Elk Horn’s Danish heritage is not only preserved in museums and historic buildings—it is celebrated in the streets, kitchens, and gathering spaces of the community. Festivals bring traditional music, dance, and crafts into public view, while local cuisine keeps the flavors of Denmark alive in the heart of Iowa. Together, they make Elk Horn a place where cultural traditions are not just remembered, but actively lived.
TivoliFest
TivoliFest, held each spring, is the town’s signature celebration of Danish heritage. The festival takes its name from Copenhagen’s famous Tivoli Gardens, and while the setting is rural Iowa, the atmosphere captures the same sense of community and festivity. The streets fill with music, vendors, traditional costumes, and demonstrations of Danish crafts.
Events typically include folk dancing, live performances, and heritage displays. The Danish Windmill and Museum of Danish America play central roles, hosting special tours and activities. Food is a major highlight, with stalls serving open-faced sandwiches, pastries, and other Danish specialties. For residents, TivoliFest is both a community gathering and a chance to share their traditions with visitors from across the region.
JuleFest
JuleFest takes place in late November, marking the start of the holiday season. The event transforms Elk Horn into a small-scale version of a Danish Christmas market, complete with seasonal decorations, festive lights, and the smell of baking filling the air.
Visitors can shop for handmade gifts, sample Christmas pastries, and watch demonstrations of traditional crafts. Music and choral performances add to the atmosphere, and local homes, businesses, and heritage sites are often decorated in a style that reflects Danish holiday traditions.
Everyday Culinary Heritage
Outside of festival days, Elk Horn maintains a strong food culture rooted in its heritage. Local cafés and bakeries serve smørbrød, the Danish open-faced sandwich, often topped with cured meats, cheeses, or pickled vegetables. Aebleskiver—round, pancake-like pastries—are a staple during both public events and family gatherings.
Bakeries produce kringle, a layered pastry filled with almond paste, fruit, or other fillings, while restaurants incorporate both Danish and Midwestern flavors into their menus. Traditional soups, meat dishes, and pickled accompaniments appear alongside American fare, reflecting the blending of two culinary traditions over generations.
The Role of Food in Community Life
Food in Elk Horn is more than just sustenance—it is a direct link to history. Recipes have been passed down through families, often unchanged for decades, and are prepared in much the same way as they were in the early 20th century. Sharing these dishes, whether at a public festival or a private gathering, is seen as an act of cultural preservation.
Cooking demonstrations, particularly during festivals, offer visitors a chance to see these traditions in action. Whether it’s rolling aebleskiver in a cast-iron pan or assembling a plate of smørbrød, these moments connect people to a way of life carried across the ocean by the town’s founders.
A Year-Round Celebration of Heritage
While TivoliFest and JuleFest are the most visible cultural events, the spirit of celebration runs year-round. Community dinners, special seasonal menus, and small-scale gatherings ensure that the connection between food, culture, and identity remains strong. In Elk Horn, heritage is not just something displayed in a museum—it is something you can taste, smell, and share at a table.