An afternoon and evening of Swedish Culture--History, Dance, Food, Music will be held Saturday August 28, 2010, at the  Vasa Order of America Archives, 109 South Bishop Hill Street, Bishop Hill, Illinois.

This Swedish style "farewell to summer" event will be filled with a variety of enjoyable activities.

Begin at 11 a.m. with a 30 minute guided tour of historic Bishop Hill and some time to explore our "Utopia on the Prairie." (Cost for just the tour is $4 per person.)

From 2-5:30 p.m. Roo Lester, our dance instructor and her partner Larry Harding will present a Hambo and Swedish Folk Dance workshop with plenty of breaks and time to practice. (Cost for just the workshop is $10 per person.)

At 6 p.m. the Swedish Crayfish Party will begin with crayfish prepared with dill and butter, continue with a summertime Swedish smörgåsbord, and conclude with coffee and Scandinavian dessert. (Cost for just the Crayfish Party is $8 per person.)

At 8 p.m. a Barn Dance featuring live music by Mike Terry and Wild Senna will be an opportunity to enjoy Amercanand Scandinavian folk dances, with a hambo demonstration from workshop participants. (Cost for just the Barn Dance is $5 per person.)

Prepaid registration is required before August 21. Before August14, the cost of the full schedule package per person is $20.  After August 14, the cost of the full schedule package per person is $25.  To register call Patti at (309) 375-6844 oremailheritagefolkdancers@yahoo.com

Roo Lester, who was born in California, began folk dancing in grade school as a rainy-day physical education activity, and later obtained her Masters degree in Dance, with a focus in Dance Ethnology, from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Roo has traveled extensively in Norway and Sweden studying dance. She has been the American coordinator for several dance and music camps in the US and Scandinavia. Roo, with her teaching partner, Larry Harding, have a delightful teaching style that is a favorite of both novice and
experienced dancers.

This event is co-sponsored by Pride of the Family--a VasaOrder of America Swedish culture education club for youth and children, and the Bishop Hill Heritage Association, and supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council--a state agency, and the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation.