The now-quiet woods near the Red River in downtown Moorhead will come to life next week, when some 80 modern men and women will cast their tents, fire up their forges, limber up their vocal cords and prepare to do battle in the ninth annual Midwest Viking Festival in Viking Ship Park.
The park – situated between the Hjemkomst Center and the river – will be turned into a thousand-year-old Viking village. Enthusiastic costumed volunteers will populate the pop-upencampment, showing off the lifeways once familiar to the distant ancestors of a good share of area families. All are prepared to chat about their clothing, tools and crafts throughout the two-day festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 24-25.
Viking reenactor Tim Jorgenson has coordinated seven of the nine local encampments, including this one. He predicts a highlight this year will be the bigger, better exhibitions of what Vikings are most famous for – theirbattles. Fighting demonstrations are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1:30 and 4 p.m. both days. A contingent from North America’s largest Viking battle group, the Jomsvikings of Montreal, will bring the population of warriors to around 25. Others are expected from Oregon, central Texas, and the Omaha area, as well as the surrounding region.
“There’s always a lot to see,” says Tim, who often demonstrates woodworking, leathercraft and other skills when he’s not busy coordinating all the players.
A highlight of this year’s festival is Kids Quest. Youngsters receive a necklace with their admission. As they visit and participate in activities at six outdoor and six indoor sites,they’ll be awarded beads similar to those uncovered by archeologist from days gone by.
The Viking marketplace is expected to include a silversmith, two blacksmiths and leather craftsmen, all demonstrating their handiwork as well as selling it. Icelandic horses will be on site. Visitors can also sample Viking-style foods outdoors prepared by Kelly Wambach, the chef at the museum’s Rex Café.
Tim’s fondness for Viking lore and Viking ways dates back to 1999 when, as an MSUM undergrad, he participated in a study trip to Norway. He became even more involved in 2002, when he spent the summer and fall semester there, touring Viking sites. He has made his own costume of textiles and leather, including his boots and bags.
The Moorhead Viking reenactment is one of several in which he’s now involved. A stay-at-home parent to son Stein, 2, he’s in his third year of coordinating the Viking Village at Minot’s Hostfest. He and three friends also have worked with the Minnesota Vikings football team, dressing in their authentic duds and opening the gates to let players onto the field for the past two seasons. (He’s still waiting to learn of plans for this fall, when the team plays in its new stadium.)
While reenactors live Viking-style outside on the grounds, the Nordic Culture Clubs’ Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival will occupy much of the Hjemkomst Center. Inside, the Scandinavian Marketplace hosts craftsworkers selling rosemaling, wood carvings, jewelry, woolen clothing and home furnishings. Foods from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland also draw enthusiastic crowds. One $10 ticket covers daily admission to both events. Children under 12 are admitted free.
