A bit of Sweden will be represented in Mount Jewett today as the
annual Swedish Festival gets under way.

The festival, which has been running for more than 35 years,
will feature a few new events along with traditional community-wide
activities to celebrate the Swedish heritage of the area.

Highlights of the weekend include a large Swedish Smorgasbord,
Maypole Dance, Scandinavian Folk Music, Swedish Dancers, a parade,
fireworks and many more events through Sunday, said Beth Carpenter,
festival coordinator.

Today, the streets of Mount Jewett will be flooded with vendors
and arts and crafts from 4 p.m. in preparation for an opening
ceremony at 6 p.m., where participants will see the crowning of the
senior king and queen. The opening day will continue until
midnight, with events on Center Street and at the Mount Jewett
Firehall.

“Everything is coming around pretty well now,” said Tom Geer,
festival co-chairman. “We have a lot of traditional events and it
really brings people together … outside of the traditional events
this year we included a few things like a Guitar Hero competition
and a Power Wheels Derby to give some variation.”

For her part, Carpenter said “Saturday will be jam packed with
events from 9 a.m. up to the fireworks at 10 p.m., that can be
viewed from Center Street.”

Saturday will feature magician and comedian Dwayne Hill
performing all over the grounds and various authentic Swedish
contests and homemade foods, including the Swedish Smorgasbord from
noon until 3 p.m.

On Sunday, events will start at noon with a chicken and ribs
barbecue at the firehall and a car and bike show in the Community
Park. Closing ceremonies will start at 6 p.m. and include the
recognition of the senior king and queen, baby contest winners,
window display winners and the queen crowning.

Each event at the festival has been sponsored by a local
business or organization to include the commerce of the area, said
Carpenter.

“We solicit donations and the proceeds go to support the event
for the next year,” Carpenter said. “But if there is anything left
over, the proceeds will go back into the community.”

The following is a schedule of the weekend’s activities:

Today

• 4 to 10 p.m., Magician/comedian Dwayne Hill will be roaming
the festival grounds

• 6 p.m., Opening Ceremonies at the St. Matthews Lutheran Church
featuring the crowning of Senior King and Queen

• 6 to 8 p.m., Fletch the Clown will be roaming the festival
grounds

• 7:30 p.m., Prince and Princess Contest at the Center Street
Stage featuring the coloring contest winners

• 8 p.m., Lip Sync Contest at the Center Street Stage

• 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., DJ at the firehall

• 10 p.m. to midnight, Karaoke at the firehall

Saturday

• 9 a.m., Children’s Bike Races at the Community Park

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Art show at the Willow Woods Art Studio on
Main Street

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Magician/comedian Dwayne Hill will be
roaming the festival grounds

• 10:30 to 11 a.m., Alberta Pie Contest at Center Street

• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Acoustic guitarist Joel Golden will be
at the Heritage Park Gazebo on Main Street

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kids Krafts at the Willow Woods Art Studio
on Main Street

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Swedish Smorgasbord at the St. Matthews
Lutheran Church featuring the Scandinavian Folk Band and
Celebration Bells

• Noon, Chicken Barbecue at the firehall

• Noon to 1 p.m., Music by Kenny Stroup at the Center Street
Stage

• Noon to 4 p.m., Fletch the Clown will be roaming the festival
grounds

• 12:30 p.m., Maypole Dance at the St. Matthews Lutheran Church
Lawn

• 1 to 2 p.m., Smethport Elder-Berries Kitchen Band at the
Center Street Stage

• 1 to 2 p.m., Power Wheels Derby at the Center Street area

• 1 to 3 p.m., Swedish Language Lessons at the St. Matthews
Lutheran Church

• 1 to 3 p.m., Swedish Meatball Contest at the Heritage Park
Gazebo on Main Street

• 1 to 5 p.m., David McHenry Balloon Artist on Center Street

• 2 to 3 p.m., Detroit Pilgrims band at the Center Street
Stage

• 2 to 3 p.m., Scandinavian Folk Band at the Heritage Park
Gazebo on Main Street

• 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Kane Guitar Choir at the Heritage Park
Gazebo on Main Street

• 3:30 to 5 p.m., Brother Dietze and the Dixie Boys will be
playing at the Center Street Stage

• 4:30 p.m., Swedish Dancers on Main Street

• 5 p.m., Parade on Main Street

• 6 to 7 p.m., Toe Heel Country Line Dancers will be on Center
Street

• 7 p.m., Alberta’s Pie Contest winners and auction at the
Center Street Stage

• 7 to 8 p.m., Crown band at the Heritage Park Gazebo on Main
Street

• 7:30 p.m., Junior King and Queen Contest on the Center Street
Stage

• 8 to 9 p.m., Magician/comedian Dwayne Hill at the Center
Street Stage

• 9 to midnight, Freddy and The Jets at the Center Street
Stage

• 9 to 1 a.m., Oliverio band at the firehall

• 10 p.m., Fireworks viewable from Center Street

Sunday

• Noon, Chicken and Rib barbecue at the firehall

• Noon to 4 p.m., Car and Bike Show at the Community Park with
registration from 10 to noon

• Noon to 4 p.m., Fletch the Clown will be roaming the festival
grounds

• 12:30 p.m., Pet and Bike Parade forming at 12:15 p.m. at
Bits-n-Pizza

• 1 to 3 p.m., Guitar Hero Contest at the Center Street
Stage

• 1 to 3 p.m., Magician/comedian Dwayne Hill will be roaming the
festival grounds

• 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Chorduroy Barbershop Quartet will be
roaming the festival grounds

• 2 p.m., Pinewood Derby

• 3:30 p.m., Free Ice Cream Eating Contest on East Main Street
at My Sister’s Place Restaurant

• 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Music by Kenny Stroup at the Center Street
Stage

• 4:30 to 6 p.m., Old Timers vs. Youngsters Softball Game at the
Community Park

• 5 to 6 p.m., Gospel Concert with music by J.I.M. at the Center
Street Stage

• 6 p.m., Closing Ceremonies at the Center Street Stage
featuring the recognition of Senior King and Queen, Baby Contest
winners, window display winners and Queen Crowning.