Other stories in "Heritage travel"

• Heritage travel: Dakota and Ojibwe
  Despite centuries of disruption, their cultures survive.
• Finding Embarrass
  Minnesota's cold spot is stronghold of the Finns.
• Tulip Time in Pella
  In central Iowa, the Dutch celebrate colorful origins.
• Cozying up to the Cornish
  A fall festival honors the miners who left their mark on Mineral Point.
• Swedish smorgasbord
  Prowling shops around Lindstrom, a visitor finds mementos of past.
• Destination: Stockholm
  Once the promised land, a Lake Pepin village now is a favorite day trip.
• Where the Germans are
  In southern Minnesota, New Ulm hangs on to a colorful heritage.
• Swiss at heart
  In Wisconsin’s Little Switzerland, New Glarus hangs onto a colorful heritage.
• Polish for a day
  At Milwaukee's lakefront festivals, visitors get a big helping of another culture.
• Nordic nirvana
  Every July, Decorah puts on one of the best fests in the Midwest.
• Bazaar on the prairie
  To see the world, head for Winnipeg.
• Heritage travel: Germany
  In the Upper Midwest, many of our most beloved traditions came over with the Germans.
• Heritage travel: Norway
  Led by Norwegians, an exodus from Scandinavia changed the face of the Upper Midwest.
• Heritage travel: Switzerland
  In Wisconsin's cheese country, townspeople hang on to tradition.
• Globe-trotting in Chicago
  Colorful neighborhoods are a window into other worlds.
• A pocket of Norway
  In northeast Iowa, Decorah still is Norwegian after all these years.
• A jumpin' joint
  A Norwegian village in southwest Wisconsin has a longtime love affair with ski jumping.

Celebrating roots

No matter where you're from, there's a festival for you.

In general, I like my heritage. It involves Vikings and trolls and populist politics. At festivals, tow-headed children dance around in cute outfits.

But the food . . . not so much. When it comes to herring and lutefisk, I'd rather be Polish. Plump pierogi with sour cream and sauteed onions — now, there's an ethnic food I can love.

Luckily, it's easy to piggyback on other cultures in the Upper Midwest. Yes, many of us came  from Germany, Ireland and Norway. But we also came from Greece, Ghana, Switzerland, Iceland, Scotland, Ukraine — and there are festivals honoring those cultures and those of the Dakota, Ojibwe, Cree and Ho-Chunk, who already were here.

Some of these festivals are the biggest in the region — Decorah's Nordic Fest brings 75,000 people to a town of 8,000 — so it's a good idea to plan far in advance.

If you’d like to reconnect with your heritage, or explore someone else’s, here's a list of summer and fall festivals for 2008. And for stories about ethnic communities in the Upper Midwest — Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, German, Dutch, Swiss, Dakota and Ojibwe — see Heritage Travel stories.

African-American

June 19, Juneteenth Day Festival in Milwaukee. On Martin Luther King Drive, 1-800-554-1448, www.visitmilwaukee.org.

June 20-22, Juneteenth in Freeport, Ill. Taylor Park. 608-280-0150 or 608-219-3673, www.stephenson-county-il.org.

June 21, Juneteenth Day in Minneapolis. Wirth Park and Lincoln Middle School. 612-238-3733, www.juneteenthminnesota.org.

August 1-3, African World Festival in Milwaukee. At Maier Festival Park, 1-800-554-1448, www.africanworldfestival-milwaukee.com.

Aug. 16, Africa Fest in Madison. In Warner Park, 608-258-0261, www.africanassociation.org.

Aug. 29-Sept. 1, African Festival of the Arts in Chicago. In Washington Park. 773-955-2787, www.africainternationalhouse.org.

American Indian

May 24-26, Ho-Chunk Nation Memorial Day Powwow in Black River Falls, two miles east of Majestic Pines casino on Wisconsin 54, competition. 715-284-4563, www.ho-chunknation.com, www.blackrivercountry.net. It's just one of many powwows; for others, check www.drumhop.com or see Powwow primer.

June 7-8, Dakota Homecoming and Gathering in Winona. 1-800-657-4972, www.dakotahomecoming.org.

August 16-17, Anishabe Keeshigun in Thunder Bay, Ont. At Fort William Historical Park. 1-807-473-2344, www.fwhp.ca.

September 5-7, Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee. At Maier Festival Park, 1-800-554-1448, www.indiansummer.org.

Arab

August 8-10, Arab World Fest in Milwaukee. At Maier Festival Park. 800-554-1448, www.arabworldfest.com.

Belgian

July 12-13, Belgian Days in Brussels, Wis., in Door County. 920-746-0274, www.belgianamerican.org.

Caribbean

July 3-6, African-Caribbean International Festival of Life in Chicago. In Washington Park. Admission, $10. 312-427-0266, www.martinsinterculture.com.

August 3, Belize Day in the Park in Chicago. In Washington Park. 773-881-0412, www.chicagobelizedayinthepark.org.

August 16, Carifete in Chicago. At Midway Plaisance. 773-509-4942, www.chicagocarifete.com.

