Scandinavian Festival

I debated whether to write about our Scandinavian Festival adventure because I just didn't care too much for the event. It would be great for Little Buckaroo when he gets older though. The festival was last weekend at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. I took Moorpark Road, a small road that cuts through Moorpark into Thousand Oaks, to the campus and observed a sign that's probably been there for years but I just finally noticed stating that I was on the Historical Norwegian Grade. The campus is beautiful and the day was sunny with a nice little breeze so it was a great day to be outside. We parked on campus for free but I had to pay $7 to enter but my Little Buckaroo was free. As we entered we walked down the pathway to a Viking Village.








There was a whole village with real people playing the roles of that period. Of course with my Little Buckaroo being a curious climber he immediately went to the village dining table and benches and tried to sit on the rustic three legged bench. I tried to stop him but by time I got to him the bench fell over and I had a 6' 3" long blonde haired Viking standing over us. He preceded to tell me several times not to let climb on the display and after about the third time I snapped at him and told him that I heard him the first time. Then realizing I was irritated he elaborated that they had a cast member fall from the chair also. So in my head I was thinking...Why in the heck is this bench out here then!!! I picked up Little Buckaroo and moved on to the booths spread out throughout the huge campus.

One of the first booths I came to was the SACHF which explained that the Historical Norwegian Grade was built from 1900-1911 by Norwegian immigrants as a path to get supply's to the farming areas of Oxnard. Also explained the question of why there is a festival in the first place, the festival is a celebration of the founding of the college and the history of the Conejo Valley which was settled by Norwegians in the 1800's.

After a brief history lesson I moved on to Nordic shopping booths where we strolled past booths filled with arts and crafts.















The smell of food lured us over to the food court where Little Buckaroo and I shared a Viking Dog and Swedish Pancakes.















After a quick bite we played some Dala Horse Croquet and visited the Viking Village again. This time we were greeted by a pleasant family of Vikings and a Viking Soldier that demonstrated his war weapons.
















By this time Little Buckaroo was getting cranky and in need of a nap. So we left before getting a chance to see the Maypole Raising Ceremony and Folk Dancers. I think that we will wait a few years before returning so Little Buckaroo can participate in the activities, he was just too small or young this time to do anything.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone