South Elgin fest gives a nod to the Nordic

It was all things Nordic at the 36th annual Scandinavian Day Festival Sunday at Vasa Park in South Elgin.

New this year was the Nordic beer tasting seminar, while visitors could choose from a variety of dishes from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland.

There was music and folk dancing along the riverfront, as well as historical re-enactors from Garfield Farm Museum, Cantigny First Division Museum and Donley Wild West museum.

"I'm a farmer's wife," said re-enactor Kerri-Ellen Kelly of Wheeling as she spoke about the handmade clothing she wore. "This is nothing fancy."

Kelly is with the Micel Folcland branch of the Regia Anglorum society of Medieval Britain re-enactors. They are education based re-enactors who portray rural British people as they were 1,000 years ago.

Kids enjoyed pony rides, Animals for Awareness, face painting and other activities.