GEORGE POTVIN OF Ten Mile Creek Forge and Pottery in Bark River, Mich., demonstrates his blacksmith skills at the 2021 Leif Erikson Fall Festival in Norway. The 30th annual Viking-themed event takes place this weekend. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
NORWAY — Thirty years ago, the city of Norway kicked off an annual celebration of Viking explorer Leif Erikson’s spirit of discovery and adventure.
The Leif Erikson Fall Festival returns this weekend with activities starting at 10 a.m. Saturday on downtown Main Street.
Viking re-enactors once again will have a camp set up across from the city bandshell to share their history and provide a glimpse into the past. Everyone is encouraged to walk through the camp, ask questions and take photos.
A Viking combat demonstration — complete with authentic swords, axes and Viking helmets — will take place at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the bandshell.
Returning to the bandshell is a much-sought-after group the DayDreamers of Marquette. The five-member group will play hits from yesterday through today from noon to 1:30 p.m.
THE MARQUETTE-BASED band the DayDreamers will be back by popular demand for a performance Saturday at the 30th annual Leif Erikson Fall Festival that takes places this weekend in Norway. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)
This popular band plays for several events and festivals across the Upper Peninsula.
“They features top-shelf musicians and the vocalists are truly outstanding,” festival committee member Nancy Sundstrom said. “Their music will have everyone up and rocking.”
Organizers say this free performance by the DayDreamers is one you don’t want to miss.
The city will announce the winners of the Public Power Week prizes at 1:30 p.m. The contest is only open to city residents who signed up to participate.
The crowing of Miss Norway and the Norse King will follow at 1:45 p.m. at the city bandshell. This year’s applicants include Jesse Neumann, Tyler Paris, Austyn Lane Dwight, Paige Sabotta, Sarah Tinkey, Sarah Kay, Tonye Stanchina, Jenna Alsbury and Taylor Adams.
The Leif Erikson parade steps off at 2 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Fourth Avenue, near St. Mary Catholic Church. Participants are asked to begin lining up at 1:45 p.m.
Costumed children and costumed leashed pets will start the parade. Children who comes in costume will receive a Viking Bucks and a treat for participating in the parade.
A “Taste of Norway” will feature several local restaurants and organizations offering a variety of foods next to the bandshell.
Everyone is welcome to enjoy a wagon ride down Main Street as well.
A number of children’s activities are planned again this year. The kids area will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will include a bounce house that looks like a Viking ship, pony rides and mini-petting zoo.
New this year is a fortune teller who will share her “secrets” of their future.
Children will also be able to make a Viking costume, have their face painted with Viking symbols and create a costume for their pet.
Other activities include the craft and vendor sale at the American Legion, 621 Main St.; blacksmithing demonstrations near the electric vehicle charging station; and a farmers market in the Veterans Park area. Local artists will show their pieces near Pat’s Market and the EV charging station.
Organizers have again planned tours of the city of Norway’s hydraulic dam. These were very popular last year, Sundstrom said.
Buses will be provided and leave from Main Street and Railroad Avenue, near the Knight Owl. The first bus departs at 2:30 p.m. and last will leave downtown Norway at 5 p.m.
The tours and bus rides to and from the dam are free.
All interested in the tours are asked to take the buses to the dam, as the buses need the very limited space at the dam to turn around.
The Jake Menghini Historical Museum, 105 Odill Drive in Norway, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, as the last chance to see the museum’s Titanic exhibit. Admission is free.
The Saintly Stitchers Craft Guild will also host a quilt show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Evangelical Covenant Church, 120 Odill Drive in Norway. Admission is $5 each day. The show will have vendors, demonstrations, classes, refreshments and a custom-quilted map of the U.P. Member-made items will be available for sale in the boutique.
The “Night of the Vikings” — a highlight of the Leif Erikson Festival — begins with the Viking dinner at 6 p.m. at Holy Spirit School and the ceremonial torchlight parade with a Viking funeral.
The Viking dinner is a multi-course feast that includes platters of appetizers, roast pork and poultry, roasted vegetables, herbed potatoes, hearth bread, apple/berry sauce, and apple pastry.
The feast will be served by costumed waiters, as live music and actors portraying Viking characters create an authentic Viking feast atmosphere.
“As it has each year, the saga of Viking warriors, Helnar and Gunnbjorn continues and is acted out during the dinner,” Sundstrom said.
Tickets are $22 per person when purchased online and $23 when purchased at the Norway office of Northern Interstate Bank.
The festivities continue after dinner with a ceremonial parade around Strawberry Lake. The revelers will be led by torchlight as they participate in a reenactment of a Viking funeral. This will conclude with the dramatic launching of a fiery funeral ship on the lake.
This portion of “Night of the Vikings” is free. Those wishing to participate in the parade should bring a flashlight to navigate the lake path and meet at 8 p.m. at the Strawberry Lake parking lot near the Knights Kingdom playground.
A Swedish Pancake Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday at Mike’s on Main.
Participants are invited to compete in the Leif’s Run, which offers 5K and 10K races or a 2-mile run/walk event. Competitive races will start at 10 a.m. outside the Norway-Vulcan Schools, on Section Street.
The course has changed and will follow the course used in Norway’s Spring Classic each April. New this year is chip timing and race receipts provided by Superior Timing.
Registration can be done online at Runsignup.com. Day of race registration will also be offered; however, T-shirts may not be available.
Race packet pickup and day of race registration takes place in the Norway-Vulcan Middle School gym, starting at 9 a.m.
The run closes the Leif Erikson Festival weekend.
For more information and a full list of activities, go to www.leiferiksonfest.com or the Leif Erikson Festival page on Facebook.
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