Ephraim celebrates the 49th Annual Fyr Bal Festival Father’s Day weekend, Saturday, June 15. 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 exit of winter and arrival of summer. Fireworks cap the day at 9:30pm.
The day begins with breakfast in the Ephraim Village Hall. Family Centers of Door County is serving homemade waffles 7-10am, $8/adults, $5/5-17 years, $2/2-4 years. Younger than 2, no charge. The Door County YMCA will host free waterfront BodyFlow and Zumba fitness classes on Anderson Dock beginning at 7:30am.
Enjoy classic Fyr Bal events such as the Ephraim Library’s Used Book Sale, Ephraim Yacht Club’s Fyr Bal Regatta and over 30 artisans from throughout the region displaying their craft along the shoreline in the Fyr Bal Art & Craft Show, featuring wood, clay, glass, jewelry and painting to name a few.
New to Fyr Bal this year, Ephraim, the only dry municipality in Wisconsin, will offer non-alcoholic beer and wine in the Village Hall area all day.
The Ephraim Kayak Center hosts stand up paddle board racing, 4-6pm. Held in time trial format, competitors race against the clock. The paddler with the best time wins! Racers divided by gender and age group, $2 for one lap or $5 for three laps. Anyone from novice to seasoned professional may participate.
Acoustic music will fill the air all day with performances from D’Arez & Friends, Scandinavian fiddlers and The Nicks. Local favorites Bacchus Lotus will be in the Village Hall 5-8pm.
Little ones will enjoy a variety of kids activities and crafts including a cake walk, tie-dye t-shirts, rosemaling, face painting and gnome projects. Family entertainer Randy Peterson will perform on the Ephraim Shores Resort lawn 1-2pm.
Test your eating prowess at Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor’s 3rd Annual Ice Cream Eating Contest at 10am. The Door County Cherry Pie Eating contest was a hit last year and it’s back, 4-5pm in the Village Hall. Cost for both events is $3/each for all age groups. Anyone may participate.
The 6th Annual Fur Bal Pet Parade begins at 11:30am. Participants may bring their furry friends for a quick walk through the village. Spectators may watch from anywhere along Highway 42 from Ephraim Shores Resort to Harborside Park. Animals must be leashed, controlled and at Ephraim’s U.S. Post Office by 11:15am.
At 1:00 and 2:30pm, take a free guided hike through the Door County Land Trust’s 27-acre Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond. The pond provides habitat for nesting waterfowl as well as dozens of species of migrating birds.
Fyr Bal Raffle tickets will be on sale all day, offering 100+ gifts from local businesses and $2,000 cash for its grand prize winner. Tickets are $2/each or 6/$10.
Saturday evening brings authentic flavor to Fyr Bal Festival. Young Scandinavian dancers are a highlight of the 49th Annual Chieftain Ceremony, 8pm. “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 newly named Chieftain will make their way into Eagle Harbor by boat, flanked by young Vikings. The Chieftain medallion, made by renowned artist Charles L. Peterson, will be given to the honoree. Eligible voters for Chieftain may vote up until 3pm on Friday, June 14 at the Ephraim Visitor Information Center.
The Ephraim Business Council thanks the business and community sponsors and partners for their support of Fyr Bal Festival. For more information about Ephraim and Fyr Bal Festival, visit www.Ephraim-DoorCounty.com or contact the Ephraim Visitor Information Center at (920) 854-4989. The Visitor Information Center is located at 10049 Water Street (Highway 42) and is open seven days a week.
Fyr Bal Festival Schedule of Events, Saturday, June 15, 2013:
7am-10am – Waffle Breakfast by Family Centers of Door County, Village Hall
$8/adults, $5/5-17 years, $2/2-4 years. Younger than 2, no charge.
7:30am-8:30am – Body Flow Fitness Class, Anderson Dock (7:15am registration, free)
Rain location Fish Creek YMCA.
8:45-9:45am – Zumba Dance Fitness Class, Anderson Dock (8:30am registration, free)
Rain location Fish Creek YMCA.
8:30am-2pm – Used Book Sale, Outside Library
9am-5pm – Summerwind Alpacas & Iron Wood Croft Llamas, Visitor Information Center
9am-6pm – Art & Craft Show, Artisans along the shoreline
9am-9pm – DJ Tim Byers, Outside Village Hall
10am – Ephraim Yacht Club Fyr Bal Regatta, Eagle Harbor
10am-10:30am – Ice Cream Eating Contest, Outside Wilson’s Ice Cream
10am-Noon – Traditional Scandinavian Fiddlers in Costume, Strolling through the Village
10am-5pm – Free Trolley Rides – Wave and trolley will stop!
