Summer is a season of outdoor concerts, festivals and activities for many communities. Story City is one community with a tradition of scheduling a large festival every year.

The 34th annual Scandinavian Days Festival in Story City takes place this weekend, with festivities beginning Friday afternoon and lasting until Sunday afternoon, said Karen Hermanson, executive director of Story City Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s a celebration of traditions of the community and community spirit,” she said. “It celebrates the heritage of the founding fathers of the community.”

Those founding fathers include Norwegian, Swedish and Danish immigrants who settled in Story City in the late 1800s.

The festival began in 1965 when a group of Story City businessmen created Norwegian Days as a promotion in conjunction with Norwegian Independence day, Hermanson said.

“It just grew from there,” she said.

It originally took place in mid-May when Norwegian Independence Day actually occurs, but because of the cold and rainy weather, the date was later changed to the first weekend in June. The name was changed to encompass all of the ethnic backgrounds of the founding settlers.

“The festival evolved over the years to become a celebration of the entire community,” Hermanson said.

The theme for this year’s festival is “A Small Town Celebration with a Big Heart.”

Planning for Scandinavian Days is a 10-month process that begins the August before the June festival. Organizations, churches, businesses and individuals volunteer to plan and organize the event.

“It really does take the volunteers to pull it all off,” Hermanson said.

The activities and entertainment are unique to Story City, she said.

Hermanson said there are five entertainment highlights of Scandinavian Days.

“There is something for the whole family,” she said.

These events include the Heritage Showcase Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., featuring the Foot-Notes, a traditional Scandinavian music and folk dancing group.

WHO AM radio’s Michael Cotter will tell stories at the Story Theater, 512 Broad, on Saturday, and in the Roland-Story High School auditorium on Sunday.

Judge Story’s Troupe, Story City’s community theater, will put on a production of “My Fair Lady” at the Story Theater on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

The Rumbles will perform an outdoor concert in the south park at 9 p.m., featuring a beer garden. No one under 21 will be admitted.

The Ames Children’s Choir will also perform Saturday afternoon in the north park.

“People come for the food, the fun and the heritage,” Hermanson said.

Food is served in a variety of locations and styles.

“There are lots of church dinners and bake sales, as well as the food court,” she said.

The celebration is held in three main areas: downtown, in the park and carousel area, and at the outlet mall off Interstate 35.

Hermanson estimates 10,000 people may attend Scandinavian Days.

“People come to visit, enjoy themselves and to have a good time,” she said.

Businesses also benefit from the festival with the increased number of patrons.

“Businesses want [visitors] to leave with a good feeling and return to Story City,” Hermanson said.

She said visitors are important contributors to Story City’s economy.

“We’re in the heartland of hospitality,” she said. “We get a lot of travelers through here and we welcome them.”

Hermanson stressed that there really is something for all ages and said Scandinavian Days helps define the image of the Story City community.

“It’s a great way to kick off the summer,” she said.

Story City is located 10 miles north of Ames on I-35 at exit 124.