Nordicfest returns to Libby

Each September of the last 32 years, Libby has been the host to Nordicfest, an annual festival that celebrates Nordic pride.

The festival, now entering into its 32nd year, offers authentic Norwegian and Swedish cuisine, local crafts, live entertainment and parade.

Nordicfest was originally started to celebrate the culture and heritage of the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, but the Nordicfest board has expanded the festival to include all local heritages (see story on page 7).

“It’s the last big event of the summer,” Nordicfest Board Chair Pam Peppenger said. “It’s always such a busy summer and it’s kind of the closure of the summer season.”

Peppenger is in charge of food booths, parades, public relations, souvenirs and archives.

Peppenger estimated that Nordicfest is one of the largest events in town, second only to the Ignite the Nites Car Show with over 1,000 people expected to attend, Peppenger said.

The festival was founded in 1985 by June McMahon and a group of friends who shared her interest in celebrating Nordic heritage. When one of McMahon’s friends came back from a scandinavian festival in North Dakota, they were inspired to set one up in Libby.

While the Nordicfest has downsized in recent years, Eanes said the Nordicfest Board is working hard to keep it alive. According to Eanes, six years ago Nordicfest was on the brink of coming to an end.

“The news went out that Nordicfest may not be anymore, so the board rallied together and got it going again,” Eanes said. “It was kind of touch-and-go for a few years but now it’s great.”

Nordicfest kicks off on Friday with the Bunad parade at noon. The procession walks up Mineral Avenue to the Memorial Center to pledge allegiance to the flag and then the entertainment starts at 1 p.m.

While the parade is going on, the quilt show at Asa Wood starts off at the Asa Wood Center. The Juried craft show, food booths and information booths are open all day at the Memorial Center. The Hardanger Show at Frames Unlimited is also open all day.

The highlight of Friday’s events last year was the Runnerfell race for children at the elementary school, which garnered 138 children, all in 10 different age groups from three-year-olds to 12-year-olds.

The Nordicfest parade on Saturday is the biggest event of the festival, drawing many observers. Last year, the parade included fire engines, classic cars, horses, floats and the Whitefish Winter Carnival float. The school band follows along with the high school cheerleaders, with the king and queen on a float with the two Nordicfest princesses walking alongside.

“The parade is usually packed,” Eanes said. “The streets are crowded.”

“It’s a wonderful parade,” Peppenger said. “My favorite part of the parade is the happiness on the little kids’ faces as the parade goes by.”

After the parade, the board hands out prizes for the best float and patrons gather to sing the national anthems for U.S and Norway.

Friday and Saturday both wrap up at the Maki Theater, where the Kootenai Karacters Melodrama are putting on the play, “Cornfield of Dreams.”

Eanes and Peppenger said they’re also very excited to see the Sons of Beaches, a comedic-folk band who will be performing at the VFW on Saturday at 8 p.m.