There will be several Scandanavian Folk Festival events in and around Jamestown in preparation starting before the festival’s official July 16 kickoff.

Jamestown Community College will be displaying their Albert Johnson paintings at the Scandinavian Folk Festival. Albert Johnson is Jamestown’s Swedish house painter who was 21 when he immigrated from Sweden. He described himself as a house painter of no particular merit but his landscapes are extraordinary and are now highly prized and collectible. Some of Johnson’s paintings are part of JCC’s art collection.

The genealogy research program from Fenton History Center will exhibit at the festival its Scandinavian research tools and assist visitors with researching their ancestors.

On Tuesday, July 12, at noon in Jamestown City Hall’s Tracy Plaza, Mayor Eddie Sundquist will proclaim Scandinavia Week in Jamestown. The Jamestown area band, Svenska Spelman, will play the national anthems of the United States as well as Sweden when the Swedish flag is raised. Members of the Thule Lodge Swedish Folk Dance Team will perform a couple numbers. During the week before the festival, flags from the Nordic countries — Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland — will be regaling downtown Jamestown on Third Street

On Friday July 15, the 40-foot-long Viking ship, Norseman, from Philadelphia will enter the waters at McCrea Point boat landing and enable visitors to board the ship from 10 a.m. to noon. Then the ship will sail up the Chadakoin River to lower Chautauqua Lake.

The Hot Spot Cafe on the corner of East Third and Pine streets will be serving Swedish waffles with lingonberries and whipped cream from 8 to 11 a.m. for $2 a serving. Servings are co-sponsored by the Scandinavian Folk Festival while supplies last beginning Monday July 11, to Friday, July 15.

The feature band at the festival, Smorgasbandet from Long Island, besides performing at the festival, will also be playing on Saturday, July 16, from 9 to 11 p.m. at Shawbucks.

A traditional Midsommar celebration will begin in the Jamestown Public Market on Saturday, July 16, at 10 a.m. near the corner of Cherry and West Third streets. After decorating the 22-foot-long pole with flowers and greenery, there will be a procession of the pole by the festival musicians and folk dancers to the Northwest Arena. The pole will be erected at the corner of Lafayette and West Third streets with traditional Midsommer ring dances on Lafayette Street.

The Scandanavian Folk Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 16, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 17. For more information visit www.scandinavianjamestown.org or call 716-665-0883.