“We expect 1,200 people attending this year’s Festival,” says co-coordinator Donald Sandy. “Most are local (Southwestern NY and Northwestern PA) but also other states such as Ohio. A few years ago, we did a zip code study at the gate and found people attending from 28 different states and three foreign countries. It is the only event of its kind from New York City to Chicago and from Toronto to Georgia. Jamestown is a destination city for the celebration of Scandinavian culture.”

The two-day event features a variety of musical entertainment, food, crafts and contests.

“A new feature this year is FIKA,” says Sandy. “This is the Swedish version of a coffee break. Servers will deliver coffee in China cups with a sample of baked goods and a sandwich. A time to step back and enjoy the fellowship of friends.”

Visitors will also be able to enter a cornhole contest, a cooking contest, play Scandinavian bingo or assemble a Nordic themed jigsaw all offering cash prizes.

A “Dala” horse, representative of Scandinavian culture, is pictured.

Festival foods include a korvburger on a rye bread bun, a Swedish hotdog with mashed potatoes, Swedish pancakes or waffles, or even a Swedish meatball dinner.

Hands-on experiences at the event include tabletop weaving (borrow a loom to take home), chip and wood carving, Norwegian painting, spinning, huck weaving, knitting, and straw weaving. Activities at the Family Center include designing a t-shirt, making a rune necklace, create a midsummer head wreath and much more.

The gate fee is $3 with two non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army or $5. For detail information visit scandinavianjamestown.org or call 716-665-0883.

BEHIND THE FESTIVAL: Q&A WITH ORGANIZER DONALD SANDY

How many staff or volunteers support this effort? About 120 volunteers make the festival possible. There are only two paid staff.

The Thule Lodge Swedish Dancers are pictured during a past Scandinavian Folk Festival.

How many Scandinavian Americans live in Jamestown? This is a difficult number to enumerate. My opinion is that over half of the people living in Jamestown have Scandinavian ancestors. Most immigration for Scandinavians occurred between 1860 and 1920. By 1920, Jamestown had the highest percent of Swedish born citizens of any city in the United States. Eighty percent of all businesses are owned or managed by Swedes. Individuals are now in the third to fourth generation from their immigrant ancestors.

What will visitors be most surprised to learn or find? Guests at this year’s festival will be surprised that the gate is informal and that it is only $3 to enter along with two non-perishable food items or $5. The emphasis this year is on fellowship and community. A welcoming atmosphere is being created by having greeters and sometimes music at the entrance, more tables where friends can gather, the opportunity for a formal FIKA, continuous entertainment, and team building contests offering up to $800 in prize money. Guests will be immersed into a Scandinavian experience of music, foods, crafts, lectures, vendors and community.

Are you of Nordic descent? What’s your family lineage and what are you most proud of? Two of my grandparents and one great grandparent are from Sweden. With DNA, I am identified as 80% Scandinavian. I am most proud of the quality of life that exists in the Scandinavian countries. The United States has much to learn from the Scandinavian countries that consistently rank higher than the United States in life expectancy, health care, childcare, education, and overall personal satisfaction.

Any family still in one of those countries? I have located distant cousins and had a chance to visit with them. We would share ancestors five to seven generations back.

How much money will this event generate and where does the profits go? The mission of the festival is to celebrate the Scandinavian culture, not to make money. Our goal is to have sufficient funds to continue from one year to another. This year we began with $500. If there is any surplus it rolls over to the next year. We are a 501c3 organization. The community believes in our Festival and the quality of programming that is delivered. Most fiscal support is from donations and grants.

A girl is pictured weaving during a past Scandinavian Folk Festival at the Northwest Arena.

When will organizers start setting up and how long does that take?

Planning for the next festival is immediately after the current festival. Many wheels are in motion. It all gets pulled together with actual set-up at the Northwest Arena on Friday, July 17. There is significant help from the City of Jamestown Parks and Recreation Department and the staff at the Northwest Arena.

What else should people know about the festival? Visit the web site for details about schedules, contests, and all the festival programming. scandinavianjamesotown.org or call 716-665-0883