Celtic

June 21, MadCeltFest in Madison. At VFW Post 8483, just south of the intersection of U.S. 51 and I-90, near the Dane County Regional Airport, www.madceltfest.org.

August 23, Celtic Highland Games of the Quad Cities in Davenport. 309-794-0449 or 563-326-5338, www.celtichighlandgames.org.

September 13-14, Celtic Fest Chicago. In Grant Park. 312-744-3315, www.celticfestchicago.us.

September 26-27, Cornish Festival in Mineral Point. 888-764-6894, www.cornishfest.org.

Chinese

July 20, Chinatown Summer Fair in Chicago, 1-877-244-2246, www.chicagochinatown.com.

Czech

May 16-18, Houby Days in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In Czech Village. 319-364-0001, www.cedar-rapids.com.

June 13-15, Cesky Den in Hillsboro, Wis. 1-608-444-0106, www.ceskyden.com.

June 20-22, Czech-Slovak Festival in Phillips, Wis. 888-408-4800, czech-slovak.tripod.com.

September 20, Dozinky in New Prague, Minn. 952-758-4360, www.newprague.com.

September 26-28, Podzne Zne (Fall Harvest) Festival in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In Czech Village. 319-364-0001, www.cedar-rapids.com.

Danish

July 25-27, Aebleskiver Days in Tyler, Minn. 507-247-3905, www.aebleskiverdays.com.

Dutch

May 1-3, Tulip Time in Pella, Iowa, 641-628-4311, www.pellatuliptime.com.

May 1-10, Tulip Time in Holland, Mich., 800-822-2770, www.tuliptime.com.

May 15-17, Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa. 712-707-4510, www.octulipfestival.com.

July 5, Kermis, Dutch summer festival, in Pella, Iowa. At Pella Historical Village, 1-888-746-3882, www.pella.org.

July 11-13, Dutch Festival in Edgerton, Minn., edgertonmn.com.

Oct. 11, Kermis Dutch Festival in Little Chute, Wis., just east of Appleton on the Fox River, www.littlechutewindmill.org.

Finnish

June 14, Finnish-American Summer Festival in Embarrass, Minn. Admission is $4. 1-218-984-3503 or 1-218-984-3012, www.embarrass.org.

July 23-27, FinnFest USA in Duluth, Minn., www.finnfest2008.com.

French

July 10-13, Bastille Days in Milwaukee. On Cathedral Square, 1-800-554-1448, www.easttown.org.

July 13, Bastille Day Celebration in Minneapolis. In the Warehouse District, evening, presented by Alliance Francaise and Theatre de la Jeune Lune. 612-332-0436, www.afmsp.org.

Aug. 29-31, French-Canadian Festival in Chassell, Mich., www.keweenaw.info.

German

July 18-20, Bavarian Blast in New Ulm, Minn., 888-463-9856, www.newulm.com.

July 25-27, German Fest in Milwaukee. At Maier Festival Park, 1-800-554-1448, www.germanfest.com.

September 5-7, German-American Festival in Chicago. In Lincoln Square. 630-653-3018, www.germanday.com.

Ghanaian

July 26, Ghana Fest in Chicago. In Washington Park. 773-905-8096, www.ghananationalcouncil.org.

Greek

July 11-13, Greek Fest in Milwaukee. At Wisconsin State Fair Park, www.visitmilwaukee.org.

August 23-24, Taste of Greece in Chicago, 847-509-8050, www.choosechicago.com.

Icelandic

Aug. 1-4, Islendingadagurinn (Icelandic Festival of Manitoba) in Gimli, the largest Icelandic community outside Iceland, 204-642-7417, www.icelandicfestival.com.

Irish

July 11-13, Irish American Heritage Festival in Chicago. At the Irish American Heritage Center. Admission $7-$12. 773-282-7035, irishfestchicago.com.

Aug. 1-3, Iowa Irish Fest in Waterloo. In Lincoln Park. 319-233-8350 or 800-728-8431, www.iowairishfest.com.

August 8-10, Irish Fair in St. Paul. On Harriet Island, 952-474-7411, www.irishfair.com.

Aug. 8-10, Irishfest in La Crosse, Wis. On the Oktoberfest grounds, www.irishfestlax.org.

August 14-17, Irish Fest in Milwaukee. In Maier Festival Park. 1-800-554-1448, www.irishfest.com.

August 29-31, Irish Fest in Kansas City. In Crown Center Square downtown. 816-561-7555, www.kcirishfest.com.

Sept. 20-21, Irish Festival in Winnipeg. At Canadian Mennonite University, www.irishfest.ca.

Oct. 10-12, Irish Festival in Weston, Mo., a historic Missouri River village just north of Kansas City, www.westonirish.com.

Italian

July 17-20, Festa Italiana in Milwaukee. At Maier Festival Park, 1-800-554-1448, www.festaitaliana.com.

August 3-4, Festa Italiana in Thunder Bay, Ont. At the Italian Cultural Centre. 800-667-8386, www.visitthunderbay.com.

Japanese

August 8-10, Ginza Holiday in Chicago. At Midwest Buddhist Temple in Old Town. Admission $4-$5. 312-943-7801.

