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Midwest Viking
Festival
October 6 & 7, 2023 • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Free
UW-Green Bay is the proud host of the annual Midwest Viking Festival which explores Scandinavian history and the daily life of the region from a thousand years ago. Located at the Viking House grounds north of the Wood Hall lot, the festival celebrates the craft traditions, food, stories and many other aspects of medieval Scandinavia (Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). Nearly 3,000 intrepid explorers joined us last year and we invite you to join the next expedition. Kom igjen!
Family Friendly
Gather with friends and family around a steaming cauldron and learn about that down-home Viking hospitality.
Interactive
Connect with different types of professions who are experts in crafts and cooking.
Cultural
Hear stories, songs and tales from those long-gone days.
Activities &
Entertainment
- A Viking encampment with blacksmiths, silversmiths, a potter, weavers, woodworkers, glass bead makers, medieval games (hnaftafl and kubb), archery and cooks making food with ingredients only available during the Viking Age.
- Stories from the Viking Age told by Sven Tunheim, song and tales from Kari Tauring and battle demonstrations showing how the famous weapons of the Viking Age were used in duels and a shield wall.
- Tours of the Viking House by Elspeth and Owen Christiansen.
- Activities for kids (archery, a “Viking Quest” scavenger hunt, kubb, get your name written in runes).
- Rune readings!
2023 Schedule of Events
The performance and demonstration schedule is the same for both days, with the exception of our special guests on Friday, October 6: from 1 to 3 p.m., Aurora Acres will have their reindeer at the festival! The Sons of Norway and the National Federation of the Blind will be selling cookies and chocolate bars. For a more substantial fare, the food truck Caribbean Cruiser will have delicious lunches for purchase. While entrance to the festival is free, there is a cost for snacks, food, and other items sold by vendors.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 10 a.m. | Festival Opening! |
| 10:15 a.m. | Bones and Trees: The Sounds of the Viking Era Just home from her studies in Norway, Kari Tauring will regale us with stories and tunes on bone and willow flutes, two of the ancient instruments that create the sounds of the Viking era. |
| 11 a.m. | Battle Demonstrations! |
| 11:30 a.m. | Telge Glima Swedish wrestlers show us the physical comedy of medieval games. |
| 1 p.m. | The Oldest Letters in Scandinavia: Join rune expert Kari Tauring for stories, songs and histories about the oldest form of writing in Scandinavia. Kari will sing and teach about the oldest tune written in runes. Oct 6 Only: Aurora Acres reindeer will be at the festival from 1 to 3 p.m. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Battle Demonstrations! |
| 3 p.m. | Telge Glima: Swedish wrestlers show us the physical comedy of medieval games. |
| 4 p.m. | Festival Closes |
Contact Us! Skal!
Meet Heidi Sherman, the director of the Viking House and the person who organizes our Midwest Viking Festival. If you have questions, just ask!