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?
This was an eye-opening and engaging look at a part of the world and history I am not very familiar with. It’s a multigenerational story of an Arab family in the Middle East. Opening in 1963 in Nablus, a city in the northern West Bank, 15 years after the family had to flee Jaffa along the coast, matriarch Salma is reading the coffee grinds of her daughter Alia on the eve of her wedding and foresees an unsettled life. After that, the story moves forward in chucks and readers get a glimpse of life from alternating perspectives of various family members as they move around the Middle East and beyond. Readers witness the Six-Day War (1967), Invasion of Kuwait (1990), and Lebanon War (2006) through their eyes. Despite being displaced around the world, this family of bold personalities and oftentimes strained relationships stays connected and strong. This family will stay with me for a long time.
This is the fictional story of Audrey Coltrane, a female pilot from Texas during World War II. She tells her story (in the first person) beginning with being a military flight instructor in Hawaii (at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor) and then joining the WASP program, or Women Airforce Service Pilots, to test and ferry planes during the war. It’s an inspiring story of female friendship and strength that once again gave me a glimpse of a piece of history I had little familiarity with. I was a bit surprised by the love interest that ran through the story and couldn’t quite decide if I liked it or not, but in the end I enjoyed the story.
This is the second book in a planned Norwegian trilogy, the first of which, 
For me, September was a busy month of virtual events. I particularly enjoyed the launch event for Norwegian author Agnes Ravatn’s new psychological thriller The Seven Doors which translator Rosie Hedger also joined. I found the Dual Citizenship Webinar hosted by Norwegian Honorary Consulate General, Minneapolis, MN, very informative and helpful. Of particular interest to me were the discussions on reinstating Norwegian citizenship (for me) and retention of Norwegian citizenship (for my kids). If either of these topics are of interest to you and you missed the webinar, you can view 
Winner of the Creative Storytelling Prize at Sundance, Norwegian documentary filmmaker Benjamin Ree’s “expertly plotted, genre-blending documentary explores the personal repercussions of an extraordinary art heist… The sheer audacity of the theft of artist Barbora Kysilkova’s enormous paintings from the windows of an Oslo gallery immediately piqued documentarian Benjamin Ree’s interest. Neither he, Kysilkova nor the perpetrators could have predicted what happened next.” Available starting October 8 on BFI Player. Visit 
Scandinavia House in New York, NY, is hosting a virtual cinema presentation of Out Stealing Horses, a film based on the award-winning novel by Norwegian author Per Petterson. Immediately following the film there will be a pre-recorded discussion between Stellan Skarsgård and filmmaker Hans Petter Moland. Half of proceeds will go to support 
Scandinavia House in New York, NY, is also hosting a virtual cinema presentation of the hit Icelandic film A White, White Day with Film Movement. A White, White Day is an emotionally complex exploration of the ravages of loss set across the hypnotic landscape of Iceland. Half of proceeds will go to support 
Scandinavian Fest brings Nordic shops and businesses from around the globe together in one online location during the absence of in-person festivals. Friday, October 2, – Sunday, October 4, join Virtual Fall Folk Festival to discover unique Nordic products, take advantage of discounts, and win give-aways! For more information, visit 
The Leif Eriksson International Festival was formed in 1987 to establish an annual festival to celebrate Nordic cultural roots in the United States. Over the years, the events have brought top-ranked Nordic talent to Minneapolis. This year’s event will be virtual and feature a variety of programming including both live-streaming and pre-recorded musical performances, online worship services, and daily “destinations of the day”. 
Ever wonder how that extraordinary crisp bread is made? Join Scandinavian School in San Francisco and native Dane Leda Jessen for a traditional baking event and get the chance to learn the secrets to how the bread gets its crisp. You will be sent a list of ingredients needed prior to the event, and together with Leda you will bake the day away. For more information and to register, visit 
This October, 
A kransekake is the commanding centerpiece dessert at Norwegian weddings, graduations, baptisms, and other major life events. Made with ground almonds and consisting of tiers of wreath-shaped layers, the cake has a rich taste and texture that is uniquely its own. Learn to make this impressive cake with Brenda Lewis. Brenda will walk you through the steps of making a kransekake in this hands-on class and give you the confidence to bake one on your own. On Saturday, October 10, Brenda is teaching two sessions of the same class. For more information, visit 
Join National Nordic Museum in Seattle, WA, for an intimate series of virtual book talks where you get to “meet the author”! Each talk is moderated by Dr. Elizabeth DeNoma and will include an opportunity to ask questions to the authors. For the first talk meet Jan Stocklassa who will discuss his book The Man Who Played with Fire, translated by Tara F. Chace. For details about the book and registration information, visit the 
Dr. Maren Johnson, Luther College’s Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies Director, facilitates a monthly bokprat, discussing Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. Join in October to discuss The Redbreast, the third book in the Harry Hole detective series by Jo Nesbø. For more information and to register, visit 
“ABBA Salute is quite literally the most accurate tribute band on the planet. With painstaking attention to detail, they’ve recreated an ABBA experience that comes to life in a Las Vegas style show. Join the Swedish American Museum in Chicago and Vasa Park for a special online concert that is free but we do appreciate donations to help us through this time.” For more information and to get the link for the event, 
Lars Mytting’s Svøm med dem som drukner was my Norwegian read this year in anticipation of my yearly trip to Norway. I had not heard of the book, nor the author, until I received it from my parents for my birthday. It came highly recommended from friends of theirs, and it had received the Norwegian Booksellers’ Prize for 2014. I started reading it without any ideas of what it was about.
