Carolyn Spargo, local promoter/teacher of all-things-Swedish, sent us notice that a group of 13 men and women from Sweden are arriving in Carver County today (Sept. 16) and staying for 10 days.

Plans are underway for the second annual Nordic Music Festival, to be held 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 25 at Lake Waconia Regional Park.

Performers include: Vasa Junior Folk Dancers; Versk Spelman – this year featuring Frances Olson and Rutger Van Huber; Elise Peters – Nyckelharpa; ASI Cloudberries; John Berquist – Finnish-Norwegian storyteller, musician from Rochester; Scandium – a pan Scandinavian Folk group from Northfield; The Dassel Leikarring Dance Troupe - Norwegian Folk dancers from Dassel;

Dassel Leikarring a folk dancing group specializing in authentic country folk dances of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland will be performing at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 16 at the next Waconia Sons of Norway, Scandia Lodge meeting at the Waconia American Legion, 233 Olive Street South, Waconia.

The group of 20 Dassel residents come together every Sunday to rehearse their folk dancing.They were organized 28 years ago under the leadership of Kjell and Elaine Nordie, who were folk dancers in Norway before moving to Dassel.

Carolyn Spargo: All Things Nordic

“Now it is Christmas again and it lasts until Easter. It is not true because in between is Lent!”

So goes a well-known Christmas song that Danes sing and to which they dance around the tree!

The Christmas season has indeed begun in the U.S. and in all the Nordic countries. The first Advent candle has been lit and the decorations are soon adorning the houses and streets.

Join the Women of St. Andrew/St. Andrew West from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21, for a short program and a taste of some Scandinavian treats.

Author: The Rev. Ole Paulson

Translated by: Judge A.G. W. Anderson

What: Paulson recounts the early years (meaning the early, early years) of Carver, including his experiences homesteading farmland and serving in the Army during the Dakota Conflict.

Colorful costumes, music and dancing were the order of the day during the Nordic Music Festival last Saturday afternoon at Lake Waconia Regional Park.