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Ephraim’s 45th Annual Fyr Bal Festival Begins June 19

Steeped in Scandinavian tradition, Fyr Bal, pronounced fear ball, is Norwegian for bonfire. The festival re-creates customs of early Norwegians celebrating Midsummer’s Eve. Evening bonfires on Saturday represent the burning of the “winter witch” and welcome in the long days of summer. Join the village for this goodbye to winter, running from Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21 – the 45th Annual Fyr Bal Festival.

The festival kicks off Friday night with the Ephraim Historical Foundation’s Peninsula State Park exhibit reception, and then later that evening with a Midsummer’s Music Festival concert at the historic Hardy Gallery on Ephraim’s Anderson Dock.

Evening bonfires on Saturday represent the burning of the “winter witch” and welcome in the long days of summer. The weekend is fun for the entire family along the shoreline of Eagle Harbor.

Saturday boasts the majority of Fyr Bal festivities. Music begins at 9 am with acoustic musician Tim Byers, with a myriad of music options throughout the day. The Ephraim Library will also hold its annual Used Book Sale, and the annual Arts & Crafts Show will showcase treasures from artisans all over the state.

Fyr Bal prides itself in being kid-friendly, and doesn’t fall short this year. Magician Jim Lenz will be strolling through the village on Saturday, along with numerous children’s activities and crafts at the Ephraim Village Hall and on the Ephraim Shore Motel lawn. Families will love the fun, family folk music of Tim Byers & Music outside the Village Hall from 5 – 7 pm.

Festivalgoers may park at designated trolley pick-ups, Fine Line Designs Gallery at Ephraim’s north end or the Ephraim Wetlands Preserve on the south end, and enjoy a free ride along Water Street to downtown Ephraim and back again between 10 am and 5 pm Saturday. Riders will take pleasure in a short historical tour from the docent onboard, courtesy of the Ephraim Historical Foundation.

The Ephraim Business Council’s raffle and silent action will be going on throughout the day Saturday, with over 100 great prize donations from Ephraim businesses. Raffle tickets may be purchased at the Ephraim Visitor Information Center, at participating Ephraim businesses or in the Village Hall area on Saturday.

Saturday evening brings authentic flavor to the festival with a traditional Door County Fish Boil, Scandinavian Dancers and the annual Fyr Bal Chieftain Ceremony. “Chieftain” is an honorary titled bestowed upon an Ephraim resident by the Ephraim Business Council to honor their service to the community. The newly crowned Chieftain will make his or her way into Eagle Harbor by boat, flanked with young Vikings for the ceremony. Following the Chieftain Ceremony, sunset fireworks over Eagle Harbor wrap up the day.

The festivities continue into Sunday with more art, food, animals and music.

For more information about Fyr Bal, visit http://www.ephraim-doorcounty.org or call the Ephraim Visitor’s Center at 920.854.4989.

Fyr Bal Schedule of Events

Friday, June 19

• 10:30 am:  Ephraim Historical Walking Tours – depart from Anderson Barn Museum

• 11 am:  Ephraim Historical Foundation Museum & Exhibit Opening Anderson Barn Museum

• 4 – 6 pm:  Anderson Barn Museum Exhibit Reception – 100th Anniversary of Peninsula State Park

• 7:30 pm:  Midsummer’s Music Festival Concert – Hardy Gallery on Anderson Dock

Saturday, June 20

• 9 am:  Throughout the day Enjoy MC/musician Tim Byers – outside Village Hall

• 9 am – 2 pm:  Used Book Sale – outside Ephraim Library

• 9 am – 5 pm:  Fyr Bal Arts & Crafts Show – artisans along the shoreline downtown

• 9 am – 5 pm:  Henna Art by Henna with Mckenna – Arts & Crafts area

• 9 am – 5 pm:  Summerwind Alpacas & Iron Wood Croft Llamas – Visitor Information Center

