After an extended summer hiatus, monthly posts of Nordic events happening virtually and in-and-around Southern California are back. Before we get to the virtual ones, here are some in-person happenings taking place soon that local readers might be interested in putting on their calendars.

Leif Erikson Day Celebration – Saturday, October 11

The Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation will host its annual Leif Erikson Day Celebration on Saturday, October 11, at 2:00 p.m. at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. The program will include presentations as well as other events.

Newport Beach Film Fest: Swedish Spotlight – Tuesday, October 21

The Swedish Spotlight at this year’s Newport Beach Film Fest is If He Dies, He Dies: Dolph Lundgren, a documentary directed by Andrew Holmes with cast Dolph Lundgren, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger. “If He Dies, He Dies: Dolph Lundgren is a raw and revealing portrait of the action icon best known as Ivan Drago. From a troubled upbringing in Sweden to global stardom, the film explores Dolph’s hidden battles—including childhood trauma, chronic injuries and a brutal cancer diagnosis—and his relentless drive to survive, reinvent and inspire.”

Norwegian Christmas Fair – November 14-23

Southern California readers, it’s not too early to mark your calendars with the Norwegian Church’s annual Julebasar (Christmas Fair). The church will be filled with Christmas goods and a festive atmosphere. It will take place Friday, November 14, through Sunday, November 23, in San Pedro (open every day 11-4 except Sunday 12-4). The café will serve sandwiches and Norwegian hot food Friday through Sunday, and of course, there will be raffle tickets for sale with wonderful prizes to be won.

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VIRTUAL EVENTS

Online Nordic Book Club Meetings

Online book clubs across the country continue to meet. Selections include contemporary fiction, historical fiction, crime fiction, memoirs, short stories, nonfiction, and occasionally even children’s literature. Check out Nordic Book Club Meetings to see what is being read and discussed this month and beyond. Does anything look interesting to you?

Virtual Run Like a Viking Challenge

Extended into October, while supplies last! Join the global virtual challenge that blends fitness, fun, and the Nordic spirit! Chart your own course (5K, 10K, or half-marathon), choose how you want to move (walk, run, hike, row, skateboard – it’s up to you!), and receive a custom participant t-shirt featuring a Viking longship crewed by herring!

Presentation and Discussion with Norwegian Author Lars Mytting (10/1)

A recording of this event will soon be available at Vesterheim’s YouTube channel… Dr. Maren Johnson, Luther College’s Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies Director, will be welcoming author Lars Mytting to Vesterheim from Norway to talk about The Sister Bells Trilogy. Lars is one of Norway’s most acclaimed authors, with more than 2 million books sold, available in 24 languages around the world. The Sister Bells Trilogy (The Bell in the Lake, The Reindeer Hunters, and The Night of the Scourge) is a sweeping generational saga set in the remote Norwegian village of Butangen, where myth, faith, and modernity intertwine. Blending folklore, love, loss, and the passage of time, the trilogy follows Butangen’s transformation from an isolated hamlet to a modern community still bound to its mythic past.

Beyond Basic Cinnamon Buns with Nichole Accettola (10/2, 3:00 p.m. CT)

Just in time for Sweden’s Kanelbullensdag (Cinnamon Bun Day) on October 4, take a page from Nichole Accettola’s recent cookbook Scandinavian from Scratch: A Love Letter to the Baking of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden and whip up some Scandinavian cinnamon buns. A chef, baker, and cookbook author, Nichole opened the Scandinavian-inspired Kantine bakery café in San Francisco after living for many years in Copenhagen, Denmark. Nichole will demonstrate several shaping methods, including an impressive wreath and a couple of fillings in this Virtual demo filled with tricks for working with yeasted doughs. This class is designed as a demonstration so students can watch the entire process and ask questions before tackling the dishes at home.

Nordic Spirit Classics’ Second Friday Series (10/10, 7:30 p.m. PT)

Join the Scandinavian American Cultural & Historical Foundation for their next Zoom presentation pulled from the archives. To be updated by email about each month’s presentation, reach out to nordicspiritclassics@gmail.com.

Vesterheim Benefit Auction (October 12 – 26)

In this auction, you’ll have the opportunity to bid on a tremendous selection of rosemaling (Norwegian decorative painting), weavings, Norwegian clothing, and creative woodworking items. Included in the auction is the chance to bid on a Viking 8-day European River Cruise for two as well. Proceeds from the auction benefit Vesterheim’s Folk Art School, which has provided classes since 1967 in fiber arts, woodworking, painting, cooking, jewelry, blacksmithing, knifemaking, and more.

