Gammel Dag Fest - A Scandinavian Celebration 

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Join us for this Scandinavian midsummer (midtsommer)celebration. Begin the day with the parade along Main Street, then join the Nordic Dancers while they folk dance by the bandstand. Download the map and schedule for the day to earn 2 free raffle tickets, or pick one up at the Information table along with the directions for the family Scavenger Hunt. And then plan what time of day you will make your flower crowns. We can all pretend to be Scandinavian for this Midtsommer Day (did you know the longest day of the year is June 20th so this really is Midtsommer!).

We hope you will walk about the fest grounds and stop to talk to our interesting 20+ Nordic folk artists. Select a beautiful design by our face painters, and then hop on a hay ride to visit Grace Church for their hot sandwiches and desserts, enjoy the children's activities right behind the bandstand and on the porch of the WEN Inn- formerly the Andor Wenneson Inn. Find the hidden gnomes around town using the clues from the Scavenger Hunt, cool off in the dunk tank, learn to play the hardanger fiddle, or sit under the giant canopy to enjoy some Scandinavian music and maybe some Ole and Lena Jokes. We hope you stop at the Museum for more Nordic artists demonstrating in the air conditioned Peterson Station Museum, and then visit the new Memorial Garden behind the museum. 

No festival is complete without delicious hot dogs and brats provided by the Peterson Legion Auxiliary who will be in front of City Hall. They will be serving food throughout the day and even during the All-School Band Concert from 3:00 - 4:00 PM. Maynard Thompson has invited former band students to play songs they played under his direction as band instructor in Peterson. 

The Peterson Legion will be open all day and evening - both indoor and outdoor seating is available. They are providing us with a street dance by Slippin' Jimmy at 8:00 PM. Burdey's Cafe opens at 7:00 AM for a delightful breakfast menu, plans a meatball dinner special for Gammel Dag, but will serve a full menu along with their mouth watering pies! If you stay to enjoy the all-school band concert from 3:00 to 4:00 PM, Burdey's will be open until 6:00 PM for your dining pleasure.

You might plan to spend the weekend. Peterson has a lovely city campground, or lodging at the WEN Inn, Geneva's Hideaway Hotel, and our new Historic Mobile Inn Airbnb.
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