Park at Fine Line Designs (north) and Wetlands Preserve (south).
10am-10pm – Family Fun at Red Putter Mini Golf, $3 for everyone, children under 6 free!
10:30am-12:30pm – Midsommar Craft by Peninsula School of Art, Village Hall
10:30am-12:30pm – Family Fun – Cake Walk, Village Hall
10:30am – Historic Walking Tour, Depart Anderson Barn History Center
11am-2pm – Acoustic Music – D’Arez & Friends, Harborside Park
11:30am – Fur Bal Pet Parade, Meet at U.S. Post Office at 11:15am
Noon-3pm – Face Painting & Cotton Candy, Ephraim Shores Resort lawn
1pm & 2:30pm – Guided Hikes by Door County Land Trust, Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond
1pm-2pm – Children’s Entertainer Randy Peterson, Ephraim Shores Resort lawn
2pm-3pm – Kid’s Craft – Tie-Dye T-Shirts with Northern Door Children’s Center, $12, Ephraim Shores Resort lawn
2pm-4pm – Family Rosemaling Project, Village Hall
3pm-5pm – Music – The Nicks, Harborside Park
4pm-5pm – Door County Cherry Pie Eating Contest, Village Hall
4pm-6pm – Stand Up Paddle Board Racing, $2 for 1 lap or $5 for 3 laps, Ephraim Kayak Center
5pm-8pm – Music – Bacchus Lotus, Inside Village Hall
7pm-8pm – Meet Miss Door County & Miss Teen Door County, Village Hall area
8pm – $2,000 Cash Grand Prize Raffle Drawing and Scandinavian Dancers & Singers, Outside Village Hall
8:30pm – 49th Annual Chieftain Ceremony and Bonfire Lighting, Outside Village Hall
Chieftain medallion by Charles L. Peterson.
Sunset (9:30pm) – Fireworks over Eagle Harbor. Featuring the new “fire ball” firework!
If you’re looking for a great place to stay, look no further! We’ve reached out to our members for their open rooms and specials for the upcoming weekend. Check them out!
White Lace Inn is a quaint B&B in the heart of Sturgeon Bay which provides amazing shopping, dining, and entertainment options. They have various suites available for this weekend.
Birchwood Lodge, nestled in the heart of Sister Bay, is just footsteps from downtown. Fabulous shopping, dining, and all the essentials make this the ideal spot to stay. They have Premier Suites at $175/night plus tax, Grand 1 Bedrooms at $199/night plus tax and the 2 Bedroom Village Homes at $255/night plus tax.
Shoreline Resort, located on the top of the Peninsula, has stunning views of the Green Bay Waters and provides that seclusion you’re looking for. Onsite Marina and water view rooms are still available for this weekend. They have motel rooms starting at $139/night and Condos at $300/night, with a three night minimum.
Coachlite Inn is very centrally located between Sister Bay and Ephraim, making it minutes from every town. They have some Classic rooms, a Kitchenette, and Lodge Suite available for this weekend. If you mention Door County Lodging and make a reservation for two or more nights they will offer a 10% discount on your stay.
Nordic Lodge located at the south end of Sister Bay has rooms for $109.00 + tax with either 2 Double beds or 1 King bed. A small continental breakfast is also served.
Beachfront Inn is a pet friendly hotel on the shores of Lake Michigan in Baileys Harbor. They have a one bedroom condo with a two night minimum for $200 per night and a two bedroom condo for $250 per night, two night minimum.
Pine Grove Resort , located on Eagle Harbor in Ephraim, has several rooms available starting at $145/night.
Open Hearth Lodge at the bottom of Little Sister Hill lies in between Sister Bay and Ephraim so you are minutes from everything that Door County has to offer. They have rooms with two queens still available.
Scandinavian Lodge located in the heart of Sister Bay has two bedroom condos available for the weekend starting at $189/night.
Bay Shore Inn on the shores of Green Bay waters is located minutes from Sturgeon Bay. There are many activities to choose from both on the property and in town. They have a three bedroom house available for tonight only!