Swedish Pea Soup and Pancakes with Kristi Bissell (10/16, 1:00 p.m. CT)

While not as popular as it once was in Sweden, a Thursday dinner of yellow pea soup and Swedish pancakes is still a great cold-weather meal. Join Kristi Bissell to demo these two classic dishes from her blog, True North Kitchen. Kristi will share her methods for taking on an ärtsoppa with ham and a round of pancakes for dessert so you can start a new tradition in your kitchen. This class is designed as a demonstration so students can watch the entire process and ask questions before tackling the dishes at home.

Family Handcraft at Home: Recycled Stars Inspired by Birchbark Weaving (Enrollment deadline 10/17, starts 11/1)

This experience starts November 1 and is available all month. Join artist Derek Brabender in an exploration of birchbark weaving using recycled Vesterheim Folk Art School catalogues. Inspired by Nordic folk art, as well as the re-use of materials, this program will show families how we can still continue the folk art tradition using recycled materials. Note: This program has been designed for families to experience on their own schedules. There is no live Zoom event and no scheduled class time – your family can participate anytime during the month when it works for your schedule! On the first of the month, you will receive an email with the links and information about how to access.

Knitting through Norway Webinar (10/18, 1:00 p.m. CT, Free)

Maree Hampton is a knitting instructor for Vesterheim Folk Art School and one of the first recipients of a research grant from Vesterheim to study Norwegian knitting in Norway. While in Norway in the fall of 2024, Maree visited textile and folk art museums, attended a three-day knitting festival in Bergen, toured Norway’s long-standing yarn factories, and met everyday Norwegian knitters in the areas where she traveled. She will share what she learned in her month-long study in Norway, show images from her travels, highlight current trends in Norwegian knitting, and show how the experience has inspired her knitting, teaching, and more.

Scandinavian Fall Baking Favorites: Apple Cake and Homemade Apple Donuts (10/18, 10:30 a.m. CT)

Join Kristi Bissell, founder of True North Kitchen, for a morning of delicious fall-themed baking! We will begin with Swedish Apple Cake, baked with a hint of cardamom and topped with caramelized apples. Kristi will then share a recipe for one of her family’s favorite autumn treats . . . Easy Baked Apple Donuts. This Vesterheim cooking class is designed as a small-group cook-along, and we invite exchange between the instructor and students in order to build community around food traditions.

Viking-Inspired Cocktails: Myth, Mead, and Mixology (10/24, 7:00 p.m. CT)

Raise a glass to the gods with this fun, history-infused class inspired by Norse mythology and Viking-era drinking traditions. We’ll create imaginative cocktails using ingredients like mead, herbs, and smoke, each paired with a mythological figure or story – from a thunderous drink for Thor to a mysterious one for Loki. This class is equal parts storytelling and hands-on cocktail creation, designed to bring ancient legends to life in a glass. This Vesterheim cooking class is designed as a small-group cook-along and we invite exchange between the instructor and students in order to build community around food traditions.

Genealogy Session with Swedish American Museum (10/25, 10:00 a.m. CT)

When researching our Swedish families, we often see notes about their infirmities, physical and mental; as well as often finding out why they died. But what was the health care system like for the average family? What were the health issues that they commonly dealt with? How did medical treatment change over time? This presentation will give an overview of these issues to help you to understand a little better what your ancestors’ lives were like.

Trøndelag’s Iconic Regional Dish: Sodd! (11/1, 10:00 a.m. CT)

Join celebrated cook and author Nevada Berg in making Trøndelag’s most beloved festive dish – sodd! A hearty soup made with lamb, small meatballs, and vegetables, it’s a dish that makes an appearance at all of life’s big events. We’ll include flour dumplings in ours, which is common to do from the Orkdal area. While sodd may appear simple, this soup packs in so much flavor. It does take time and love to make everything from scratch, so come ready to learn, eat, and have fun! This Vesterheim cooking class is designed as a small-group cook-along, and we invite exchange between the instructor and students in order to build community around food traditions.

Scandinavian Flat Plane Figure Carving: Ornament Carving (Three Wednesdays, 11/5-19, 6:00 p.m. CT)

Join carver Charles Banks as he guides you through the creation of your very own flat plane ornament. This class will center around the creation of some festive stylized ornaments. Following the tradition of flat plane figure carving, you will use only a single knife to carve. You will receive an overview of the history and traditions of this style of carving, be introduced to the cuts and techniques of the reductive carving process, and learn finishing techniques – all culminating in your very own carving. Live instruction and video tutorials will be utilized as educational tools. This is a beginner friendly class. Enrollment deadline: October 22

Pancake Tarta with Patrice Johnson (11/15, 3:00 p.m. CT)

“Crepe cakes” have been all the rage for a few years now. Join us to create two Nordic versions of this fun celebratory treat. We’ll make one savory version and one sweet, with plenty of creative ideas to get your entire family into the kitchen. This Vesterheim cooking class is designed as a small-group cook-along, and we invite exchange between the instructor and students in order to build community around food traditions. Enrollment Deadline: October 31

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Which events or experiences look interesting to you?