Scandinavia revisited
When the 28th annual Nordicfest convenes this Friday, it will come with many of the favorite events that have made it popular through the years, and it will also feature a new parade route.
“This year, we’re staying off the highways,” said Nordicfest Committee member Pam Peppenger.
“This year, our route will go past St. John’s Hospital, so those folks can see the parade — St. John’s and Libby Care Center. We’re all excited about this year’s Nordicfest.”
This year’s parade also starts an hour later than those of the past. beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lincoln Boulevard.
Peppenger said long forgotten is the talk the 2011 event would be the final festival.
After last year’s Nordicfest, about a third of the organizing committee members elected to move on. And, with the addition of new members, the panel believes it can take the final festival of the year to new heights.
“We really have a good group, and Les (Committee Chairman Nelson) has been great. Fabulous. The whole committee has. We’re excited and we think everyone else should be, too.”
New members on the committee include Peggy Williams, Kandis Peterson, Rosie Dutton and Laura Tindall. All board members are listed in the special section of the Friday through Sunday Nordicfest in today’s The Western News.
While the parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nordicfest really begins at 10 a.m. Friday with the Fjord Horse Show at J. Neils Park and the Information Booth’s opening — inside and outside — at the Memorial Center.
Also Friday, there is the Libby Fine Arts Show at Timberline Auto Center, the Juried Craft Show at the Memorial Center, the Hardanger Show at Frames Unlimited and the, new this year, Bunad Parade, which begins at noon Friday from the BNSF Train Depot.
For those looking to satisfy their appetite on Friday, there are the food booths that open at 11 a.m. and then later there is the Swedish Smorgasbord at the Hidden Chapel at 1207 Utah Ave. Tickets for the dinner are $15.
Further, the Kootenai Karacters will perform an updated version of “Chaos in the Clinic,” at the Little Theatre on three nights — Thursday, Friday, and Saturday — at 7 p.m.
In addition to the band Left Over Biscuits, which will perform from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, there will be two performances by Jamelution on Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. til midnight. Tickets for the LOB concert are $10 and are available at the Libby Chamber of Commerce office, the Venture Inn and at both Memorial Center Information Booths.
On Saturday, the Fjord Horse Show continues, as do the Fine Arts Show at Timberline, the Craft Show, and the big event Saturday is the parade at 11 a.m. followed by the official Opening Ceremony at noon.
At 4:30 to 8 p.m., the Elks Lodge will host a Swedish Meatball Dinner. Tickets for the dinner ar $9 for adults and $6 for children. The Elks are located at 220 W. Fourth St.
And, if you don’t get enough Scandinavian cuisine with at the Elks on Saturday, kick off your Sunday with a Swedish Pancake Breakfast at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets for the breakfast are $6 for adults and $3 for children.
Also Sunday, the Quilt Show will wrap up its three-day stint from noon to 4 p.m. The Quilt Show is at the Asa Wood Community Center.
“We’ve given this a lot of thought,” Peppenger said. “We’ve got something all three days for just about everyone. Come and have a great time.”