Summertime often means spending time with friends and rural communities are taking that to heart, gathering together to share their heritage.
The small town of Holdrege is beaming with Swedish pride this weekend during its annual "Swedish Days" festival. This celebration has been going on for at least 30 years, even garnering an Outstanding Event Award last year from the Department of Tourism.
Officials and community members both agree that it's the pride of the heritage that makes the town what it is.
"This, I think, is really fabulous. We think that Holdrege is as nice a community as any place in Nebraska," said Holdrege Chamber of Commerce's Phil Sorade. "And if we can get people to come down and see what we've got here why we count that a success."
"During Swedish Days it just brings everything to life again and all the people that want to save that tradition," said Holdrege native Judy Shields. "It just really comes to mean something to the people of Holdrege."
This weekend's events included Swedish dinners, car and art shows, games for kids, and concludes with a Ribfest competition.
