Hundreds of people attended the second annual recent Nordic Faire sponsored by Nordikids & Nordik Folk Lodge, Vasa Order of America.
Nan Crofoot was on vacation in Newfoundland watching a Viking re-enactment when she met a man teaching nalbinding, a Scandanavian method of needle stitching.
“I was immediately interested and checked into taking lessons when I got home to Indiana,” the South Bend resident said as she set up her display of mittens and slippers for the recent Nordic Faire at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Munster. “I really enjoy traveling to these ethnic events. Visitors come from many nationalities, but they always seem open to learning the ways of other cultures.”
Hundreds of people attended the second annual recent Nordic Faire sponsored by Nordikids & Nordik Folk Lodge, Vasa Order of America.
The celebration of the Scandinavian cultures — Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and Icelandic — were showcased via traditional music, dancing and demonstrations. Visitors also enjoyed customary foods such as potato sausage, open-faced sandwiches, Swedish meatballs and Swedish pancakes.
And for those with a sweet tooth, Nordikids members Ava Tonky, 11, and Krissy Pearson, 11, wheeled around a dessert cart loaded with Krumbcake, Danish Almond Tarts, cookies and other colorful pastries.
“This is great, the girls look so cute and professional in their cultural dresses,” said Harriet King of Highland as she perused the bakery items. “There’s so much to choose from. But there’s six of us so we can share and taste them all.”
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Information booths were loaded with literature and maps from the Nordic countries.
Harry Kalketta of Portage is of Norwegian descent and heard about the event from friends.
“These types of cultural events are always an enjoyable experience,” he said. “It can bring back memories for many people.”
Tom and Lynn Maxson of Chicago sold Norwegian folk art during the event.
“It’s important for the younger generation to keep traditions alive,” Tom said as he sold his wooden art holiday decorations. “And it’s good to know many are picking up their parents lead.”
Harrison Ogrentz, 18, has been with the Nordikids Club since he was a toddler. His contribution to the Nordic Faire was to entertain the crowd with his guitar.
“I’m in college now, but I still belong and help out with the kids when I have time,” he said. “I’ve been with the Nordikids most of my life, so it’s become part of who I am.”
The Nordic Faire event was a new venture for the group last year and proved very successful, so the group decided to offer it again this year, according to us Lynda Smith, youth director of Nordikids/Nordik Folk Lodge, Vasa Order of America. “We want Northwest Indiana to know what we’re all about.”
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.