Ward Off the Winter Witch

Photo by Len Villano.

The 54th annual Fyr Bal (pronounced “fear ball”) festival will be held on the shoreline of Eagle Harbor on June 16. Ephraim’s Scandinavian heritage is embraced as the transition of spring into summer is celebrated after the long winter.

The Fur Bal pet parade is back and will take place at 9 am. Pets of all types are invited to participate. Pets and their owners will meet at the Ephraim Post Office and parade down Highway 42 to the Harborside Park gazebo. Pre-registration is not required.

The Artisan and Food Vendor Market starts at 10 am and offers various goods and treats. Be sure to check out Ephraim’s own “Fyr the Byr” or one of the other Wisconsin craft beers that will be available for the festival.

The Fyr Bal Bean Bag Tournament will be held for the first time and it’s open to all ages. Teams can sign up at the Ephraim Visitor Information Center, Pine Grove Resort, or Wilson’s Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor until 1 pm on the day of the event.

The Chieftain’s Cup Golf Tournament will be held at the Short Course at Peninsula Golf Course and the Red Putter will host the Purple Putter Benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Door County.

The highlight of the festival is the 54th Chieftain ceremony where an Ephraim resident or business owner is bestowed with this prestigious title which is voted on by the public for service to the community.

Scandinavian dancers start the ceremony and the newly elected Chieftain is brought in by boat, guarded by young Vikings. The Chieftain will then use their torch to light the first bonfire on the shoreline of Eagle Harbor to ward off the Winter Witch. Eligible Chieftain voters can cast their ballots until 5 pm, June 15 at the Ephraim Visitor Information Center.

A fireworks display over Eagle Harbor brings the festival to a dramatic close.

Highway 42 will be closed in downtown Ephraim from 7:30 am to 10 pm in order to provide a safe environment for all festival attendees. The closure begins at Moravia Street on the south side and Cedar Street on the north side. Complimentary trolley rides will be provided from the north parking location, Fine Line Designs Gallery and the south parking location, Nelson’s Shopping Center. The Ephraim Marina boat launch will also be closed during the road closure.

For additional information regarding Ephraim and the Fyr Bal festival, visit ephraim-doorcounty.com.

Scandinavian Dancers at the 2015 Ephraim Fyr Bal Festival. Photo by Len Villano.

2018 FYR BAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• 7:30-10:30am:  Pancake Breakfast, Ephraim Village Hall
• 7:30-8:30am:  Sunrise Yoga, Anderson Dock
• 8-11:30am:  Ephraim Library Bake Sale
• 8:30am – 2pm:  Used Book Sale, Ephraim Library
• 8:45-9:45am:  Core & More Class, Anderson Dock
• 9am:  Fur Bal Kick-off Pet Parade, starts at Ephraim Post Office
• 9am – 12pm:  Chieftain Golf Tournament Tee Times, Peninsula Park Golf Course
• 9am – 5pm:  Summerwind Alpacas, Ephraim Visitor Center
• 9am – 9pm:  DJ Tim Byers
• 10am – 8pm:  Artisan Market and Food Vendors
• 10am – 8pm:  Open Bird Sanctuary, Harborside Park
• 10am – 10pm:  Free Trolley Rides, Fine Line Designs & Nelson’s Shopping Center
• 10am:  Wilson’s Ice Cream Eating Contest
• 10am – 4pm:  Wooden Shoe Carving Demonstrations, Harborside Park Gazebo
• 10am – 10pm:  Purple Putter Benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Red Putter
• 10:30am – 12:30pm:  Princesses Elsa and Anna Visit Pine Grove Resort Lawn
• 11:30am:  Cake Walk, Ephraim Village Hall
• 11:30am – 1:30pm:  Make Your Own Succulent Planter and String Art, Ephraim Village Hall
• 11:30am – 2pm:  Music by D’Arez
• 12-3:30pm:  Face Painting, Ephraim Shores Resort Lawn
• 1-2pm:  Children’s Entertainer Randy Peterson, Ephraim Shores Resort Lawn
• 2-4pm:  Music by Last Man Standing
• 2-3:30pm:  Children’s T-Shirt Tie-Dyeing, Ephraim Shores Resort Lawn
• 2pm:  Chieftain Golf Tournament Playoff, Peninsula Park Golf Course
• 3-5pm:  Bean Bag Tournament, Pine Grove Resort Lawn
• 4pm:  Cherry Pie Eating Contest, Ephraim Village Hall
• 4-6pm:  Music by Mighty Mouth
• 6-8pm:  Music by Mama Ginger & The Red Hots
• 8pm:  Grand Prize Raffle Drawing; Scandinavian Dancers and Singers
• 8:30pm:  Chieftain Ceremony and Bonfire Lighting
• Sunset:  Fireworks over Eagle Harbor