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.
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
Which events or experiences look interesting to you?
Try needle felting while making sweet spring-themed ornaments for a Swedish påskris or Easter tree. In this virtual class, students will work alongside Seattle-based artist Kayla Ann and practice forming 3D objects and adding miniature details using the materials from the provided kit. Students will leave class with fundamental needle felting skills and a handful of colorful ornaments to celebrate spring.
Salmon is a staple of Nordic cuisine, and in this one-hour demo, Kristi will share some favorite ways to serve it from her blog, 
Create the cutest spring rabbit in this afternoon-long class! Students will follow instructor Laura’s step-by-step instructions to transform hand-dyed wool from her family’s own sheep into a felted rabbit that will fit in the palm of your hand. Needle felting is fun, easy, and therapeutic, and as your wooly friend comes to life, you’ll enjoy conversation with other students and learn more about wool and the sheep who produced your kit materials! Kits ($32 value) are included in the class fee.
Take a page from Nichole Accettola’s recent cookbook 
Swedish smörgåsbord has a fun and fascinating history, and we’ll cover both the history, etiquette, and some of the classic dishes typically served at this vast buffet. As we talk, we’ll prepare a light five-course tasting menu with each course representing the progression of tables in a smörgåsbord.
Join Swedish writer and filmmaker Maja Hagerman for a compelling discussion on her extensive research on the spread of racial theories in academic communities in the Nordic countries between 1910 and 1935, with a focus on Swedish race biologist Herman Lundborg. Hagerman’s research formed the basis of her documentary film, to be screened virtually at a later date. Presented in conjunction with 
Gather some tips and tricks for building a smörgåstårta, or Swedish sandwich cake, at home. This savory centerpiece uses sandwich fillings of all varieties to feed a large group with style. Kristi Bissell of 
Join Vesterheim Gold Medalist Charles Banks as he guides you through the creation of your very own flat plane figure carving. For this class, we will carve a Scandinavian classic, a stylized Nordic Fjords Man. Following the tradition of flat plane figure carving, you will use only a single knife to carve out this character. 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, as well as practice sticks, a unique “head study,” and printed imagery of your character. Enrollment deadline: April 16.
Learn to tackle a classic Swedish princesstårta in this virtual demo with Kristi of 
If you’ve ever thought about trying rosemaling, here’s a great opportunity to take the brush in hand! Rosemaling is the wonderful folk art of Norway that is based on the flowing scrolls and flowers that are made up of “C” and “S” strokes. This class introduces students to these basic strokes that are the foundation of rosemaling, as well as the detailed line work that completes a rosemaling project. The class will include demonstrations and plenty of hands-on practice. Students will practice strokes and complete a project on board. The class will be taught using acrylic paint. If you’ve painted with oil, this would be a good opportunity to explore acrylics. A complete kit of supplies (a $45 value) is included in the cost of enrollment. Enrollment deadline: May 9.
Curious about how tapestries are made and ready to try your hand at pictorial weaving? This most ancient form of textile creation is rich with history and an invitation for creative expression. Master weaver Laura Berlage will take you on a multi-week journey into the magical world of tapestry, where you will learn to transform warp and weft into a peaceful sunset landscape, measuring approximately 10 x 10 inches. Starting with a simple frame loom, focus will be given to establishing good tapestry technique and learning the process for horizontal and angled forms – beginning with foundational geometrics and building into more naturalistic forms. Fundamentals of cartoon creation and shading will also be covered, and we’ll explore tapestry pieces from Vesterheim’s collection along the way. Enrollment deadline: May 12.
Open up those cupboards and freezers and dig out some pantry staples to whip up cozy snacks for cold winter days! Kristi Bissell of 
Join celebrated Norwegian Arctic cultural presenter and preserver Stina Fagertun to hear folktales from north of the Arctic Circle. Gather the family together to listen to Stina and be brought to the Arctic Circle with some ancient stories and folktales. The stories will delight the children and whoever else in the family loves a good story.
Are you curious about the Sámi language and culture? Are you looking for a quick and low-pressure way to get excited and prepare for an upcoming visit to the north of Finland, Sweden, or Norway? This two-hour introductory workshop taught by Áila O’Loughlin is the perfect way to learn some history of the nine living dialects of Sápmi, get a feel for North Sámi, pick up a bit of grammar and learn how to pronounce some words as part of basic greetings. Families welcome!
