Ephraim, Wis. (June 11, 2025) – Since 1965, the Village of Ephraim has been celebrating the arrival of summer by honoring the village’s Scandinavian heritage at the annual Fyr Bal (pronounced “feer ball”) festival, presented by the Ephraim Business Council. On Saturday, June 21, visit the harborside village to welcome sunny days with day long festivities at the 60th year of the event.
This year’s festival features new additions that embrace Ephraim’s Scandinavian roots. Paddle to get a new perspective of the festival as Viking Canoe excursions depart from the Firehouse Marina. The excursions will travel along the picturesque shoreline of Eagle Harbor and paddlers must pre-register at the Ephraim Business Council tent prior to departure. Listen to the music of the Vikings and learn their history when Skogtroll performs on the Main Stage. Musician, Eric Bestul, plays his handmade instruments and transports listeners back to the days of Vikings with stories and songs. The interactive performance encourages questions and audience participation is encouraged. Test your lawn game skills with a Kubb tournament at the Olga Dana Green, sponsored by the Ephraim Historical Foundation. Kubb has been described as an outdoor combination of bowling and horseshoes where the goal is to knock over the kubbs (wooden blocks). Players can pre-register at the Ephraim Historical Foundation’s website.
There will also be some returning Scandinavian inspired activities. Create your own flower crown in Ephraim Village Hall and then dress up to throw an axe like a Viking at the axe throwing trailer adjacent to Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor. Visit the shoe carver in the Harborside Park gazebo and say “hei” to the Norwegian Ice Princess at the Ephraim Shores Resort lawn.
The event kicks off with a yoga class at Anderson Dock sponsored by the Northern Door YMCA and the Ephraim Yacht Club’s annual pancake breakfast at the Ephraim Village Hall. Just outside, the Ephraim Library will be hosting their popular used book sale.
The Fur Bal Pet Showcase at gives pets the chance to display their unique personalities and skills. Pets and their owners will meet at the Edgewater Resort’s harborside lawn and parade down Highway 42 to the Main Stage at Ephraim Village Hall. Categories are “Best Dressed”, “Most Talented”, and one standout pet will be named the “Best in Show” and awarded with a medallion created by Gemma Lou’s Door County Furbaby Treats. Pre-registration is not required, so bring your furry, feathered, or scaly pet to join the fun.
The Artisan and Food Market brings unique goods and delectable cuisine to the festival. From traditional Wisconsin brats to gourmet grilled cheese to tasty tacos and burritos, there will be something for everyone’s tastes. If you’re still hungry, test your skills by participating in the ice cream or Door County cherry pie eating contests. The ever-popular cake walk will also take place inside Ephraim Village Hall. New Ephraim and Fyr Bal merchandise and the Old Post Office’s cherry pie in a cup will be available at the Ephraim Business Council tent. The Ephraim Business Council and the Ephraim Historical Foundation continue their partnership this year on a throwback t-shirt that features the 1965 Fyr Bal design and it will be available at the Ephraim Historical Foundation’s tent.
The festival will have many fun family activities. There will be a balloon artist, face painter, t-shirt decorating, and make-your-own Fyr Bal medallion at various sites in downtown Ephraim. The always popular children’s entertainer, Randy Peterson, will also perform at the Ephraim Shores Resort lawn. The Fyr Bal Cornhole tournament will be held at the Edgewater Resort and is open to all ages. Teams must pre-register at the Ephraim Business Council Tent before the event.
Fyr Bal raffle tickets are currently on sale at the Ephraim Visitor Information Center and various Ephraim businesses. There are many great prizes from Ephraim businesses as well as a $500 grand prize. Tickets are $2 each or 6 for $10. The winners will be drawn throughout the festival, but you do not need to be present to win.
An Ephraim resident will be honored for their service to the Village of Ephraim at the 60th Fyr Bal Chieftain ceremony. Scandinavian dancers begin the well-loved tradition, and the newly elected Chieftain is brought in by boat, escorted by young Vikings. The Chieftain will light the towering bonfire to welcome the summer season. Property owners around Eagle Harbor are encouraged to light their own bonfire to celebrate the announcement of the new Chieftain. Eligible Chieftain voters can cast their ballots until 5:00 pm on Friday, June 20 at the Ephraim Visitor Information Center.
After the lighting of the bonfire, a fireworks display over Eagle Harbor will add sparkle to the skies at 9:30 pm.
Highway 42 will be closed in downtown Ephraim from 7:30 am to 10:30 pm on Saturday, June 21 in order to provide a safe environment for all festival attendees. The closure will begin at Moravia Street on the south side and Cedar Street on the north side. Complimentary transportation will be provided from the new north parking location, 2541 S. Bay Shore Drive in Sister Bay (former Shopko parking lot) and the south parking location, Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport. Local businesses do remain open throughout Ephraim and alternate routes are provided. Fyr Bal is a great time to shop, dine, play, and stay in Ephraim.
