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The Origins of the Festival
The first Svensk Hyllningsfest was held in October 1941, to honor the
Swedish pioneers who settled in the Smoky Valley in 1868-69.
Celebrations of a religious or secular nature have been an important part
of life throughout the history of the Lindsborg area. A "Swedish Day"
observance held in May 1938, part of a nationwide commemoration of the landing of the
Swedes in America, may have served as a model for the first Hyllningsfest.
However, this model was overlooked initially because Kansas was
experiencing Coronado fever. All over the state in 1941, Coronado festivals were
commemorating the 400th anniversary of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado's expedition in
search of the Seven Cities of Cibola and their gold. (Local legend has it that
Coronado's expedition may have visited the prominent hill just north of Lindsborg, now
known as "Coronado Heights.")
Lindsborg civic leaders became interested in the possibility of a Coronado
festival for Lindsborg. In May representatives from Lindsborg's American Legion,
Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary Club met to discuss such a celebration. The Lindsborg
News-Record, May 22, 1941, recounts:
"The drastic shift in plans came after a period of random talk about
a Coronado program of some kind. Dr. Wm. Holwerda's remarks about the annual tulip
festival in Holland, Michigan; Lindsborg's reputation as one of the largest Swedish
strongholds in the state, and the chances of capitalizing on a reputation already
established, caught the fancy of the committee members. Coronado plans were
forgotten and the idea of a Scandinavian festival this fall, and an annual event of the
same nature if the first attempt works out, had received its start."
Lindsborg had cause to celebrate in 1941, the centennial year of the birth
of Dr. Olof Olsson, spiritual leader of the town's original Swedish immigrants. In
addition, 1941 marked the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Bethany Academy (later
Bethany College), the 60th anniversary of the organization of the Messiah Chorus, and the
50th anniversary of the graduation of the first class from Bethany College - all historic
milestones in the life of the Smoky Valley area.
Dr. William Holwerda was elected general chairman of that first festival.
A young physician of Dutch ancestry, "Doc Bill" had moved to the
community in 1931.
 Holwerda's newly formed committee promptly initiated a naming
contest. Svensk Hyllnings Fest ("Swedish Honoring Festival") was
suggested by Mr. E. P. Lenander, a bricklayer. "Hyllnings" and
"Fest" were combined into one word in later years.
Early in the summer months folk dance rehearsals began in the park with
school children learning eight dances. A group of adults, about a dozen couples,
also began rehearsals.
Residents were urged to check closets and attics for authentic Swedish
costumes. A Swedish costume showing was held on a Saturday night in early fall in
the Swanson Furniture Store windows (now Swedish Crown). Costumes for the whole
family were modeled, including the authentic costumes from Sweden and homemade outfits
copied from originals or Swedish books. This show encouraged the ladies in the area
to get busy with their sewing.
Automobile caravans were sent to neighboring towns to publicize the
festival, and all "loyal" residents were asked to start wearing their Swedish
costumes on October 4, two weeks before the actual start of the festival.
The first Hyllningsfest featured an elaborate parade, downtown music and
folk dance performances, a comedian from Munkfors, Sweden (now Lindsborg's Swedish sister
city), window displays of Swedish treasures brought by the immigrants, a Swedish movie,
two Smörgåsbords, an evening variety program at Presser Hall on the Bethany college
campus, prizes for the best Swedish costumes, and a Sunday morning Union Worship Service.
Reports vary as to the actual number of people who attended the festival.
In addition to the people in the adjoining counties who flocked to the celebration,
people from 27 states and three foreign countries - Scotland, Sweden, and South Africa -
signed the guest book.
While the first Svensk Hyllningsfest was successful, World War II
dominated the community's interest for the next several years. Plans to make the
Hyllningsfest an annual event were dropped.
After World War II, interest in reviving the Hyllningsfest was strong.
In 1948, the 100th anniversary of the settling of the Swedes in the Midwest was
being observed by Swedish-American communities all over the United States, thereby
rekindling the area's desire for a celebration. After Lindsborg' Swedish Pioneer
Centennial Service in April, plans to have the second Svensk Hyllningsfest in October 1948
got underway.
Many townspeople felt that a festival wasn't a festival without a Queen.
Since honoring the pioneers was one of the chief goals of the celebration, they
decided to choose a festival Queen from one of the elderly area women of Swedish
background. The Queen would be one who has lived most of her life in the area, and
one who has been actively involved in service to her community. The first Queen was
Mrs. T. J. Darrah (Hannah Nelson), who was only five years old when her family came to
Lindsborg in 1868.
Four years intervened before the Hyllningsfest was again undertaken, this
time by a sponsoring organization. In November 1951, the Lindsborg Coordinating
Council was organized to promote civic improvement, law enforcement, youth and adult
recreation. This group was composed of representatives from all the various
organizations in the town. Among the objectives they established was the possibility
of producing another festival.
In February 1952, the Coordinating Council voted to revive the Svensk
Hyllningsfest in the fall. The event was a success, and was repeated in 1953 and
1954. After the three consecutive festivals, townspeople were almost unanimous in
feeling that having a festival every year was too often. Too heavy a burden was
placed on the Smörgåsbord, entertainment, and parade committees. Keeping families
in costumes was also a strain. However, by far the biggest obstacle was finding
leadership for the event.
The Svensk Hyllningsfest was not held in 1955 or 1956. In October of
1956 there was again talk of reviving the festival. The Coordinating Council
solicited public opinion on the subject, explaining that the two year lapse was the result
of leaders finding it impossible to devote sufficient time to the project. In
January 1957 the Coordinating Council established the Svensk Hyllningsfest Committee as a
not-for-profit independent agency responsible for the festival. This laid the
foundation for the biennial celebrations that have continued from 1957 to the present.
Dr. William Holwerda, writing about the first festival in the October 23,
1941 issue of the Lindsborg News-Record, said "The festival effort was
planned, developed, and built entirely upon a premise of solid local support, assistance
and support of our neighbors. The response from all sources was in terms of generous
participation. It is to such support we owe our success." These
sentiments apply equally well to each of the succeeding Hyllningsfests.
At festival time the Lindsborg community enjoys a "togetherness"
as everyone participates in some aspect of the celebration. Newcomers have as much
fun "becoming Swedish" as do the long-time residents. This community
closeness may be the highest tribute we can pay to the immigrants who also exemplified
this kind of unity - a fitting legacy for future residents of the Smoky Valley.
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