Korean

August 9-10, Korean Street Festival in Chicago. Between Bryn Mawr and Kedzie avenues. 773-583-1700, www.cityofchicago.org.

Latin

September 13-14, Fiesta Hispana in Kansas City. At Barney Allis Plaza at 12th and Wyandotte, www.fiestahispanakc.com.

Luxembourg

August 9-10, Luxembourg Fest in Belgium, Wis. 800-719-4881, www.portwashingtonchamber.com.

Mexican

May 2-3, Cinco de Mayo in St. Paul's West Side, www.districtdelsol.com.

August 22-24, Mexican Fiesta in Milwaukee. At Maier Festival Park, 1-800-554-1448, www.mexicanfiesta.org.

September 11-14, Festival de la Villita in Chicago, with Mexican Independence Day parade on Sept. 14. At 26th Street and Kostner Avenue. 773-868-3010, www.cityofchicago.org.

Norwegian

May 17, Syttende Mai in Stoughton, Wis., www.stoughtonwi.com; Westby, Wis., www.westbywi.com; Spring Grove, Minn., www.springgrovemn.com; and Decorah, Iowa, www.vesterheim.org.

June 21-22, Midsummer Festival near Westby, Wis. At Norskedalen heritage museum. Admission $2-$5. 1-608-452-3424, www.norskedalen.org.

July 13, Norway Day in Minneapolis. At Minnehaha Park, 612-861-4793, www.sofn.com.

Polish

June 20-22, Polish Fest in Milwaukee (See Polish for a day). At Maier Festival Park, 1-800-554-1448, www.polishfest.org.

Aug. 29-Sept. 1, Taste of Polonia in Chicago. 1-877-244-2246, www.copernicusfdn.org.

Puerto Rican

June 10-15, Fiestas Puertorriquenas in Chicago, with Puerto Rican Day parade downtown June 14. At Humboldt Park, 773-292-1414, www.prparadechicago.com.

Romanian

Sept. 13-14, Taste of Romania in Chicago, 773-616-0070, www.tasteofromania.net.

Scandinavian

June 6-8, Scandinavian Days in Story City, Iowa. 515-733-4214, www.storycity.net.

June 6-7, Nisswa-Stãmman Scandinavian Folk Festival in Nisswa, Minn. www.nisswastamman.org.

June 13-14, Scandinavian Festival in Roseau, Minn. 218-815-1824, www.city.roseau.mn.us

June 27-29, Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival in Fargo-Moorhead. 218-299-5452, www.scandinavianhjemkomstfestival.org.

July 24-26, Nordic Fest in Decorah, Iowa. 800-382-3378, www.nordicfest.com.

Scottish

May 17, Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games. On the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington, 952-470-6300, www.mnscottishfair.org.

June 7, Scottish Fest & Highland Games in Milwaukee. At Heidelberg Park in the suburb of Glendale, 1-800-554-1448, www.visitmilwaukee.org.

June 28, Manitoba Highland Gathering in Selkirk. 800-894-2621, www.manitobahighlandgathering.org.

Sept. 5-7, Wisconsin Highland Games & Celtic Fling. At the Expo Center in Waukesha, a suburb of Milwaukee. 262-548-7200, www.wisconsinscottish.org.

Slovenian

July 11-12, Slovenian Heritage Days in Willard, Wis., near Marshfield, 800-422-4541, www.visitmarshfieldwi.com.

Swedish

June 14-15, Midsommarfest in Chicago. In the Andersonville neighborhood, 1-773-728-8111, www.samac.org.

June 14, Midsommar Celebration in Minneapolis. At the American Swedish Institute, 612-871-4907, www.americanswedishinst.org.

June 21, Midsommar Dag in Scandia, Minn. At Gammelgården Museum, 651-433-5053, www.gammelgardenmuseum.org.

June 22, Svenskarnas Dag in Minneapolis. At Minnehaha Park, 612-825-8808, www.svenskarnasdag.com.

Swiss

June 27-29, Heidi Festival in New Glarus, Wis. 800-527-6838, www.swisstown.com.

August 2-3 Swissfest in Berne, Minn. 800-322-2478, www.swissfest.org.

August 3, Swiss Volksfest in New Glarus.

Aug. 29-31, Wilhelm Tell Festival in New Glarus.

Thai

June 16-20, Thailand Festival in Chicago. On Daley Plaza. 312-664-3129.

Ukrainian

August 1-3, Canada's National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba. 204-622-4600, www.cnuf.ca.

August 23-24, Ukrainian Days Festival in Chicago. At Smith Park. 773-772-4500, www.uccaillinois.org.

And everywhere else

August 3-16, Winnipeg holds Folklorama, with 45 pavilions celebrating the nationalities who have come to this melting pot on the Manitoba prairie. Pavilions are devoted to the countries above as well as to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Hungary, India, Spain, Portugal, the Philippines, Serbia, Croatia, Cuba, El Salvador, Indochina, Russia, Slovenia and the Tamil region on the Indian Ocean.

Venues are throughout the city. Call 800-665-0234, www.folklorama.ca.

Last updated on October 6, 2008