DETROIT LAKES - It's that time of year again, when the Swedish get to celebrate their heritage with food, fun and good company.
Two churches -- Eksjo Lutheran Church, rural Lake Park, and the Upsala Church, rural Westbury -- will hold Swedish Midsummer Celebrations Sunday, June 27.
Eksjo's festivities start at 9:45 a.m. with a church service followed by a home-cooked Swedish meatball dinner and ice cream buffet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Miquette Denie, the founder of TeacHaiti and the church's mission project, will be the speaker at the service.
Organizers of the event are preparing to serve from 250 to 300 people, which means lots and lots of meatballs along with lefse and homemade mashed potatoes and gravy.
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"Every year we make about 900 meatballs," said Eksjo co-chair service person Sara Kleven. "There is a lot of preparing going on."
Along with the food, activities for all ages are planned -- with the popular maypole dance, a scavenger hunt for the kids and bingo.
During the late 1800s, Swedish congregations were forming all over the Midwest with Upsala being the oldest Swedish church in Becker County, member Ken Pearson said.
Although the Upsala Parish was closed in 1964 due to lack of members, it's still open for special events and social gatherings.
The Upsala Cemetery Association was also formed to upkeep the cemetery and the church for future generations, Pearson said.
An active member who will soon be nominated to the board of directors for the association, Pearson said the annual event gives people an opportunity to recognize their ancestors and relatives who are buried at the cemetery.
The Swedish tradition continues this year with the Upsala Midsummer Celebration that begins with a prayer service by Vicki Marthaler, followed by a picnic lunch at 1:30 p.m.
"It just kind of brings that old faith community together even though the church is closed," Pearson said.