• 9 am – 5 pm:  Fyr Bal Raffle Tickets on Sale – outside Village Hall, at participating businesses and Visitor Information Center, $300 Cash Prize

• 9:30 am:  Ephraim Yacht Club Fyr Bal Regatta

• 10 am – 10 pm:  Family Fun – Red Putter Mini Golf – $3 for everyone, children under 6 free

• 10 am – Noon:  Kids Craft, Create a Door County Collage or Make a Winter Witch – inside Village Hall

• 10 am – 1 pm:  Family Fun – Cake Walk – inside Village Hall

• 10 am – 5 pm:  Free Trolley Rides – Historical guides on-board. Wave and trolley will stop. Parking at Fine Line Designs Gallery & Wetlands Preserve.

• 10 am – 5 pm:  Food – Brats, Pulled Pork, Corn on the Cob and More!

• 10 am – 6:45 pm:  Silent Auction – inside Village Hall

• 10:30 am:  Ephraim Historical Walking Tour – depart Anderson Barn Museum

• 11 am – 2 pm:  Acoustic music of D’Arez & Friends – Harborside Park Gazebo

• 11 am – 7 pm:  Festival Food – Deep-fried Whitefish Sandwich, Fyr Bal Cookies, Cherry Pie in a Cup – outside Village Hall

• 11:30 am:  2nd Annual Fur Ball Pet Parade – Participants meet at USPS at 11:15am.

• 12 – 1 pm:  Kids get Creative – Bubbles, Face Paint, Art Rocks – Ephraim Shores Motel lawn

• 1 – 3 pm:  Family Fun – The Magic of Jim Lenz – Ephraim Shores Motel lawn

• 2 – 3 pm:  Young Fiddlers:  Traditional Scandinavian Music – outside Village Hall

• 2 – 3 pm:  Kids Craft – Tie Dye T-Shirts – Ephraim Shores

Motel lawn, $10 (includes shirt and all supplies)

• 3 – 5 pm:  Music – Steel Bridge Songfest Variety, with pAt mcdonald & melaniejane – Harborside Park Gazebo

• 3 – 5 pm:  Family Fun – The Magic of Jim Lenz – strolling through the village

• 5 pm:  Old Firehouse Museum Dedication Ceremony

• 5 – 7 pm:  Acoustic Music – Tim Byers – outside Village Hall

• 5 – 7:30 pm:  Traditional Door County Fish Boil – inside Village Hall

• 7:15 pm:  Announcement of silent auction winners (must be present to win) – outside Village Hall

• 7:20 pm:  Raffle drawings and music with Door County Idol Lily Larsen – outside Village Hall

• 8 pm:  Traditional Scandinavian dancers and singers – outside Village Hall

• 8:30 pm:  45th annual Chieftain Ceremony with ceremonial bonfire lighting, Village Hall area

• Sunset:  Fireworks over Eagle Harbor

Sunday, June 21

• 9 am – 3 pm:  Henna Art by Henna with Mckenna – Arts & Crafts area

• 10 am – 3 pm:  Fyr Bal Art & Craft – artisans along the shoreline downtown

• 10 am – 10 pm:  Family Fun – Red Putter Mini Golf – $3 for everyone, children under 6 free

• 9:30 am & 10 am:  Area Church Services:  9:30 Bethany Lutheran, 10 am Unitarian Universalist, 10 am Ephraim Moravian, Special music “The Bone Boys” and traditional Moravian Lovefeast

• 10 am – 3 pm:  Summerwind Alpacas & Iron Wood Croft Llamas – Visitor Information Center

• 10:30 am – 2 pm:  Festival Food – Brats and More! Outside Village Hall

• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm:  Young Fiddlers:  Traditional Scandinavian Music – outside Village Hall

• 1 pm – 4 pm:  Jazz Music from the Jana Nyberg Group – outside Village Hall

• 7:30 pm:  Sunday Family Sing-Along – inside Village Hall