For additional information regarding Ephraim and the Fyr Bal festival, please visit www.ephraim-doorcounty.com or contact the Ephraim Visitor Information Center at 920.854.4989. The Ephraim Visitor Information Center is located at 10049 Water Street (Highway 42) and is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm Monday through Saturday and 10am to 3pm on Sunday.
Fyr Bal 2025 Timeline
– 8:00am-9:00am: Yoga at Anderson Dock – Sponsored by Northern Door YMCA
– 8:00am – 10:00am: Pancake Breakfast ($) in Ephraim Village Hall – Sponsored by Ephraim Yacht Club
– 8:30am – 10:30pm: Transportation from Remote Parking Locations (North: NEW LOCATION 2541 S. Bay Shore Dr. – Former Shopko Parking Lot – Sister Bay and South: Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport)
– 8:30am – 2:00pm: Used Book Sale at Ephraim Library
– 9:00am: Fur Bal Pet Showcase – In partnership with the Wisconsin Humane Society. Meet at the Edgewater Resort Lawn at 8:30am and parade down to Village Hall. Showcase will be on Main Stage in Front of Ephraim Village Hall – Best Dressed, Most Talented, Best in Show
– 9:00am – 8:00pm: Ephraim Merchandise & Raffle Ticket Sales & Cherry Pie in a Cup – Sponsored by The Old Post Office Restaurant at EBC Tent
– 10:00am – 9:00pm: Artisan Market and Food Vendors
– 10:00am – 4:00pm: Open Door Bird Sanctuary at Harborside Park – Sponsored by Piggly Wiggly
– 10:00am: Wilson’s Ice Cream Eating Contest ($) -Sponsored by & Located outside Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor
– 10:00am – 5:00pm: Wooden Shoe Carving Demonstrations at Harborside Park Gazebo – Sponsored by High Point Inn
– 10:00am – 10:00pm: NDCC’s Tour de Putter ($) at The Red Putter – Play mini golf to benefit the Northern Door Children’s Center
– 10:30am – 9:00pm: Beer Sales
– 11:00am: Witches Paddle – Meet at Ephraim Public Beach and paddle to South Shore Pier. The Ephraim Business Council is not liable, paddle at your own risk, BYO equipment
– 11:00am – 5:00pm: Viking Canoe Excursions ($) Meet at Firehouse Marina Dock for a guided paddle along Eagle Harbor – Register at the EBC Tent (Weather Dependent)
– 11:30am: Cake Walk ($) in Ephraim Village Hall
– 11:30am – 12:30pm: Skogtroll: Norwegian History and Music on Main Stage in Front of Ephraim Village Hall -Sponsored by Lodgings at Pioneer Lane
– 11:30am – 1:30pm: Make Your Own Medallion ($) in Ephraim Village Hall – Sponsored by Pioneer Acres Cottages
– 12:00pm – 2:00pm: Make Your Own Flower Crown ($) in Ephraim Village Hall – Sponsored by Lodgings at Pioneer Lane
– 12:00pm – 2:00pm: Norwegian Ice Princess at Ephraim Shores Resort Lawn – Sponsored by The Ephraim House
– 12:00pm – 3:00pm: Children’s T-Shirt Decorating ($) at Ephraim Shores Resort Lawn
– 12:00pm – 3:00pm: Kubb Tournament ($) at Olga Dana Green – Sponsored by Ephraim Historical Foundation – Pre-register at www.ephraim.org
– 1:00pm – 2:00pm: Children’s Musician Randy Peterson – Sponsored by & Located at Ephraim Shores Resort
– 1:00pm – 4:00pm: Paint & Sip – Loosen your painting creativity with artist, Karen, wine, & summer treats. All ages! -Sponsored & Located at Eagle Harbor Inn – Sign up for a 45min session by calling 920.854.2121
– 1:30pm – 3:30pm: Balloon Animals & Face Painting at Ephraim Shores Resort Lawn
– 3:00pm: Colin & Friends Concert – “A Celebration of our Fyr Bal Chieftains!” A fun musical tribute to our village Chieftains of years past: with anecdotes, tall tales, and great music held at Ephraim Moravian Church
– 3:30pm – 4:00pm: Cherry Pie Eating Contest on Main Stage in Front of Village Hall – Sponsored by The Old Post Office Restaurant – Register at EBC tent
– 4:00pm – 7:00pm: Cornhole Tournament ($) Sponsored by & Located at the Edgewater Resort – Register at EBC tent
– 4:00pm – 7:00pm: Viking Axe Throwing ($) in front of Ephraim Library – Sponsored by Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor
– 5:00pm – 8:00pm: Music by Zephyr Ciesar on Jetty Across from Village Hall – Sponsored by High Point Inn
– 8:00pm: Grand Prize Raffle Drawing and Award Recognition on Main Stage in Front of Ephraim Village Hall
– 8:15pm: Scandinavian Dancers and Singers on Main Stage in Front of Ephraim Village Hall
– 8:30pm: 60th Annual Chieftain Ceremony and Bonfire Lighting – Medallion by Burnt Bluff Stone & Glass
– 9:30pm: Fireworks over Eagle Harbor Sponsored by the Ephraim Business Council and Community & Business Members
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