Geneva’s Swedish heritage was on display during the annual Swedish Days Kids Day Parade in downtown Geneva Friday.
The event was part of Swedish Days, an annual five-day summer festival in the city sponsored by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. The fest ended Sunday.
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Families, friends and members of the community cheered for about 50 children during the parade, some decked out in Viking helmets and capes, while others sported the blue and yellow colors of the Swedish flag with floral crowns in their hair.
The parade, featuring children on bikes and wagons, stepped off from Campbell and Fourth streets as part of the annual Swedish Days festivities.
The Kids Day Parade at the fest began in 1984, Geneva Chamber of Commerce officials said.
Jesus Rodriguez, 9, was in Viking attire from head-to-toe for the event.
“It’s fun to walk around dressed like a Viking. The Swedish flag is a nice accessory for the parade,” he said.
The costume was primarily homemade, his mother, Yoseling Rodriguez of Geneva, said. Her son was draped in a faux fur collar and his father’s tool belt gave the costume a rugged look, she said.
“I told him to have fun and be proud of the Viking spirit,” Rodriguez said.
“The kids really come fully decked out for the parade,” Geneva Chamber of Commerce Communications Coordinator Elisa Reamer said.
The kids and parents devote a lot of time to their entries, she said.
Ellen and Andrew Wydra, of Geneva, entered their children, Walter, 7, and Fitz, 1, in Friday’s parade. The couple transformed their wagon into a Viking seafaring ship – equipped with a curled dragon-head cardboard cutout in the front, painted sails and shields on the sides. Blue streamers were used to portray waves in the sea.
“We get really into this,” Andrew Wydra said.
Swedish Days has become a tradition for many families in Geneva over the years.
“We like the fun, amusement and everyone enjoying each other, and it’s the start of summer. It’s become our family tradition,” Wydra said.
Allison and Tim Nelson and Kristina (Nelson) and Brad Wendell entered their young children in the Swedish Spirit Division of the parade and took home a first-place trophy. The Nelson family is steeped in Geneva’s Swedish heritage, family members said.
“My dad’s great-grandpa came to Geneva in 1885,” Tim Nelson said.
The Nelson family at one time had a general store on State Street, he said.
“My children are fifth generation Nelsons,” he said. “Our family has a lot of pride in volunteering for the city.”
The sister and brother – Kristina Wendell and Tim Nelson – grew up going to Swedish Days, they said.
“We have lots of good memories,” Kristina Wendell said.
Paula Nagel watched the parade along Campbell Street with her great-nephew Alex, 5, and great-niece Amina, 6.
“Swedish Days is a family tradition. We took our children to Swedish Days,” Nagel said.
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Aside from Wednesday’s rain, crowds still came out to Geneva’s Swedish Days this year, Reamer said.
“People came as far as Chicago and Pittsburgh to attend the festival,” she said. “Thankfully, it was cooler this year.”
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.