Ephraim, Wis. (June 3, 2024) – Welcome the sunny days of summer at the 59th annual Fyr Bal (pronounced “feer ball”) festival, presented by the Ephraim Business Council. The event will be held throughout the Village of Ephraim on Saturday, June 15, 2024.
The day starts off with a yoga class at Anderson Dock sponsored by the Northern Door YMCA and then Ephraim Yacht Club’s annual pancake breakfast will be held at the Ephraim Village Hall. Just outside Village Hall, the Ephraim Library will be hosting a used book sale.
Check out Fido and friends at the Fur Bal pet parade at 9:00 am. 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”, “Best Personality”, and one lucky 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 starts at 10:00 am and will offer many fun finds and tasty treats.
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. Ephraim merchandise and cherry pie in a cup will be available at the Ephraim Business Council tent. The Ephraim Business Council and the Ephraim Historical Foundation are partnering again this year on a throwback t-shirt that features a vintage Fyr Bal design. Last year’s shirts sold out quickly, so stop by the Ephraim Historical Foundation booth to pick one up.
The festival will be packed with many fun family activities. There will be a balloon artist, caricaturist, face painter, princess, 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.
Experience the heritage of the village by viewing the wooden shoe carving demonstrations in Harborside Park or making your own flower crown inside Village Hall. Test your Viking skills at the Axe Throwing activity that will be located adjacent to Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor.
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.
The 59th Chieftain ceremony is well-loved tradition where an Ephraim resident is honored for their service to the Village of Ephraim. Scandinavian dancers begin the ceremony, and the newly elected Chieftain is brought in by boat, escorted by young Vikings. The Chieftain will light the towering bonfire with their torch to welcome the summer season. Eligible Chieftain voters can cast their ballots until 5:00 pm on Friday, June 14 at the Ephraim Visitor Information Center.
After the lighting of the bonfire, fire performers will display their dazzling skills on the jetty across from Ephraim Village Hall. A fireworks display over Eagle Harbor will then bring the festival to a stunning close at 9:30 pm.
Highway 42 will be closed in downtown Ephraim from 7:30 am to 10:30 pm on Saturday, June 15 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 north parking location, Green Gables and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and the south parking location, Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport. Local businesses do remain open throughout Ephraim and alternate routes are provided. Fyr Bal is the perfect time to stop in and experience all that Ephraim businesses have to offer.
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.
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