Our 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 15-25 member Board of Directors and hundreds of volunteers are responsible for developing and presenting the festival, which draws crowds of over 75,000. 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.
Our Current Board of Directors:
Wayne Baker, President
Andrea Krause, Vice President
Emily Newhouse, Secretary
Dawn Snyder, Treasurer
Jeanne Cunliffe, City Liaison/Arts & Crafts
Lauren Gibbs, Family Fun Day
Vacant, HCA Park
Jennifer Iteen, DF-WAN MarketPlace & Food Court
Eva Cairns, DF-WAN MarketPlace & Food Court
Leonard Cradit, Entertainment
Brad Cantrell, Downtown Food Court
Kristine Kluzak-Cousineau, Marketing/Souvenirs
Jordan House, Parades
Carol Warner, Queens Programs
Shelly Ferguson, Special Events
Jill Plate, Spectrum Health Danish Dash 5k
Bob Ferrentino, Tivoli Gardens
Jaime Fitzgerald, Volunteer Programs
