindsborg, Kansas 67456.
Phone 785-227-3706, 1-888-227-2227. Fax (c/o City): 785-227-4128.
Website:
* Midsummer Festival chairperson:
Margo Lysell
* Mid-summer Festival PR chairperson:
Mike Rodriquez
msd06@littleswedenusa.com
785-227-2928
* Midsummer Sponsors:
Erik Peterson, DDS
Bethany Home
Special Guests
Mora Folkdanslag
During the later parts of the nineteenth century the interest for maintaining our cultural heritage in dancing and music was awakened. In order to keep in rememberance the traditions from the countryside, a work of inventory and documentation was started.
On initiative of the great painter Anders Zorn the “Mora Lekstuga” was started in 1904. The purpose of “Lekstugan” is to “promote a sound lifestyle and through sober and proper behavior be a good example for others; also to revive the clothing of our forefathers and with dancing and plays keep up our senses from the daily duties.”
It was very important that the members were dressed in folklore dresses during meetings and practicing. If they did not they had to pay a small amount of money.
The “Lekstuga”-activities were held under protest from many people in Mora, they thought it was immoral. At last it was anyway accepted, much thanks to the influential Anders Zorn.
1927 the Mora Folkdanslag was founded and they had their activities at the adult education school of Skeriol.
Todays “Mora Folkdanslag” was founded in October 1961 and we are 10 - 12 couples practicing once a week. We meet once a week to practice, most old traditional dances. But we also meet with other groups to learn new variants. These dance-evenings are a nice form of social meeting and exercise.
Norwegian Society of Texas Leikarringen
The Norwegian Society of Texas is a statewide organization founded on March 25, 1975 with the objective “to enjoy, preserve and promote our Norwegian heritage”. The Norwegian Society of Texas Leikarring, “play-ring” was founded as a state-wide folkdance group of N.S.T. Currently the N.S.T. Leikarring has dance groups in Amarillo, Dallas-Fort Worth and El Paso. We are one of the many groups of Norwegian folk dancers in the United State. Folk dancing is the easiest of all dancing and requires just the sense of rhythm and the willingness to learn. Basic steps used, you probably already know, for instance: the waltz, polka, schottische and just the walking step. We welcome anyone whether a couple or single and of any age to join the fun. Only requirement is that you join the Norwegian Society of Texas. We are always glad to perform our Scandinavian dances which use polka, waltz, schottische, and hambo steps, some of which are special to a specific region of Norway; others portray an occupation or tell a story. Names of some of the dances are Eikerril, Seksmannsril, Reinlender Med Turer, Giljerosen, Veva Vedmel, Snus Polka, Holt-Ril, Attetur Med Mylne, Jamstpolska, Sjynmyrvals, Stockholm Schottisch, and many more. The NST Barneringen (children’s group) is an opportunity for the younger ones to participate. If interested in joining please contact state coordinator and director Eudoris Dahl.
http://www.norwegiansocietytexas.org/Leikarringen/Leikarringen.html
Schedule
Friday Events
On Friday evening, at the Old Mill Heritage Complex, there is an informal Dance Exchange amongst all the members of the dance groups performing during Midsummer’s. Also on Friday evening, the Bloomington Minnesota Covenant Church Choir will be performing at the Lindsborg Covenant Church.
Saturday Events
On Saturday start at the park - which will have an air of summer celebration with music, arts, crafts, food concessions, attractive booths, storytellers and humor. Swedish costume is the dress of the day for many. At the park don’t miss:
* The main stage area: (dancing, etc)
* Arts and crafts booths (fine art, folkart, crafts)
* For the kids: Craft activities, Games and Face Painting
* Food court in the park
* Scandinavian Folk Dress style show, Bethany Church (adjacent to park) (11:00-2:30)
Also on Saturday, from 1 to 4 p.m., there is a garden tour planned at several Lindsborg residential locations. The tour includes a “nibble table” in the studio courtyard at the Sandzen Home, 421 N. First. The garden tour is sponsored by the Bethany College Auxiliary to raise funds for printing the new “Measure for Pleasure” cookbook. Sales from the cookbook provide Bethany College student scholarships. Tour tickets are $5 and more information is available at the Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce or gusenius@cox.net.
At 5 p.m. a festive Swedish Midsummers Smörgåsbord feast will be served in Bethany College’s Pihlblad Memorial Union, sponsored by the Lindsborg Swedish Folkdancers high school youth and families. Smörgåsbord advance tickets at $17.50 adult, children ages 4-12 $10 (under age 4 free), are recommended; order from the Lindsborg Swedish Folkdancers, P.O. Box 242, Lindsborg, KS 67456.
Starting at 6:30 PM, the gates will open at the Old Mill Heritage Park. There, visitors will experience the traditional raising of the maypole, followed by traditional Swedish dances. For those still left standing, the day will conclude with a midnight swim at the Lindsborg swimming pool.
Sunday Events
The June 19th Sunday events include a Swedish Vespers church service followed by a community potluck supper at Bethany Lutheran Church. This has been a traditional part of Lindsborg Midsummer’s since the festival was revived in the community more than thirty years ago. The potluck supper is co-sponsored by American Scandinavian Association of the Great Plains and Bethany Church. The Vespers service is at 4:30 and the potluck starts at 5:30 PM. The evening will conclude with Swedish folk dancing.
