Rochester’s Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival kicks off Friday night.
The celebration will begin with the crowning of the Swede Day royal court at a 6 p.m. ceremony held at Swede Hall, which is located at 18543 Albany St. in Rochester. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees will be served strawberry shortcake.
On Saturday, a pancake breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Swede Hall. A cornhole tournament will begin at 9 a.m.
The Swede Day Parade from Paulson Street and U.S. Highway 12 to Albany street, ending at Swede Hall, will begin at 11 a.m.
A Swedish meatball lunch will begin at noon alongside offerings of hamburgers, hot dogs, brats and tacos. There will be entertainment and vendors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
David James has been selected as the grand marshal of this year’s Swede Day festivities.
“A long-time resident of Rochester — he calls himself the ‘other James, not the homesteader James family’ — he and his daughter, Anita, have given generously to the community,” the Rochester Citizens Group stated in a news release. “He has provided many loads of dirt and rock for the nonprofit projects, worked on the demo of the old high school and has for many years provided the antique cars for our grand marshal and royalty court not only for the Swede Day parade but for the many local parades they attend.”
James is a 1968 graduate of Rochester High School and is a retired truck driver. He’s been a member of the Operating Engineers Union for 53 years.
The royalty court this year consists of five juniors from Rochester High School. The court includes Halle Dahl, Lily Hubbard, Izzy Masias, Audrey Williams and Grace Hillis. The queen will be crowned at 6 p.m. Friday at Swede Hall and will be featured in the Saturday parade along with the rest of the court, which will also represent Rochester at other events and parades throughout the year. The court will receive scholarships for college tuition.
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