GENEVA – The Swedish Days festival opened Thursday in downtown Geneva and though Third Street was not as packed as in past years, throngs were still out, not only enjoying the event but celebrating being out, especially after it was canceled last year due to the pandemic.

The weather cooperated for the most part – with 70-degree temperatures, an occasional drizzle and misting rain – but nothing slowed the arrival of a steady stream of festival-goers.

Michael Simon, owner of The Little Traveler, 404 S. Third St., said they did not know what to expect.

“Because Swedish Days happened at the last minute and we all tried to get organized,” Simon said. “And I’m really really happy to see so many people – it’s almost normal. We had a line waiting to get into the store this morning and a line waiting to get into our outdoor tents an hour before we opened. I couldn’t have been more surprised. Kudos to the Geneva Chamber.”

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce sponsors the festival, which usually goes six days from Tuesday to Sunday. The festival is abbreviated this year, going from Thursday to Sunday and featuring some regular attractions like the carnival and new ones like the Swedish Days Family Fest at Geneva Commons.

Many festival goers said they came not only for the festival, but to celebrate Illinois moving to Phase 5 so they could socialize again.

That was the case for Joe and Gloria Nevil of Rolling Meadows, who came for the first time with the Prospect Heights Senior Center.

“One of our first trips since after the OK to go out, came,” Gloria said. “We went into one of the restaurants and ate pizza – at Doughocracy – and went into a couple of buildings and looked at their stores and stuff. It is nice to be out – very nice to be out.”

Joe said it was great just to be able to walk around.

“And get out amongst people and being places that we have not been before,” Joe said. “That’s always something nice to do.”

Steve DeLong of Elgin and Sharon Little of Batavia were not only perusing the festival, they were checking out the menu at Fiora’s, 317 S. Third St., as a possible venue for their wedding reception.

“We’re getting married in October and we’re investigating the restaurant for the reception,” DeLong said. “We’re getting married right next door here at the Lutheran church. … We like to come down here and have dinner and lunch and everything. And I love going to Graham’s because I’m a big ice cream guy.”

Merchants were enjoying the increase in shoppers, such as Judy Jendro, owner of the Coffee Drop Shop, 227 S. Third St., in the Berry House.

“It’s good,” Jendro said. “It’s a lighter version of Swedish Days. But they’re happy just to be out and about – and to say that they’re happy we’re still in business.”

The store offers about 60 coffees – flavored and non-flavored – and more than 200 varieties of tea. Shoppers can get a fresh cup of coffee, but the store also offers a Kona coffee slushie and a raspberry tea slushie.

Janice Weller of the Geneva Antique Market, also at the Berry House, had a large display of jewelry outside on the parkway.

“It’s awesome,” Weller said of being able to participate in Swedish Days again. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years – this is my 30th year out here and the most exciting year to be back. Last year was terrible.”

Fay Wilson of Naperville was having a rest on one of the Third Street benches, taking a break from shopping – she had some baby clothes from The Little Traveler in a shopping bag – and walking around, enjoying being able to return to Swedish Days.

“I’ve been here almost every year,” Wilson said. “I love just the joy of going up and down Third Street and the bargains. It’s wonderful.”

Brent Copstead of Geneva Winery was setting up a beer garden at Third and South streets featuring Solemn Oath Brewery of Naperville and City Water Hard Seltzer.

The winery, which is a micro-winery, is at 426 S. Third St., and hosts a variety of wines and a tasting room.

Eating ice cream outside of Cookie Dough Bliss, also at the Berry House, were Delaney Huels and her daughter Brynnley 5, of Oregon, Ill., and friends Bridget McInerney of Elk Grove and Nicole Perri of St. Charles – and Bridget’s two rescue dogs, a mastiff named Lola and a mastiff-mix named Eddie.

“We came out to enjoy a fun day with our friends and my daughter,” Huels, formerly of St. Charles, said. “We’re so happy – we’ve come (to Swedish Days) every year since she’s been born. … It’s so fun to be out – we love it.”

“It’s so beautiful – I love visiting this town,” McInerney added. “It’s nice to be together with people that I love.”

Perri said she was just enjoying being out with friends again.

“And I’m looking forward to the food – probably tacos, maybe some Italian food,” Perri said.

The girlfriends were actually doing a dessert crawl, as Huels was eating cookie dough peanut butter and McInerney had a cookie dough smoothie. They had already been to Hey Sugar, 507 S. Third St. and had a cupcake. They were going to Graham’s Fine Chocolates and Ice Cream, 203 S. Third St., next.

Windy City Amusements’ carnival was set up in the parking lot at the old Kane County Courthouse, 100 S. Third St., where lines were long for various rides.

Callie Ramirez, 14, a freshman at St. Charles East and her friend, Amy Frydrychowicz, 14, of Elgin, also a freshman at St. Francis, were just taking a break from a hair-raising spin on The Hang Glider – but they were generally enjoying just being out after the COVID-19 confinement.

“It’s a nice day,” Ramirez said. “I hated being just cooped up all day and not being able to go anywhere. … It’s nice that there’s outdoor stuff so you don’t have to wear a mask.”

Frydrychowicz echoed her friend’s feelings about being outside after being cooped up.

“It’s just been a while since I’ve been able to do something, so it’s nice to be able go to out,” Frydrychowicz said.

The girls had eaten at Cookie Dough Bliss before coming to the carnival – something Frydrychowicz said was a bad idea.

“I don’t recommend eating cookie dough before going on any carnival rides,” Frydrychowicz said.

The full schedule of events for Swedish Days is available on the chamber website, genevachamber.com.