50 Years of Fyr Bal: 2014 Schedule of Events

Photo by Len Villano.

Ephraim celebrates the 50th Annual Fyr Bal Festival on June 21. Steeped in Scandinavian tradition, Fyr Bal, (pronounced fear ball) is Norwegian for bonfire. The festival re-creates customs of early Scandinavian settlers celebrating the summer solstice. Evening bonfires along the shoreline symbolize the burning of the winter witch and the arrival of summer! Fireworks cap the day at 9:30 pm.
New to Fyr Bal this year is the expanded Artisan Market in Harborside Park. Also new is the Taste of Ephraim, running from 7 – 9:30 pm.

Young Scandinavian dancers are a highlight of the 50th Annual Chieftain Ceremony, 8 pm. “Chieftain” is an honorary titled bestowed upon an Ephraim resident by the Ephraim Business Council to honor his or her service to the community. The Chieftain medallion, made by renowned artist John Balistreri of Balistreri Fine Art, will be presented to the honoree. Eligible voters for Chieftain may vote up until 3 pm on June 20 at the Ephraim Visitor Information Center.

For more information about Fyr Bal Festival, visit Ephraim-DoorCounty.com or call 920.854.4989. The Visitor Information Center is located at 10049 Water Street (Highway 42) and is open seven days a week.

Fyr Bal Schedule of Events

Saturday, June 21

• 7:30-10:30am – Pancake Breakfast by the Ephraim Yacht Club, Village Hall
• 7:30-8:30am – Sunrise Yoga, Anderson Dock (rain location, Fish Creek YMCA)
• 8:45-9:45am – Zumba Dance Fitness Class, Anderson Dock (rain location, Fish Creek YMCA)
• 8:30am-2pm – Used Book Sale, outside Ephraim Public Library
• 9am-5pm – Summerwind Alpacas & The Ironwood Croft Llamas, outside Visitor Information Center
• 9am-6pm – Artisan Market, Harborside Park
• 9am-9pm – DJ Tim Byers, outside Village Hall
• 10:00am-4pm – Door County Land Trust Open House, Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond
• 10am – Ephraim Yacht Club Fyr Bal Regatta, Eagle Harbor
• 10-10:30am – Wilson’s Ice Cream Eating Contest, outside Wilson’s
• 10am-5pm – Free Trolley Rides, wave and trolley will stop! Parking at Fine Line Designs and Ephraim Wetlands Preserve
• 10am-10pm – Red Putter Mini Golf, $3 for everyone, children under 6 free
• 11:00am-1pm – Midsommar Craft by Peninsula School of Art, inside Village Hall
• 11am-1pm –Cake Walk, inside Village Hall
• 11am-2pm – Acoustic music by D’Arez & Friends, Observation Pier
• 11:30am – Fur Bal Pet Parade, participants meet at USPS at 11:15am
• 12-3pm – Face Painting with Baylake Bank, Ephraim Shores Resort lawn
• 1-2pm – Children’s Entertainer Randy Peterson, Ephraim Shores Resort lawn
• 1-3pm – Traditional Scandinavian Fiddlers in costume, concert at Gazebo then strolling through village
• 2-4:30pm – Ephraim Yacht Club Open House with free sailboat rides for prospective members
• 2-4pm – Make Your Own Tie-Dye T-Shirts with Family Centers of Door County, $12/shirt, Ephraim Shores Resort lawn
• 2:30-5pm – Music by Katie Dahl, Observation Pier
• 4-4:30pm – Koepsel’s Cherry Pie Eating Contest, Harborside Park Gazebo
• 5:30-8pm – Music by Big Shoes, Observation Pier
• 7-7:30pm – Meet the Chieftains!, inside Village Hall
• 7-9:30pm – Taste of Ephraim, Main Tent
• 8pm – Grand Prize Raffle Drawing and Scandinavian Dancers & Singers, outside Village Hall
• 8:30pm – 50th Annual Chieftain Ceremony and Bonfire Lighting, outside Village Hall
• Sunset (9:30pm) – Fireworks over Eagle Harbor