Julefest gets underway in Elkhorn

The Danish Christmas celebration “Julefest” is underway this weekend in the western Iowa towns of Elk Horn and Kimballton. The annual event features traditional Danish festivities, including dancing around the Christmas tree and a wide assortment of authentic Danish food. Kelly Doonan at the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn says there are some new events this year. One new event is called “Julestue, which is the making of homemade paper Christmas ornaments. This will be taking place at the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn. Doonan says a special guest is also coming to the Elkhorn Lutheran Church to speak at 7 (Saturday) tonight.The second new event is a church service that will be given in Danish and English. The service will be presided over by Torben Poulsen from the Danish Seaman’s Church in New York. Doonan says the entire Julefest celebration is a display of Danish pride in Elk Horn and Kimballton:The festival runs through tomorrow (Sunday). The Danish Windmill on Main Street Elk Horn stands 60-feet high with crossbeams 66 feet across. It claims to be the only authentic Danish windmill in the U-S and boasts the largest Danish import gift shop in North America. For more information, contact the Danish Windmill at 800-451-7960 or visit “www.danishwindmill.com”.