A Danish cultural heritage festival is coming to a Grand Rapids suburb.

Greenville will be celebrating its Danish heritage with its 53rd-annual Danish Festival on Aug. 11-12, and continuing Aug. 17-20.

The Danish Festival typically draws an estimated crowd of more than 80,000 people.

The festival will feature an arts and crafts fair with more than 200 locally and nationally known artists and vendors, live music performances, a beer garden and food vendors with traditional Danish foods, including Aebleskivers, a type of pancake ball served with powdered sugar and jam.

The Greenville Danish Festival began in 1965 on the recommendation of Dorothy Oliver, who wanted to promote the town by celebrating Greenville’s Danish heritage.

Traditionally held on the third full weekend of August, the festival is maintained by a 22-member board of directors who have operated it as a nonprofit since 1968.

Event highlights

Friday, Aug. 11

• “Prinsesse for a Day,” 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Flat River Community Library,

Saturday, Aug. 12

• Young Miss and Jr. Miss Danish Festival Pageant, 2 p.m. at GHS Performing Arts Center.
• Queen’s Pageant with Prince and Princess crowning, 7 p.m. at GHS Performing Arts Center.

Thursday, Aug. 17

• Hot Air Balloon Demonstration, 6 p.m. at Baldwin Heights Elementary School.
• Flag Raising Ceremony, 6:30 p.m. at Heritage Park.
• Danish Festival Band, 7:30 p.m. at Tower Riverside Park.

Friday, Aug. 18

• DF-WAN Marketplace and Food Court, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Veteran’s Park
• Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tale Parade, 6 p.m. at the corner of Cass and Barry St.

Saturday, Aug. 19

• Grand Dansk Parade, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Cass St.
• Hans Christian Andersen Theater: “The Fir Tree,” 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center.

Sunday, Aug. 20

• Danish Heritage Church Service, 12:15 p.m. at South Sydney Church.