David Anthonsen spent most of his life going to Vasa Park in South Elgin to celebrate his Swedish heritage.
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“I have worked in every building here since my childhood,” the Geneva resident said. “As a child, I was a singer, I sang in a choir group. When I got older, I was a folk dancer. Now I’m the (park’s) vice chairman. And I’m frying onions for the herring booth on Sunday.”
He’s getting ready for the 46th annual Scandinavian Day, which will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Vasa Park in South Elgin and celebrates the heritage of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland with music, dance, food, crafts and culture.
Anthonsen’s father, Walter Anthonsen, was the founder of Scandinavian Day and past president of Scandinavian Park Inc., which owns 25-acre Vasa Park. Sunday will find David Anthonsen serving up about 600 filets at the herring stand, a job he’s been doing for the last 10 years at the festival.
It begs the question, if prompted, could he still sing those old Nordic folk songs?
“If I had Aquavit,” he quipped.
Aquavit is Scandinavian spirit seasoned with spices.
He fondly recalls the food, the camaraderie and the folk dancing as highlights of Scandinavian Day over the years. Some people even wore traditional Nordic costumes.
“One year we had a bad rain,” he said. We put everything in the pavilion. We had a great time. It was a small party because it rained, but we still had a blast. If the weather’s good, it’s great. If it’s not, we still have a good time.”
Scandinavian Day is a chance to learn about Nordic culture and customs, eat new foods, watch dancers and listen to music. Kids will enjoy the playground, free pony rides, face painting, a roving magician and the Swedish lawn game Kubb, he said. A certain ice princess impersonator will be on hand to entertain the children as well, and will read a story at 1:30 p.m. in the gazebo.
Tom Cleveland, of Sycamore, is the current park president, festival organizer and in charge of entertainment. He’s also the newly appointed grand master of the Vasa Order of America, a Swedish American fraternal organization.
Scandinavian Day helps promote interest in and raise funds for Vasa Park, which was purchased by Swedish immigrants in 1953 as a place for them to gather.
“They came from Chicago or Geneva for family time on weekends (and) had a great time along the Fox River,” Cleveland said.
The park’s upkeep is maintained through donations and event rentals, he said.
“We do our cultural festivals — Scandinavian Day, Midsummer Celebration in June with the maypole and a Scandinavian fish boil in October,” Anthonsen said.
Scandinavian Day isn’t ethnic in name only. The event’s trappings are distinctly Nordic. The event kicks off with a church service and there will be a Viking living history exhibit along the river, Cleveland said.
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“We have reenactors. We might even have some real Vikings show up. You never know,” he said.
Indeed, you’ll also find a portable bar shaped like a Viking ship, on loan from Scott Martin, owner of Simon’s Tavern in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago.
“He made it for Midsummer and loaned it to us,” Anthonsen said.
The Vendors’ Walkway is teeming with Nordic apparel, crafts and organizations, including groups like Illinois Norske Rosemalers Association, Chicago Torske Club, Norwegian American Genealogical Center, Scandinavian American Police and Fire Association, Finnish American Society of the Midwest and the Swedish American Museum.
“Every country has their own food there,” Cleveland said. “Swedish meatballs, Swedish pancakes, fried herring, Danish Aebleskiver and Danish hot dogs. All kinds of Nordic food.”
People can also grab a Sloppy Uff Da (sloppy joe), some limpa bread and Pepperkakor cookies or lingonberry cake (and maybe a shot of that Aquavit).
Entertainment includes music from Bert and Lindy, a folk, bluegrass and country duo. The Nordic Dancers of Chicago and Leikarringen Heimhug Dancers, which turned 100 in 2025, will both perform.
“Both of these dance groups have been together for a long time and they’re incredible. People love them,” Cleveland said.
The musical headliner is Libido Funk Circus, which even hires a second singer for the event so they can perform an ABBA tribute set, Cleveland said.
“At our opening ceremony, we will have the consul general of Denmark,” he said. “All the honorary consuls from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden will be there also. They (bear) their country’s flag — a lot of them are in their country’s dress too — and they will march up to the stage.
“We play all the national anthems. Then the consul general and the honorary consuls will get to speak. It’s very nice to hear all of them talk about what’s going on in their country. It’s really nice to get them all for Scandinavian Day.”
It’s a pleasure to celebrate his Nordic heritage with others and keep the traditions alive, he said.
“I’m excited about seeing my old friends. Every year people come to Scandinavian Day that I don’t see during the year. That’s what brings me back. When people say, ‘I love Scandinavian Day and I look forward to it all year long.’ That pumps you right up.”
Admission is $15 and is free for children 12 and under. For more information, go to www.scandinaviandayil.com.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Courier News.
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