Scandinavian Festival celebrates 50 years with weekend event at CLU

Staff reports
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Carlos Galin, left, teaches Viking swordplay to Santiago Simonton, 6, of Newbury Park, at the 2019 Scandinavian Festival at California Lutheran University. The event returns Saturday and Sunday for its 50th anniversary.
Carlos Galin, left, teaches Viking swordplay to Santiago Simonton, 6, of Newbury Park, at the 2019 Scandinavian Festival at California Lutheran University. The event returns Saturday and Sunday for its 50th anniversary.

The Scandinavian Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary this weekend at the California Lutheran University campus in Thousand Oaks.

The gathering runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Kingsmen Park. The campus is at 60 W. Olsen Road.

The family-friendly festival of Nordic culture, started in 1974, includes storytellers, puppeteers and opportunities to take part in activities such as Viking ship painting and making head wreaths.

On the gastronomic front, attendees can buy lefse, aebleskivers and other treats. Visitors can also watch cooking demonstrations.

An ABBA tribute band, ABBAFAB, will play the main stage. Nordic dancers, songwriters and a range of music groups will also perform.

The festival is produced by the Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation.

General admission tickets are $20. Children 12 and younger get in free. CLU students, faculty and staff get in free with ID. Parking is free.

For more information and to buy tickets, go to scandinavianfest.org.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Scandinavian Festival celebrates 50th anniversary this weekend at CLU