Vikings Invade Ballard August 18 & 19

The Nordic Heritage Museum presents the 29th annual Viking Days on Saturday, August 18, and Sunday, August 19. This free event features all the Nordic entertainment, food, crafts, and Vikings you can handle!

Both days will start with a Swedish Pancake Breakfast from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and, throughout the festival, delicacies from each of the five Nordic countries will be available for purchase, including Swedish meatballs, Norwegian lefse, Danish aebleskiver, and a variety of Finnish and Icelandic fare.

In addition, the popular outdoor Valhalla Beer Garden will offer grilled sausages and craft beer from Odin Brewing Company. On Saturday night, the Valhalla Beer Garden will stay open late for a beer tasting and cook out, and inside the Museum a salmon dinner will be served accompanied by live music.

In fact, music will be a highlight of the entire event, with dozens of groups, ranging from traditional folk to rock, playing on multiple stages in the museum and on the festival grounds.

Perhaps the most unique element of the weekend is the Viking Encampment, which will be set up all weekend. Event goers will be able to see what a day in the life of a Viking was really like — and a battle or two may even erupt!

Don’t miss craft demonstrations by local artisans including weaving, knitting, and wood carving. There will also be a wide range of Nordic, local, and hand crafted items for sale by area merchants.

Viking Days is perfect for the entire family: kids will have their very own low-cost craft projects and the Nordic Spirit ship will be set up for close inspection and photos.

Admission to both Viking Days and the Museum is free for all ages — this is a great chance to see what goes on inside the Museum as well as on the festival grounds outside.

Visit www.nordicmuseum.org for more information as the event draws near.

The Museum is located at 3014 NW 67th Street , Seattle , WA 98117 .

About the Nordic Heritage Museum

With over 55,000 visitors annually, the Nordic Heritage Museum is a cultural treasure in the Pacific Northwest . It is the only museum in the United States that represents the cultural heritage of all five Nordic countries: Denmark , Finland , Iceland , Norway and Sweden . The Museum’s mission is to share Nordic culture with people of all ages and backgrounds by exhibiting art and objects, preserving collections, providing educational and cultural experiences and serving as a community gathering place. The Nordic Heritage Museum presents a wide range of vibrant programs including contemporary art exhibitions, outstanding concerts, lectures and films and a variety of special events throughout the year.