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The 35th annual Swedish Festival packed Richard Wood Park in Thorsby on Oct. 14. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

The 2023 Swedish Festival Queens during the festival on Oct. 14. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Children having fun on the park’s swing set. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

The Thorsby High School cheerleaders were among the many entertainment performances throughout the festival. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Some of the classic cars that were on display at the car show at the Swedish Festival. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Vendors packed the park as well offering items to patrons. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

The 2023 Swedish Festival Queens before the parade that kicked off the festival. (AMY JOLLEY | CONTRIBUTED)

Some of the artwork that displayed as part of the Swedish Festival art contest. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

The annual Swedish Festival in Thorsby that celebrated its 35th year of honoring the city’s deep Scandinavian heritage on Oct. 14. The festival recognizes the Swedish and Scandinavian settlers that were among the first to call Thorsby home in the 1800s.

The 2023 edition of the festival was held in Richard Wood Park that welcomed in thousands of visitors to see the vendors, entertainment, art, cars and people that make the Swedish Festival one of the most anticipated events of the year in not only Thorsby, but Chilton County.

The festival kicked off at 9 a.m. with the Swedish Festival parade that featured the newly-crowned 2023 Swedish Festival Queens, other Chilton County queens, local dignitaries and floats that threw out candy to the crowd who lined the streets in downtown Thorsby.

Around 100 vendors set up tents in the park to offer household items, handmade candies and food and art to those who came out. The traditional car show at Thorsby High School and the art contest made their return to the festival lineup in 2023, and multiple different forms and groups of entertainment performed throughout the festival.

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