Danish Windmill

06/03/2026

We knew this year's Tivoli Fest was going to be a special year with tons of memories worth capturing, so we partnered with Claire Petersen Photography to snap the many moments that make our annual gathering fun and unique. We'll be sharing batches of the photographs Claire took in the coming days, so keep coming back for more!

Today, we want to acknowledge a dedicated group that has made Tivoli Fest a one-of-a-kind celebration, drawing in crowds from around the area: The Skjaldborg vikings.

We've been collaborating with this group for decades now, and today they oversee the care and growth of our Vikinghjem exhibit. They take special care to preserve the authenticity of our space and their work and we always appreciate their passion to educate visitors of all ages on the Viking age. Over the last few years, they have worked with the Museum of Danish America to host local Viking day camps in the Summer. We appreciate all they've done for our community.

And so this year we felt it was time to update some of the photos we've used year after year to showcase their craft. Please enjoy everything we captured, and feel free to share your own!

06/02/2026

Don't miss the Shelby County Historical Museum's annual Log Cabin Day coming up this Sunday.

Highlights include seeing the restored cabins inside and out and Warren Watson's presentation on the Polk City Murderers! Hungry Spartan Pizza will be serving pizza, too!

There’s more than one way to step into the past, and this Sunday it’s waiting just down the road!
At Log Cabin Day, history isn’t behind glass. It’s in the creak of cabin floors, the rhythm of hands-on work, and the stories shared across generations. Wander between the cabins, try your hand at traditional activities, and savor a day that moves at a slower, simpler pace.
Settle in for a true 1883 crime story that once stirred Shelby County, or catch a local documentary that brings familiar places into sharper focus. Whether you’re coming with family, meeting friends, or just looking for a treat and meaningful way to spend a summer afternoon, you’ll find something here for you.
📍 Shelby County Historical Museum
📅 Sunday, June 7
⏰ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Come spend the day with us, we’d love to welcome you!

06/02/2026

Tivoli Sunday - Post 3/3

Finally, our Tivoli Fest wrapped up with an outdoor service provided by Elk Horn Lutheran Christian Outreach. Pastor Laura spoke about the windmill's milestone year and the audience enjoyed near perfect weather as the windmill gently turned in the breeze.

06/02/2026

Tivoli Sunday - Post 2/3

At the same time as our Tour de Tivoli Bike Ride on the Sunday following Tivoli Fest, we knew people would be looking for a place to eat. We partnered with Master Griller Catering and Concessions and Hygge Inn & Suites to host a breakfast buffet for anyone to enjoy.

And thanks to the support from SCSB and Marne Elk Horn, we were able to offer free will donation, ensuring anyone could join us.

We served nearly 200 people, include a caravan of hungry vikings from The Skjaldborg and raised over $2,300 for our Grind campaign. We wish to thank all of those who came out to support us. We hope everyone had a great time!

And thank you to Sarah Sayres for running a coloring station for all of the kids who joined us!

06/02/2026

Tivoli Sunday - Post 1/3

We've always wanted our 50th year celebration to be locally-centered with the people and friends we count on. This year for Tivoli Fest, we expanded our events into Sunday to provide an extra day of fun and excitement while also generating revenue for our campaign for new millstones.

This year, we brought back the Tour de Tivoli Bike Ride, a 26-mile journey through Elk Horn, Prairie Rose State Park, and Kimballton. The weather was perfect and we had nearly 30 riders join us for a breezy morning.

We wish to thank the riders who came out to support us this year. We also wish to thank the ladies of our local SCSB branch, Nicole Butler, Allison Buckholdt, and Robin Menzies for stationing our Prairie Rose outpost. Thank you as well to Jimmy Cogdill and Aaron & Bruce Poldberg for maintaining our SAG stations in Jacksonville and Kimballton. And thank you to Jody LaCanne for offering to take on any bike repairs.

And finally a BIG thank you to Amy Mickey and Harlan's HyVee for donating supplies for the event!

With so much going on on Sunday, it was tough to get pictures of everything, but we're happy to share what we caught!

06/01/2026

✂️ Ribbon Cuttings & Open House! ✂️

05/30/2026

PSA, Pims is running a little late due to the weather. Expect them in Elk Horn closer to noon

05/30/2026

Pim's Thai foodtruck will be down at the windmill from 11 - 4/5 today (running late, expect around noon)

If you're stopping by, check out Elk Horn's newest shop, Ærø Arts next door! They will be open from 10 - 4