Swede Day Grand Marshal Kate Peterson rides in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Born and raised in Rochester, Peterson has dedicated countless hours to her community as a sixth-grade teacher, coach, volunteer, and long-time emcee for the Swede Day Coronation.
In 2020, she launched the BookJoy Book Bus, a mobile lending library that brings the joy of reading directly to local neighborhoods. More recently, in June 2026, she introduced "Warrior Walk Wednesdays" to encourage local families to unplug and connect.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
West Thurston Regional Fire Authority Chief Nathan Drake hands out candy during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders walks in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Rochester High School cheerleaders perform a cheer while walking in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Classic cars drive in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Swede Hall is decorated for the second day of Rochester Citizen's Group's annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Swede Day Midsommer Festival attendees watch the parade roll by on U.S. Highway 12 on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
A mini tractor advertising Engel Insurance Agency in Rochester rides in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Kids wave out of a West Thurston Regional Fire Authority engine during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Sparky, the mascot for the West Thurston Regional Fire Authority, waves from atop a fire engine during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
The citizen group "Pause the BESS" rides a float during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The group is advocating for a moratorium on lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Thurston County.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
A child pets a dog during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Kids pet a dog during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
"The Vikings" ride a boat-shaped float during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
A Rochester Lions Club representative walks a dog and hands out candy during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Members of the Rochester Swede Day Royalty Court ride in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
A child hands out popsicles during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
A child waves from a West Thurston Regional Fire Authority engine during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Members of the Mat Rats Rebooted Wrestling Club in Oakville walk in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
"Vikings" celebrate and dance during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Kids wave to a horse riding in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Kids shoot hoops during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Blues Heating, Air and Electric's mascot walks in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
A float advertising the Independence Valley Chicken Races rides in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Members of Scouts Troop 9317 ride in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Members of Rochester High School's marching band perform during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
A dog watches the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Members of the Oakville Independence Day Royalty Court wave from a float during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Representatives of the PaNoWe Coursing Club in Chehalis walk in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Representatives of the PaNoWe Coursing Club in Chehalis walk in the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
Lewis County Rodeo Princess Addison rides during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
A child waves from an IGA float during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
A dancer performs during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
"Uncle Sam" and "Betsy Ross" promote America250 celebrations during the 47th Annual Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival Parade in Rochester on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
By Emily Fitzgerald / emily@thurstonchronicle.com
