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Planning is underway for a special Swedish Festival in Thorsby.

This year will mark the event’s 25th anniversary.

The festival will begin with the Viking 5K Run at 8 a.m. on Oct. 12 and continue througout the day with several other attractions planned.

The run was a new addition to the festival last year and considered a success, said Laura Liveoak, one of the event’s organizers.

“We’re trying to keep what we’ve got going,” Liveoak said.

The parade will follow the run at 9 a.m. Anyone wanting to participate in the parade should contact Neil Benson at 205-646-2936 or nbenson.thorsby@gmail.com.

Businesses are once again encouraged to decorate their storefronts leading up to the festival. The decorations will be judged and a winner announced during the festival.

The theme of this year’s festival is the 25th anniversary. Liveoak said the Swedish Festival Committee is producing T-shirts that are replicas of the T-shirts from the first Swedish Festival.

Liveoak said anyone in the community interested in helping with the event is welcome to contact the committee.

“We would love to have people join this committee,” Liveoak said.

Anyone interested can contact Liveoak at 205-217-9395, or go by Thorsby Town Hall and leave their name and contact information.

Registration for the Swedish Festival pageants will be held from 2-3 p.m. on Sept. 15 at Helen Jenkins Chapel, across the street from Thorsby School.

The pageants will be held Oct. 7-8 at the school’s auditorium, beginning at 6 p.m. each evening. Age categories include Miss (ages 16-19), Junior Miss (12-15), Young Miss (8-11), Little Miss (5-7), Tiny Miss (2-4) and Baby Miss Photogenic (birth to 24 months).

Pageant entry fee is $65, or $20 for the Baby Miss Photogenic competition.

The car and bike show will be held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Plaques and trophies will be presented. Entry fee is $15 for pre-registry or $20 the day of the show. Checks and registration forms can be dropped off at or mailed to Thorsby Town Hall, P.O. Box 608, Thorsby, AL 35171.

For more information about the car show, contact Bill Evans at 205-310-3800 or Bill@RoseHillFarmLLC.com.

Vendor booths will be set up at Richard Wood Memorial Park. Those interested should call Liveoak.

For more information about the festival, including registration forms, visit ThorsbySwedishFestival.com or email nancyhuett@gmail.com.