The 16th annual Nordic Music Festival was held at Lion’s Park in Victoria on Saturday, Sept. 6. Hundreds were in attendance to celebrate Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark. With three separate spaces for musicians, singers and dance performers, there was something for everyone.
Several vendors also offered items for sale, including Scandinavian sweaters, jams and jellies, wooden ornaments and containers, gnomes, handmade mittens, knitted items, bags and household goods. A Viking village provided additional entertainment and educational opportunities for attendees.
Food options were plentiful, including lefse (sold by the Sons of Norway), cardamon rolls, Swedish meatballs, smoked salmon, pulled pork, hot dogs, mead and many other goodies.
The event was organized by Scandia Lodge #1-680 (Waconia) and the Nordic Heritage Club of Carver County.
“We also held a silent auction, with many wonderful items available,” said Kerry Crawford, a board member. “By mid-morning, we had between 500 and 600 people who came to the festival, with many more expected throughout the day.”
One of the highlights of the festival was the Lutefisk Toss, which pits Norwegians against Swedes in a good-natured competition.
“Last year, Norway won,” reported Crawford.
Teams were comprised of four people who took turns throwing three lutefisk fillets into corn-hole-like stands (color coded with each nation’s flag), with a point awarded each time the fish fell through the hole. Though the competition was tight, Sweden prevailed as the winner with a final score of 4-2.
