- TENTH ANNUAL - July 15, 16, 17, 2011 Gerry Rodeo Grounds, Gerry NY

In Scandinavian countries, ever since the early 18th century,
bonfires have been lit to scare away predators.
At times they were also used to scare away the witches.
Regardless, bonfires are a way to warm the soul.
The Festival will have its own bonfire on Saturday night
with music, dancing and singing.

Visit the Children/Family Activity Center located in the Culture Tent. Charlotte Ericsson Randall is this year's coordinator for this center and it promises to provide ongoing special events. Charlotte is a Swedish Folk Tale story teller as well as experienced in offering several craft activities. The goal is to create the opportunities for one generation to pass the Scandinavian culture on to the next generation.

Click here to download the 2011 Child & Family Center Schedule


Charlotte Ericsson Randall
On going activities will include making a wooden tomte or a Viking rune lettered necklace, playing with Danish Legos and creating your own artwork on the easel. Scheduled activities will include story telling and a Swedish coin scramble.

Edge Cutting Tools

Norwegian lock replica mid 1800s

Bearded ax made from wrought iron.

Kjetil Groven, a Norwegian blacksmith from Clarks Hill, Indiana, will set up his blacksmith shop at this year's Festival. He forges iron items in the Norwegian style of the 1700 to 1800s. Some of his items will be available for sale.

The Scandinavian Studies Program sponsors Culture Day at Jamestown Community College. Fifteen to twenty workshops around Scandinavian activities are held the first Saturday morning of each month from October through May. At the Festival, we showcase projects completed the previous year. We also hold workshops in order to "share the culture" and pass on our heritage to younger generations. Traditional handcrafts that will be demonstrated include wood and chip carving, hardanger embroidery, Swedish weaving, and spinning.

Leif Ericson Viking Ship, Inc. will have their ship on display.

Swedish genealogy resources are available for use by researchers at the Fenton History Center (FHC) in Jamestown, NY. Visit with Karen Livsey from the Fenton History Center. She will offer her expertise to assist you with locating your ancestors. Visitors are encouraged to bring the information that they have such as names, birth dates, death dates and age at death, year of immigration, sibling’s names, parent’s names, place of residence in Sweden and in the United States and any other tidbits of information that may help identify the correct “John Johnson” in Sweden. The Center does have access to Genline, an online subscription service which provides the digitized Swedish Church records. Arne Johansson from Sweden will be joining Karen with his computer and additional Swedish genealogical resources. Being Swedish he can help in translating Swedish genealogical documents.

The Scandinavian Folk Festival is the site of the annual Kubb Tournament. Kubb is an ancient game played by the Vikings. The rules are simple and fun for all ages. The Kubb playing area will be open each day with the tournament being held on Saturday afternoon. Who knows?
Beginners luck could lead to a championship.

Viking Village X

Members of the Shire of Heronter, a branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. will be living as ancient Vikings in the Viking Village. There will be a large tent for displays and craft demos. In addition to Viking age displays, there will be thrown weapons and the opportunity to play the Viking game Hnefatafl. The Viking Village will have displays of armor and weapons, bone carving, chainmail, Viking clothing, jewelry and accessories. Other activities will include armored combat, thrown weapons, fingerloop braiding, mead tasting, and whipcord making. Check out the Viking vendors in the Village.

A type of horse called a Norwegian Fjord will be visiting the Viking Village.

He loves to have children sit on his back.

The Scandinavian Folk Festival provides the opportunity for musicians from the community to play together with the performers.
Bring your instruments and learn a tune.