Monday Events
On Monday, the 2006 Swedish Jenny Lind winner, soprano Malin Nilsson, will give a concert that evening at the Sandzen Gallery.
SCHEDULE as of 25 April 2006
FRIDAY EVENING, 16 JUNE 2006
7:00 Dance Exchange/workshop (participants 4 performing dance groups)
7:00? Bloomington Choir, Covenant Church
MIDSUMMER’S DAY, 17 JUNE 2006
Swensson Park, 400 BLK North Main
9:00 - Park opens GATE ADMISSION $3 ADULT $2 CHILDREN 12 & UNDER
9:30-10:05 Opening Procession
National Anthems
Mayoral Welcome - John Magnuson
10:10-10:40 Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers
10:45-11:15 NST Leikarring (Norwegian Folk dance group)
11:20-11:50 Mora Folkdanslag (Swedish Folk dance group from Mora Sweden)
11:55-12:25 Lindsborg Folkdanslag
12:30-12:50 Family Games (audience participation Swedish dance games)
12:55-1:25 Broadway RFD Preview- South Pacific- Director Lisa Christopher
1:30-2:00 Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers
2:05-2:35 Lindsborg Folkdanslag
2:40-3:10 Family Games
3:15-3:45 NST Leikarring
3:50-4:20 Mora Folkdanslag
OPTION TO MAIN STAGE
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 320 N. Main
11:00- 12:00 Scandinavian Folkdress style show
2:00- 3:00 Bloomington Covenant Church Adult Choir
EVENING EVENTS
OLD MILL HERITAGE COMPLEX, 120 Mill St. (South Park)
6:30 GATES OPEN GATE ADMISSION $3 ADULT $2 CHILDREN
7:00-10:00 Raising of the May Pole - Lindsborg Folkdanslag
Blowing of the Birch Horn - Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancer
Opening Procession
Dance Performances
Mora Folkdanslag
NST Leikarring
Lindsborg Folkdanslag
Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers
10:00-12:00 Midnight Swim - Lindsborg Swimming Pool - (South Park)
SUNDAY, 18 JUNE 2006
4:30 Vespers Service, Bethany Lutheran Church
5:30 Potluck
6:30 Dance Performance
Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers
Mora Folkdanslag
NST Leikarring
MONDAY, 19 JUNE 2006
7:00? Jenny Lind concert, Sandzen Gallery
More About Midsommardag
The story of Midsommardag
In Sweden, Midsommar celebrates the summer solstice-a magical time when daylight lasts nearly all night long-through a day of music and dancing.
At the center of the festivities in nearly every village is the majstång (or maypole) trimmed with garlands of flowers, often in the form of two circlets of flowers hung from its crossbar. In addition to decorating the pole, townspeople see to it that every house gets a row of twigs around the front door, and even boats and cars are festooned. Once the maypole is raised, usually in the center of a park, the music and dancing begin a celebration that lasts well into the bright night.
Midsommardag in Lindsborg
Midsommar is one of the most popular holidays in Sweden, heralding the coming of the summer solstice. It is a time of joyful celebration throughout Sweden. Since June 1971 Midsummers has been revived in Lindsborg to become a part of the community’s annual calendar of Swedish-American festivals. Some aspects are uniquely Lindsborg’s, such as arts and crafts displays and sales, and others are more traditional, such as the raising of the maypole. As in Sweden, Lindsborg welcomes arrival of the summer solstice with this community “Midsommarsdag” festival. Join us for the fun!
The Midsummer’s weekend in Lindsborg takes place in several venues: Swensson Park, the downtown area, Pihlblad Memorial Union, the Old Mill Historical Complex and Bethany Lutheran Church. On Saturday start at the park - which will have an air of summer celebration with music, arts, crafts, food concessions, attractive booths, storytellers and humor. Swedish costume is the dress of the day for many! Refer to the schedule (elsewhere in this document) or the program (available the weekend of the event) for full details.
More to See and Do in Lindsborg
See the many uniquely painted Wild Dala sculptures around town. Many shops and galleries will have extended hours. You can experience Lindsborg often - by attending our community ethnic festivals and events, musical events of many types including the Easter-week Messiah Festival of Music and Art, the year-around visual arts exhibitions and gallery events, educational opportunities both short-term (camps, seminars, etc.) and long-term (at Bethany College and elsewhere in the community), sports and recreational offerings, religious activities, the various lodging and food experiences, shopping, museums, theatrical productions, and more!
Midsummer Information
* Festival contact: MIDSUMMERS COMMITTEE, c/o Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce
104 E. Lincoln St.
Lindsborg, Kansas 67456.
Phone 785-227-3706, 1-888-227-2227. Fax (c/o City): 785-227-4128.
Website:
* Midsummer Festival chairperson: Margo Lysell
* Mid-summer Festival PR chair: Mike Rodriquez
msd06@littleswedenusa.com
785-227-2928
* Midsummer Sponsors:
Erik Peterson, DDS
Bethany Home
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