Scandinavian Midsummer Festival

From Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Website:

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, June 26-28, 2020

When?
The 2020 Scandinavian Midsummer Festival in Estes Park will be held the weekend of June 27th & 28th. It is for all ages, is wheelchair accessible, and the admission is free.

The festival is open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, and from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM on Sunday. Friday & Saturday evenings the Beer Garden will be open from 4 PM until 9 PM.

Where?
The Festival takes place in Bond Park, in downtown Estes Park at the intersection of Elkhorn (the main street) and MacGregor Ave.

What?
The festivities begin at 10 a.m. Saturday with the raising of the MIDSUMMER POLE, followed by a GRAND MARCH ENTRANCE. Costumed representatives from each of the five Scandinavian countries enter the park carrying the flag of their country, followed by the playing of the national anthems of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. Dancing and live music continue all day with many opportunities for young and old to participate in ring and open dances.

Visitors can pay homage to this culture by purchasing a handmade craft at one of the many ART AND CRAFT BOOTHS. Some exhibitors will be selling traditional Scandinavian food, baked goods, decorations and traditional art. The folk art of decorative painting on wood, called rosemaling in Norway and dalmaling in Sweden, will be well represented. Other exhibitors will have handcrafted items, such as pottery, fabric, woodworking, jewelry, painting, metal work, photography, glass and more. All the offerings are inspired by the richly cultural region of Scandinavia.

In the CULTURAL TENT children (and adults) can paint a Swedish dala horse, make a flower crown wreath, and watch traditional crafts being demonstrated. One can see demonstrations on how to prepare the famous lefse, a traditional soft thin Norwegian flatbread, at the LEFSE DEMONSTRATION TENT, and can experience the roots of Scandinavian heritage at the FJELLBORG VIKING ENCAMPMENT. Their historically correct re-enactment camp will feature swordsmanship, a Viking boat, traditional crafts and daily life displays. Anyone wearing a traditional or Viking costume to the festival is invited to participate in the highly entertaining FASHION SHOW, held each day.

To complement the ancient Viking history, the festival will also include an ode to more modern Scandinavian technology with a VINTAGE VOLVO AND SAAB AUTO SHOW. Snapvisor (or Drinking Songs) can be sung in the adults only BEER GARDEN.

Why?
The festival's goal is to entertain and educate the public about Scandinavian traditions and culture and provide a place for those of Scandinavian descent to gather and share their heritage.