The Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton in western Iowa are holding their weekend-long Christmas celebration. Both communities are decked out for the 30th anniversary of Julefest, which includes all the events typically found during a Danish Christmas.
Lisa Riggs, manager of the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn, says they look forward to welcoming visitors to the neighboring communities for the big event, which offers several new features this year. She says the Outlook Study Club is having an exhibit of Christmas Treasures featuring decorated Christmas trees, nativity scenes, table settings and a collection of Santas on Main Street in Elk Horn.
Also new new this year are carriage rides. Riggs says there will also be an original Boutique and Quilt Show called "A Prairie Christmas," at the Kimballton Town Hall, in conjunction with the Danish Windmill, as well as in Elk Horn.
There will be more than 20 locations offering one-of-a kind gifts and lots of traditional Danish food and drinks, including those found at the Danish Immigrant Museum and Danish Windmill in Elk Horn. Riggs says the museum will serve Danish Julestue, cookies, glögg, and æbleskiver, while the historic Danish Windmill built in 1848 and brought to Elk Horn from Denmark piece-by-piece, will serve glögg and Danish cheese to visitors and have an old fashioned Julemarket.
There’ll be a public gathering with the singing of Christmas carols on Main Street in Elk Horn, a pancake supper takes place Saturday evening followed by the annual Christmas concert, and there’ll be a Danish Luncheon and Bake Sale in Kimballton, on Sunday. The Danish Villages are located off Interstate 80, turn north, at Exit 54.
Brochures with a map of local merchants and activities are available at businesses in both communities. For more information, call the Danish Windmill at 800-451-7960.