Geneva’s annual Swedish Day Festival

By: Sophia Schroll, Centerspread Editor, Photographer, and Social Media Manager • June 28, 2024

On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, The town of Geneva kicked off their 74th annual Swedish Days festival sponsored by Northwestern Medicine. The festival features multiple vendors for food, small business booths, carnival rides and a 5k race . The Swedish American Children’s Choir from St. Charles opened the festival and welcomed the weekend with a traditional Swedish Välkommen. This group is the largest choir of their kind in the Midwest, ranging from children 4 to 18 years old. (Photo By Sophia Schroll)

The Ferris wheel is one of the most popular attractions at Swedish Days. Windy City Amusement has been helping Geneva’s festival for years and is based locally in Aurora. The festival dates back to 1949, and it remains one of the most anticipated events in the Fox Valley each summer. (Photo By Sophia Schroll)

Geneva’s Swedish Days celebrates the heritage of Swedish immigrants who settled in the area. The celebration attracts people from not only Geneva, but from all over the area including St. Charles, Batavia, Sugar Grove, Elburn and multiple other small towns. Many businesses will attract people from other areas because of the sales they provide or the appeal of the outdoor markets. (Photo By Sophia Schroll)

There are many small businesses that can benefit from this festival and the traffic that the five-day event brings. Geneva Antiques Market is located on the corner of Third St. and Franklin St.. The business has been there for 33 years and has celebrated multiple Swedish Day events to bring attention to their business. (Photo By Sophia Schroll)

“We support the Geneva and the Fox Valley area directly by giving a platform to artists within the community,” Midwest Elite owner Kaitlin Fletcher said. “When you shop with us, you are supporting your neighbors!” While Midwest Elite has only been there two years, there are an array of small businesses that have seen multiple Swedish Day crowds. Midwest Elite, along with multiple other stores, put a small table outside of their building to encourage people to come in and look or to purchase products at the outside stand. (Photo By Sophia Schroll)

Temperatures were not too unexpected for a Chicagoland summer, but it was still hot and may have impacted attendance. . Fletcher shared that the crowd was smaller than it usually is on Third Street because of the high temperatures. But fortunately for those in attendance, they had Grahams, a local ice cream shop . Grahams has been in that Geneva location since December of 1987. (Photo By Sophia Schroll)

About the Contributor

Sophia Schroll, Centerspread Editor, Photographer, and Social Media Manager

Name: Sophia Schroll Position: Centerspread Editor and Social Media Manager Graduation year: 2026 A few sentences about me:. I am a very kind person, but also am very spoken out about topics I believe in. If you don't find me at work you'll find me on the basketball court most of the time. I have played since first grade. It is familiar and comforting. My favorite… Movie: Finding Nemo Show: The Bachlor Animal: Penguin Hobby: Basketball Book: The fault in our stars by John Green Food: Spaghetti Song: I am not who I was by Chance Pena Band / Artist: The lumineers