It’s scandi fest

Viking Ship sailed the ocean blue!

Summertime is Fest Time all over the world. Art fests and music fests and rib fests and Scandi Fests! The midwest, a popular landing place for Scandinavians immigrating to America around the late 1800s-early 1900s, hosts Nordic festivals celebrating the heritage of the Swedes, Danes, Fins and Norwegians beginning with Midsommer Fest in June through the end of the year with the holiday St. Lucia festival.

A recent event at Vasa Park in Elgin, Illinois was filled with the colors and music and flavors of Scandinavia - including a Viking ship. Well, a replica of the ship but we were told that it sailed through the Great Lakes from the east coast to Chicago.

The Nordic Dancers of Chicago circled and swayed as they revived the popular folk dances of each country, and the Bachelor Farmer Band (turned out to be one farmer - other guy might have gotten married) kept us all tapping and clapping to authentic rhythms and tunes. Local Scandi clubs served up almond cookies and peppakakor along with Swedish waffles with ice cream and, of course, meatballs with gravy and herring of many flavors.

The beautifully handcrafted tomtes and trolls and Dala horses and linens and rosemaling and ceramics and jewelry offered authentic gifts for early holiday shopping - or for personal gifting in my case.

Create your own mini-Scandi-Fest. Just say “Alexa, play Abba” and put on your dancing shoes. The Swedish Family Kitchen has Grandma Anna’s recipe for Peppakakor, a spicy cookie that’s fun to make and a traditional treat from Olde Sweden.