47th Annual Kingsburg Swedish Festival Begins Tomorrow!

May 15, 2013 | 2013 Articles, Community, Lorie Lewis Ham

One of the biggest events of the year in Kingsburg, The Swedish Festival, begins tomorrow. It runs May 16, 17 and 18.

The Festival began in 1924 when a group of women from the Concordia Lutheran Church presented a mid-summer festival for residents of the Concordia Home, a retirement home located near the present Kingsburg Hospital. A year later, the celebration was moved to the church where it continued until 1941. The Kiwanis Club sponsored the event, holding it at Kingsburg High School. The celebration was skipped in 1945 due to wartime restrictions. The Kingsburg Chamber of Commerce has sponsored the event since 1996.

Image source Kingsburg Chamber of Commerce

Past Festival

“This is the 47th Festival under the guidance of the Chamber of Commerce,” stated Kingsburg Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jess Chambers.

When asked what her favorite thing was about the Festival Jess answered, “Recognizing how special Kingsburg is to have the unique Swedish heritage to celebrate. Where else in California will that happen. Let’s celebrate and not be critical of the process. We’re unique here.”

Swedish Festival Schedule of Events:

THURSDAY, MAY 16

• Swedish Pea Soup & Pancake Dinner

5:30PM – 7 PM Draper Street – Downtown

Peas Soup & Pancakes $8 – Pea soup $4 – Pancakes $5

• Kingsburg Farmer’s Market

5PM Draper Street – Downtown

• Crowning of the Queen

6:30PM Draper Street – Downtown

FRIDAY, MAY 17

• Swedish Smörgåsbord

5:30PM – 7:30PM at Coffe Pot Park

Adults $10 – Children $5

• Arts & Crafts Booths

(only) Open after 5PM

• Swedish Entertainment

5:30PM – 9PM at Coffee Pot Park

SATURDAY, MAY 18

• Swedish Pancake Breakfast

6AM – 10AM at Coffe Pot Park $7

• Dala Horse Trot 10k and 2 mile runs

7AM at Trot Course

• Dala Horse Trot Awards

9AM Kingsburg Post Office

• Welcome Ceremony & Hambro Dance demonstration

10AM on Draper Street

• Swedish Festival Grand Parade

10:30AM on Draper Street

• Raising & Dancing Around the Maypole

after parade on Draper Street

• Swedish Entertainment

12:30PM – 5:30PM

• Presentation of Parade & Band Awards

1:30PM at Coffee Pot Park

• Kingsburg Art Center – Juried Art Show

9AM – 5PM at Village Mall

• Gammaldans Dancing

7:30PM – 10PM at Coffee Pot Park

Lorie Lewis Ham is our Editor-in-Chief and an enthusiastic contributor to various sections, coupling her journalism experience with her connection to the literary and entertainment worlds. Explore Lorie’s mystery writing at Mysteryrat’s Closet.