MARQUETTE - Many community members and tourists visited Presque Isle Park on Saturday to enjoy Scandinavian music, dance and food.
The Marquette Scandinavian Midsummer Festival is held on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice. An estimated 500 to 1,000 people show up to the festival each year, said Bob Railey, co-chairman of the festival committee.
"The attendance at the start was a little low," Railey said. "But when I came back mid-afternoon, there was a refreshing number of people and cars parked here."
Article Photos
Folk dancers teach the steps to the 7 Jumps dance to children at the Marquette Scandinavian Midsummer Festival on Saturday at Presque Isle Park.
The festival is a one-day event celebrating and presenting as many cultural aspects of the five Scandinavian countries: Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. Next year the festival will not be held, Railey said.
"Most of our committee is going to be involved in the FinnFest USA up in the Copper Country," Railey said. "It's almost the same time of the year so, there won't be (a midsummer festival) next year. But we will be back in two years."
FinnFest USA is a national festival that celebrates Finnish culture and heritage.
Even though the midsummer festival will not be back next year the committee is still looking for members to help plan the 2014 festival, Railey said.
"The folk dancers are doing the same thing," Railey said. "We keep losing people and not getting many new dancers. We'd love to have people join us for dancing."
For more information on how to help out with the next one, contact Railey at 226-9617.
Adelle Whitefoot can be reached at 906-228-2500. Her email address is photos@miningjournal.net.