Over the weekend the family headed up to the mountains for the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. The festival was held in Estes Park (most famously known for the Stanley Hotel that was used in the movie 'The Shining') which is about a 2 hour drive from Denver. It was so beautiful and the weather was absolutely perfect! We wanted to arrive at the very start of the festival, to get a good parking spot when it was still nice and crisp out!
Check out our view from our parking
spot! These are the Twin Owl rock formations. Can you see the two owls
nestled and looking at each other? Very large and cool to see!
Also above our parking spot was this rocky shell of a house.
First thing on the schedule, the Lindsborg Folksdanslag Dancers. They were so fun to watch and performed different variations of traditional Swedish Dances, like the Polska, Waltz, and Schottis. Later in the day they will teach the little kids how to do 'around the Maypole' dances.
The kids and Honey really enjoyed Viking Village. This is the end of a viking burial ship. I couldn't fit the boat in the picture unless I went across the street, plus there were a ton of people gathered around it and it was too crazy. I think this is the most beautiful part of the boat anyways!
Viking tools and weapons!
There were all types of demonstrations of skills like textile arts, blacksmithing, carpentry, wood carving, and spinning wool. This viking is carving a game board for a game that is similar to checkers.
The men enjoyed watching the Fljellborg Viking Warriors battling with axes, spears, and swords. My son kept laughing hysterically when someone would get 'slaughtered'. Should I be worried? We left Viking village with a drinking horn (cow horn) to add to Honey's drinking vessel collection (he secretly thinks he's a viking)!
Look at all these delicious pastries from Taste of Denmark. This vendors table was buzzing with people non-stop. We had to politely elbow our way through to take a peek. This is only a very small portion of what they had.
I chose an Almond Twist...light and flaky, with almond filling, and topped with poppy seeds and sesame seeds. It was one of the most ridiculously delicious things I have ever tasted! I am determined to find a recipe, so I can make my own. We also got a few cheese danishes, chocolate croissants and a very large cinnamon roll.
I am so excited about my two new toys to add to my collection! First is Franzi...he is a handmade Austrian marionette. The kids just love playing with him! My daughter took him out of the package even before we left the vendors table, and started playing with him. Franzi seem to attract a lot of attention! Everyone would smile and laugh as we walked around. He really is fun to play with and has also peeked my interest in making marionettes...a new hobby maybe?
Secondly, is my cute wood 'smoke house'. I can't wait all the way to Christmas to use this, so I put it up in the kitchen window. When you lift up the house there is a tiny burner inside. It's made for small incense cones...and when you light the incense and put the house back on the smoke comes out of the top of the chimney. How cute is this? I have see these online, and have always wanted one! The best part is, it was 40% off so I got it for a whopping $12.00...YAY!
It was a great day, filled with lots of good food, good music, and good family fun! Can't wait to go again next year.
It was a great day, filled with lots of good food, good music, and good family fun! Can't wait to go again next year.