Sámi author and journalist Elin Anna Labba will discuss her latest publication 
Spend an evening exploring Scandinavian silver work by creating your silver and gold-washed earrings! Ever wonder why sølje pins have those shiny dangles with silver disc drops? These discs are called “spoons” or “shells” in Norwegian. Historically, silver has long been seen as a protective element against evil and abduction by the hulder folk (hidden folk) in Scandinavian folklore. Legend has it that should you run into the devil wearing your sparkling sølje, he would see his reflection and run away! Don’t run away from a chance to create your earrings in this short class designed to introduce you to the beauty of Scandinavian silver work. Students will assemble up to two pairs of earrings using multiple disc elements suspended from sterling silver French hook ear wires.
Even though I didn’t quite follow through on all my end-of-year reading intentions, I’m happy and satisfied with how the 2024 reading year wrapped up! Unfortunately, I got waylaid with delays from library holds and an attempted read that ended up not working for me. Instead I seized the moment and jumped into a holiday read that crossed my path.
In the “How to Winter” workshop, Kari Leibowitz will share research and practical strategies participants can use to embrace winter wherever they live. Drawing from her psychological research experience, her time living in the Arctic of Norway, and her travels to Nordic countries researching how to embrace winter, Kari will help participants learn how to cultivate a more positive wintertime mindset. Kari will also share interactive exercises for making winter wonderful and highlight how these evidence-based practices can help you find meaning and opportunity in times of darkness or difficulty year-round. Join us to participate in the chat, to expand your mindset, and to embrace the cold, dark days of winter!
This is the first in a series of four live lectures that will be held on Wednesdays in January. Each lecture has a separate registration. The Sámi are the only recognized Indigenous people in Europe whose lands, Sápmi, are claimed and divided by the Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, and Russian nation-states. Despite the central roles they’ve played in the political, economic, and cultural histories of Northern Europe, the Sámi are commonly depicted as ahistorical wildlings whose lands are an unused frontier, ripe for development today. This series illuminates how untrue those depictions are. “Sámi History 101” examines the fundaments of Sámi history and culture, surveying oral histories, subsistence practices, societal organization, symbols of Sámi culture, and historical relations with neighbors. For information on the other sessions, visit 
Before bakers bought yeast at the store, they captured and used natural yeasts at home, and these flavors and techniques are essential to recreating certain Nordic breads. While we can use commercial yeast today, baking with natural yeast, otherwise known as a sourdough starter, still adds nutrition, flavor, and good keeping quality to breads of all kinds. In this hour-long demo, Kristi Bissell of 
Join woodcarver Steph Hughes and learn the art of kolrosing while being inspired by the story of the sloop Restauration, which will be the subject of the kolrosing design. Come learn as a family by kolrosing the ship that brought some of the first Norwegian immigrant families to America. 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. Price includes a special folk art class kit designed for two participants to explore kolrosing. The kit includes all materials needed, some images from the Vesterheim collection as inspiration, and a treat.
In the period beginning in 1825 and for about 100 years following, nearly 40% of the population of Norway – more than 800,000 Norwegians – immigrated to the United States. Most of those immigrants came for “economic opportunity,” but the first immigrants – known as the Sloopers of 1825 – came for religious freedom. The voyage was three years in the planning by an alliance of Quakers and Haugean Lutherans. Beginning on July 4th, 1825, a 54-foot sloop named Restaurasjonen (The Restauration) took 52 passengers on a 98-day journey from Stavanger, Norway to New York City. This presentation follows the story from its roots (in the Napoleonic Wars), through the voyage itself, the reception in New York City, and finally to the first Norwegian settlement in the United States in Kendall, New York.
The Museum hosts genealogy sessions the fourth Saturday of most months via Zoom. In January, Dan Hubbard will present “I” is for Identity Crisis: Part 1 of 2. We think of identity as something fixed and simple, but as we try to reconstruct the identities of long-gone people, we need to realize that identity is a much slipperier concept. The things we use to define a person’s identity can change during that person’s lifetime. There are also questions of how a person self-identifies, the motivations they can have for changing how they self-identify, and how those changes affect the records they leave behind. Part 2 will take place Saturday, 2/22 (
Are you curious about the Finnish language, but not ready yet to commit to a multi-date class? Are you looking for a quick and low-pressure way to get excited and prepare for an upcoming visit to Finland? This two-hour introductory workshop is the perfect way to get a feel for Finnish, pick up a bit of grammar, and learn how to pronounce some words as part of basic conversation.
Norway has a variety of more than 450 different folk costumes, many of which feature highly embellished aprons, purses, beaded breastplates, and other adornment. Join textiles instructor Jane Addams and Vesterheim Chief Curator Laurann Gilbertson as they explore examples of the fine handcraft that makes each style of bunad so striking and special.