Scandinavian Day: Celebrating Nordic culture through food, drink, song and dance

The 36th annual Scandinavian Day Festival, set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13 at Vasa Park in South Elgin, is a celebration of all things Nordic.

The cultures of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland will be represented, and visitors will have a chance to sample each country's food - and drink.

New this year is a Nordic beer tasting seminar, which takes place at 12:45 and 2 p.m. for an additional $15 fee.

Hungry visitors can choose from a variety of Scandinavian dishes, including: fried herring, breakfast Scandinavian variety plate, Norwegian lapkaus (stew), Danish aebleskivers (apple pancake puffs), Danske polser (Danish hot dog), specialty pastries and baked goods, Swedish pancakes, Norwegian polser, foods of Finland, Icelandic hangikjot (smoked lamb), and Swedish glass vafflor (waffles with ice cream), along with soft drinks. There will be a beer garden and an indoor bar as well.

The entertainment lineup includes Swedish recording artist Peter Nordberg; Norwegian singer-songwriter Ann-Marita; violinist Dorothy Shaw; the Nordic Folk Dancers of Chicago; Chicago Spelmanslag; and a combined Men's Chorus featuring members of Swedish and Norwegian singing groups.

Rounding out the events will be a folk dancing class and along the riverfront, a living-history presentation on Scandinavian immigration to the New World, with feature presenters from Garfield Farm Museum, the Cantigny First Division Museum, the Donley Wild West museum, and other historical re-enactors.

For the kids, there will be pony rides, Animals for Awareness, face painting and balloon twisting.

Vendors and exhibitors representing Nordic cultures will be on hand to educate visitors and sell ethnic arts, crafts and products.

Admission is $10 for adults and free for children, age 12 and younger. Vasa Park is at 35W217 Route 31, South Elgin. For details, visit www.vasaparkil.com.