HVAD SKER UDE?
What’s Happening Out and About at the Mill?
Upcoming Events and Activities
Click to view Tivoli Newspaper with full Schedule of Events
TIVOLI FEST 2012 - MAY 26th and 27th
"Tivoli FEST": Excitement in the air!
Tivoli Fest, Elk Horn's annual festival celebrating their Danish heritage, is a fun and exciting time for Danes as well as visitors from around Iowa and the nation. This year the two day event's theme is Tivoli Fest 2011 "Excitement in the Air". This 31st annual fest is packed with an assortment of activities sure to please visitors of all ages.
To kick off the weekend, there will be a flag raising ceremony on Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. on the Windmill grounds. Both the American and Danish flags will be presented and the national anthems played. At the conclusion of the flag raising be sure to join us on the 3-mile Mill to Mermaid Fun Run beginning at 8:15 am at the Windmill and ending at the Little Mermaid fountain in Kimballton. Prizes will be awarded to winners in each age group. The annual Tivoli Parade is held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The parade features floats, marching bands, clowns, antique cars and trucks and a few surprises! Sunday is the Tour de Tivoli Bike Ride and the Antique Tractor Ride.
The Windmill Entertainment Stage is a hub of free entertainment throughout the weekend. Scandinavian Folk Dancing groups from Kimballton and Omaha, including two children's groups will perform traditional Danish and Scandinavian dance. Ron Johnson from North Liberty, Iowa will return with his Baldoni electronic accordion. You might catch him strolling through town playing his Danish music. Dwight Red Lamb will be featured on Saturday and Sunday with his Danish Button Box accordion. This year joining Dwight is Danish Folk Musicians Jensen and Bugge. New is an Ecumenical Church Service Sunday Morning at the Mill Stage.
Tivoli Fest is certainly a family event so we have included fun activities for the kids. Stop by the lot just west of the Danish Mill for the Bounce Rides. Another activity for the "little Danes" is children activities at the library plus a Lego contest.
The Danish Immigrant Museum will be hosting their featured exhibit "Church Basements to Children's Homes". After touring the Museum, take the walking path to Bedstemor's House, Danish for Grandmother's House. This house has been lovingly restored to reflect life during the period of 1910-1920 where you will enjoy a step into the past. The Genealogy Center is featuring a photo exhibit of Danish Immigrant's "Hats from the Past".
Check out the Viking Market and Camp and see how Vikings lived back in 900ad at the VikingHjem.
Be sure to watch for this year's Tivoli Royalty King and Queen as they reign over the weekend's events. One place you may see them is at our famous Danish Windmill. The mill was originally built in Denmark in 1848, then dismantled piece by piece and shipped to Elk Horn where community volunteers reassembled it over 35 years ago. Watch the wings fly around on a windy day and pick up a bag of stone ground flour to use in your next loaf of bread!
A visit to Tivoli Fest would not be complete without sampling some of our mouth-watering foods. Danish Open Faced Sandwiches, a work of art on a slice of bread, and Danish desserts will be served at the Town Hall – what a feast! The Fire Station is the place to get your æbleskiver and medisterpølse, the Danish version of pancakes and sausage. These ethnic foods are a hit with the entire family! Elk Horn also has a wonderful assortment of restaurants and bakeries including some that are only available during Tivoli Fest.
Elk Horn is proud of the unique gift shops that make shopping an experience you won't soon forget. Some of the distinctive merchandise the shops have to offer include beautiful handcrafted furniture, quilts, heritage lace, candles, flowers, candy, collectibles, antiques and much more.
The fun in Elk Horn doesn't end when the sun goes down – enjoy a Barbeque, open-air concert featuring "Stone Thro" in the city Park, and fireworks on Saturday night! Bring the whole family to the mill grounds for the FFA Barbeque. The Windmill Entertainment Stage will feature on going entertainment such as a local talent show, The Dane Follies and Exira Community Band will entertain until the fireworks. The 12th annual fireworks display will take place after sundown. What a great way to end the day!
Plan your trip to Elk Horn now to take a Danish vacation without a passport. We look forward to seeing you on Memorial Day weekend. For further information see us at www.elkhorniowa.com. Elk Horn is located in Southwest Iowa. Take Exit 54 off Interstate 80 and go 6 miles north.
For more information, email info@danishwindmill.com
Click to view Tivoli Newspaper with full Schedule of Events
Julefest 2012
November 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton, Iowa begin their Christmas celebration with Julefest 2012 on November 23, 24, and 25. The important elements of a Danish Christmas – good food, warm hospitality, flickering candles and other decorations – all make this weekend a magical event. There are unique shops and specialty stores, a winery, museums and craft fairs for early holiday shopping as well as food establishments serving pastries, breads, candies and Danish specialties such as rullepølse. There are over 20 locations offering exquisite one-of-a-kind gifts. Enjoy a horse and sleigh ride, listen to a Christmas concert and watch for Father Christmas strolling through town.
The museums and historic structures welcome visitors with special events and decorations. Come experience the Danish Julestue and the Danish Julestue Cafe at the Danish Immigrant Museum for cookies, glögg, and æbleskiver you can turn on your own. Enjoy the historic Danish Windmill's old fashioned Julemarket while you sip hot glögg and sample Danish cheese. Bedstemor’s House – Danish for Grandmother’s House – will welcome visitors with a warm fire. The parlor’s Christmas tree will be decorated with homemade paper ornaments like Julehjerte, chains, fish, and roses.
The original Boutique & Quilt Sale, “A Prairie Christmas", at the Kimballton Town Hall, represents over 30 folk artists. The Elk Horn Town Hall features Iowa Homespun Crafters at the “Main Street Country Boutique.” Enjoy the many shops and boutiques in both towns – they’re sure to get you in the holiday spirit and help you find that unique Christmas gift!
Both towns will be decorated for Christmas and the streets lined with Danish and American flags. Listen for Christmas carolers strolling the Danish Villages and watch for Father Christmas on Friday. Be ready to sample the Better Elk Horn Club's annual pancake supper on Saturday, November 24th at the fire station from 4-7 p.m. Also on Saturday night at 7 p.m., bring your family to the annual Christmas concert at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Budding musicians and experienced musicians will entertain you with violin, piano, voice, and much more. This free will concert is followed by dancing and singing around the Christmas tree, a Danish tradition!
Celebrate the arrival of the Christmas season in the Danish Villages. Pick up a brochure with a map of the local merchants and happenings at any of the Danish Villages business.
Elk Horn and Kimballton are located in southwest Iowa off I-80, 6 and 9 miles north of Exit 54 - no passport required!
