Celebrate Swede Day in Rochester
*Article by Kristina Lotz, originally published on ThurstonTalk.com April 30, 2024
Dust off your Nationelle drӓkten – that’s the national costume of Sweden – and get ready for some good old-fashioned family fun at the 45th annual Rochester’s Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival at Swede Hall on June 14-15, 2024.
With a cornhole tournament, parade, games and lots of delicious Swedish and American fare, you’ll want to attend both days (no costumes are actually required)!
![People walking into Swede Hall in Rochester, Washington, for the annual Swede Day Festival. The national flag of Sweden hangs above the door.](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/rochester-swede-day-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=a0fe5b01ad73333ca1f5ad7eb88149bc 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/rochester-swede-day-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=23ae2d9927b1ea5b8c6328a7179983ca 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/rochester-swede-day-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=389d7446dfe4f2bdfd6521c659bcb1a5 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/rochester-swede-day-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=b488778eb3e5446eba4fbc51244b056d 1024w)
History of Rochester, Washington, Swede Day
You may be wondering why Rochester, Washington, even has a Swede Day. According to the organizers, about 1,100 Nordic immigrants from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark settled in Independence Valley, seven miles from what would become Rochester, from 1890 to 1940.
“In 1920, an Order of Runeberg (OoR) was formed and a hall on Independence Road, which was once used for the Swedish Finn Temperance Union, was used for their meeting and community gatherings,” shares the Swede Day Committee. “In 1939, as the group outgrew their current location, land was bought on Albany Street in Rochester and Swede Hall was built.”
Many years later, in 1968, Order membership had dwindled and the citizens of Grand Mound and Rochester purchased Swede Hall. After forming the Rochester Citizens Group – still in place today – they decided to use it as a community gathering place.
It was a local businessperson who came up with the idea of a day to celebrate the Nordic ancestors of the area. “The first years of Swede Day wer centered on the parade and gathering at Swede Hall for a traditional Swedish Meatball lunch,” shares the Swede Day Committee. “Today it is a full community event. All of Rochester is involved with activities for our guests.”
Now Swede Day is known as Rochester’s Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival. In its 45-year history, the festival has only been canceled once, in 2020 due to COVID-19. In 1980, it was postponed until July due to Mount Saint Helen’s erupting.
2024 Rochester’s Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival
Celebrate Swedish heritage at the 2024 Rochester’s Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival. Last year’s festival brought over 3,000 visitors. “Rochester’s Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival brings the small community together to celebrate our small-town charm,” shares the Swede Day Committee. “We cheer on our local students as they march in the parade, we gather at Swede Hall to feast on a Traditional Swedish Meatball Lunch, buy unique items from our local vendors, dance around the May Pole, play games and listen and see live entertainment.”
One of the highlights is the parade, which starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 15 at the corner of Paulson Street and Highway 12 in Rochester. The parade route is along Highway 12 to Albany Street, finishing at Swede Hall – 18543 Albany Street SW.
Before and after the parade a shuttle bus will be available to take visitors from the parade start at Paulson Street to Swede Hall, where the rest of the activities take place. Shuttle runs until 3 p.m.
![Four young women, representing Rochester's Swede Day Court, pose for a photo outside of Swede Hall.](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/rochester-swede-day-03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=8550f1567969cceb2b82e0c80493895d 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/rochester-swede-day-03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=012961c579f30c954908dda465116b27 526w)
The Swede Day Court will be part of the parade. Each year, up to five students from Rochester High School’s junior class are selected to represent the court for the year. The students receive a generous scholarship for college or a trade school. They also represent the court at other parades throughout the year. “For many years the royalty court wore traditional Swedish costumes handmade by our local seamstress Barbara Munsell,” shares the Swede Day Committee. “Current courts have requested modern wear.”
The court’s coronation happens Friday, June 14, at 6 p.m. and the event is free to the public. Attend and enjoy free strawberry shortcake.
Along with old favorites, the 2024 Rochester’s Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival will have a new Swedish Cookie Recipe Contest and a Pre-Swede Day Scavenger Hunt. Details can be found on the Swede Day website as the event draws closer.
Rochester’s Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Saturday, June 15, 2024 Schedule Highlights
Swedish Pancake Breakfast 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. The first 200 guests receive a free breakfast thanks to Rochester Band Booster Club!
Parade 11 a.m.
Corn Hole Tournament 9 a.m. Entry fee $10. 3 p.m., entry fee $20. First place gets a set of professional cornhole bags with Bigfoot BBQ logo and Swede Hall logo. Tournaments also have cash payouts! The afternoon tournament will have cash and prizes. Sign up by emailing Brock at bigfootcornhole@yahoo.com. Payment is due day of the tournament.
Swede Hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with all kinds of vendors. There will also be an assortment of food to purchase including hamburgers, hot dogs and tacos. Live entertainment will happen from 12: 30 p.m. to 3 p.m. And there will even be a table to make your own Swedish headdress.
For the adults, a Beer Garden will be open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the afternoon cornhole tournament with Bigfoot BBQ.
![A woman holding a child waves at people during the annual Swede Day parade in Rochester, Washington](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/rochester-swede-day-04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=7c1dd4162afa313f7a540b1f8ca4f927 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/rochester-swede-day-04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=6cf741b77523f7b4e712531d0639d95a 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/rochester-swede-day-04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=589008061d7f8a8734ce2431d1ac49c8 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/rochester-swede-day-04.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=1242dc06a8c6ee7f3daa4463b05feb10 1024w)
If you are coming from out of town, check out Great Wolf Lodge, Fairfield Inn & Suites, or the Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel for a place to rest your head.
With delicious food – if you haven’t had Swedish pancakes before you are really missing out – fun activities and entertainment, be sure to put the 2024 Rochester’s Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival on your calendar. For more information, visit the Swede Hall website.