Our Danish Heritage is what truly brings our community together for the festival weekend. A Grand Marshal celebration, Danish Dash 5k run and fun run, and official Danish Breakfast all61st Annual Danish Festival
Mission Statement:
To host a festival that celebrates the homecoming of family and friends and our area’s Danish Heritage.
History of the Danish Festival:
In 1964 a contest was held to develop a way to promote Greenville. Three business owners offered a cash prize to the person submitting the winning idea. Mrs. Dorothy Oliver was the winner with her suggestion that a day be set aside to honor the Danish heritage that Greenville enjoys.
The first Danish Festival was held on August 18, 1965. Today a 12-20 member Board of Directors and hundreds of volunteers are responsible for developing and presenting the festival, which draws crowds of over 55,000. This total community effort makes it possible for Greenville to host the Danish Festival year after year.
Every effort is made to maintain the festival as a non-commercial community event. The Danish Festival incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1968 and achieved 501c3 status in 2015. provide an opportunity for those in our community to truly “Be a Dane for a Day.”
