Street Closures, Temporary Parking Restrictions Planned For Geneva Swedish Days

GENEVA, IL — Swedish Days is bringing food, music and entertainment to Geneva for the 75th year starting in two days. To accommodate the event, parking restrictions will be implemented, and two downtown streets will be closed throughout the festival.

The five-day Swedish Days festival originally began as an event to promote and build business in Geneva in a post-World War II economy. Nowadays, the organizer Geneva Chamber of Commerce says almost every community member participates, whether it be as a volunteer or eventgoer.

Swedish Days will encompass a plethora of events within five days. A pickleball tournament — new this year — a craft beer tent, live music, a carnival, Geneva's Got Talent, a 5K and a parade are just some of the activities planned.

The primary festival areas are Third Street from State to South streets, James Street from Second to Fifth streets, and Campbell Street from Second to Fifth streets.

On Tuesday, James Street will close from Third to Fourth streets, and on Wednesday, Third Street will be shut down between James and Campbell streets. The 300 block of James Street will remain closed until the festival's end, and the Third Street block near the Kane County Courthouse will be shut down through Saturday and will reopen on Sunday, except for the Swedish Days Parade.

Temporary parking restrictions will be posted in certain areas during the week, and Geneva police are asking drivers to be mindful of them when parking downtown.

On Sunday, the parade will step off at 1 p.m. from Anderson Boulevard and Center Street. These streets will close to make way for the procession:

• State Street (Route 38) from Second Street to Logan Avenue (west side of the Fox River)
• Third Street from State Street to Route 31
• Anderson Boulevard from State to Union streets

A detour route will be established before the parade, and police will guide traffic. Westbound motorists should head north on Second Street, west on Stevens Street, north on Edison Street, west on Union Street, and south on Logan Avenue to resume westbound travel on Route 38. The detour will be reversed for eastbound State Street traffic.