Scandinavian Festival Celebrates Golden Anniversary

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - April 26, 2024 - PRLog -- What began as a golf game conversation in the early 1970s, has become the largest Nordic festival in Southern California. The Scandinavian Festival — the legacy of the late Professor Armour Nelson and the late John Nordberg — will celebrate its 50^th anniversary on May 18 and 19. Held at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, the family-fun festival honors the founding of the university and the history of the Conejo Valley, which Norwegians settled in the 1890s.

The weekend festival features music, food, crafts, demonstrations (food and Nordic crafts) and celebrates the cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Sami people from the Arctic regions of Scandinavia.

Two-time Grammy-Award-winning violinist and composer Mads Tolling (https://www.madstolling.com/) is playing on the Main Stage on May 19. Tolling is a member of Bob Weir's Wolf Bros/Pack Band and formerly with bassist Stanley Clarke and Turtle Island Quartet. The popular ABBAFab tribute band will headline the Main Stage both days. Other Main Stage performers include singer-songwriters Ann-Marita Garsed, Grim Bernhoft, the Swedish Folk Dance Club of Los Angeles, North Star Nordic Dancers and more.

Acclaimed storyteller Robert Seutter (aka True Thomas) will perform ongoing story-telling.

Children's Stage performances include the musician and entertainer Ross Sutter, audience-participation productions of "Three Billy Goats Gruff" and Under the Northern Lights: Stories and songs from Arctic Norway with Stina Fagertun.

In the Nordic Country Crafts Tent, children can make free craft souvenirs representing each Scandinavian nation and earn a reward for collecting passport stickers from each activity.

Festivalgoers can wander through an authentic Scandinavian encampment and a Sami siidastallan, or community gathering. They can ask a rune reader for advice, trace their family trees with the help of genealogy experts and buy Scandinavian handicrafts. Aebleskivers, Viking dogs, Swedish meatballs and other favorites will be available in the food court.

The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 18 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 19 in Kingsmen Park, located on the  California Lutheran University campus, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. Admission is free for kids 12 and younger and starts at $18 for others. Tickets can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite. Parking is free.

For more information, visit https://scandinavianfest.org (http://www.scandinavianfest.org/).