At this year's Svensk Hyllningsfest in Lindsborg, become Swedish for the weekend

With visitors coming from around the world in numbers that more than triple the town's population, the biennial Svensk Hyllningsfest is back this month in Lindsborg, Kansas' own "Little Sweden."

Meaning "Swedish Honoring Festival," Hyllningsfest, founded in 1941, takes place every odd-numbered year and celebrates the Swedish immigrants and pioneers who settled in the Smoky Valley during the late 1860s.

Festivalgoers will join with the community to "become Swedish" with art, crafts, music, food and entertainment happening throughout the day on Oct. 13 and 14.

What's new at this year's Hyllningsfest?

While the festival always features favorite events and performances including Swedish Folk Dancing, Hungry Vikings Food Court and the Grand Parade, Hyllningsfest also has a few new things this year.

According to Holly Lofton, director of the Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau, among the new attractions and events this year are programming happening at the Old Mill and Swedish Pavilion.

"Generally, we have around 20,000 to 30,000 people that come to town over (that) two-day period," Lofton said.

Having more scheduled events in parts of the city that aren't downtown means that people can be more spread out for the festival.

Lofton said some other new events this year include demonstrations from Three Friends Baking at the Lindsborg Senior Center.

"They are a group of three, retired women," Lofton said. "They got started during COVID."

She said the bakers would post the thing they were making online and the community would pick what they wanted, pick it up from the baker's front porch and leave the money they needed to pay.

"It gave them an outlet during that time, but they've kept it up (past COVID)," Lofton said. "To be able to learn from them (will be amazing)."

Also new this year will be a farmers market, located just east of the main stage at Lincoln and Main Streets. Lofton said in addition to locally sourced food being sold at the market, there will also be wild-caught, Alaskan seafood.

"Wheelhouse Fish Co. will be (selling) salmon, spot prawns, halibut...and more," Lofton said. "If you've had Pacific Northwest fish, you'll know that it tastes like nothing you get at the regular store (in the Midwest)."

Finally, to end the festival this year will be performances on the main stage by regional favorites who haven't performed at Hyllningsfest.

The Peterson Farm Bros. will be presenting on the stage at 5 p.m. Friday and then again at 6 p.m. on Saturday, before the big show at the end of the festival.

"King Midas and the Muflers, while they are frequently in Lindsborg, (is) going to be our featured ending event for the street dance and evening concert," Lofton said.

That final event will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Main Stage.

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Where can people find information about Hyllningsfest?

Svensk Hyllningsfest 2023 is happening all day Oct. 13 and 14 in Lindsborg, with preceding events including a Heritage Worship Service beginning at 7 p.m. the night before, Oct. 12, at the Bethany Lutheran Church.

For more information, including the history of the festival and a schedule of events and how to participate, visit www.svenskhyllningsfest.org. For this year's program, which also has a map of the area including suggested areas to park and shuttle stops, go to the Visit Lindsborg website's page about Hyllningsfest, www.visitlindsborg.com/svensk-hyllningsfest.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Svensk Hyllningsfest in Lindsborg set to celebrate 'Little Sweden'