Scandinavian fest celebrates Nordic culture

The Scandinavian Festival will return to the California Lutheran University campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 19 and 20 with an expanded area for crafts, games and other family activities.

The event will include food, entertainment and demonstrations highlighting the Nordic cultures of Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland and the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

For the first time, vendors will be located together in a street fair on Memorial Parkway, providing more room in Kingsmen Park for children's programs, openair lectures and dining areas.

The festival was started in 1974 by a Swedish-American professor and a NorwegianAmerican administrator to showcase Scandinavian culture. CLU was founded by Scandinavian immigrants and was built on land provided by the son of Norwegian pioneers.

The Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation will sponsor the festival with support from the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, Norwegian Cruise Line and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Admission to the festival is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6 to 18 and free for CLU students and children under 6.

For more information, visit www.callutheran.edu/scanfest.