The Nordic Festival is moving to a new, larger location for its second year: Edgemont Junior High School in Edgewood.
The Saturday event, sponsored by Embla Lodge No. 2 Daughters of Norway, is a celebration of Scandinavian heritage and features music, dancers, food and wares.
Last year’s inaugural event was held at nearby Mount View Lutheran Church’s Community Center buildings. By moving to the school, the festival will be contained in one building, complete with elevator, said Chris Engstrom, festival spokeswoman.
“Last year we were really lucky we had nice weather. Mount View Lutheran was great, but we had to use three buildings,” Engstrom said.
“Now we’ll be in two gyms and the cafeteria. All the food items will be sold in the school cafeteria. That gives us a much larger area to seat people this year. And the school is totally handicap accessible.”
In addition to the new location, this year’s festival includes a noon performance by Erik Snyder, who plays Nordic music on a guitar.
Also performing will be the Embla Leikarring, the chapter’s women’s folk dance group, at 11 a.m. The Normanna Male Chorus will perform at 1 p.m., and the Olympia duo Nordic Spirit – June Johnson and Jeff Anderson – will play songs on accordion and fiddle at 2 p.m.
There also will be an exhibit depicting life during the days of the Vikings.
For those who prefer to celebrate the culinary side of Scandinavia, there will be plenty to eat. The offerings include Swedish meatballs, split pea soup, lefse and rolls. Dessert options include krumkake (waffle cookies), ginger spritz (cookies), rosettes, sandbakkelse (tarts) and fattigman (cookies).
Also on hand will be more than 20 vendors, offering clothing, rosemaling, Scandinavian antiques, jewelry, hardanger (embroidery), cooking items, wall hangings, handcrafts, weavings and information on Scandanavian travel.
“We are really sticking to our Scandanavian roots. Everything has a Scandanavian connection – either the items come from there, the materials come from there or the recipes are Scandanavian,” Engstrom said.
“That’s the aim of our club, uniting women who want to preserve our Norwegian heritage. And we want this event to do the same for all of Scandinavia.”
NORDIC FESTIVAL
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Edgemont Junior High School, 2300 110th Ave. E., Edgewood
Admission: $1 a person
Information: Mardy Fairchild at 253-677-7700, mfairch@citysounds.biz
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com
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