108th Leif Erikson Bazaar set for this weekend

This weekend marks the 108th year of the Leif Erikson Bazaar at Leif Erikson Lodge (2245 NW 57th St). Locals are welcome to join in the festivities this Saturday, October 18 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and on Sunday, October 19, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Event goers can have some family fun while enjoying a plethora of Nordic food dishes. Many delicacies will be on offer from tastefully designed sandwiches to delicate krumkake cone and the hearty ertesuppe (peasoup), lapskaus (lamb stew), and rømmegrøt, a silky sour cream porridge. Good and strong Norwegian coffee will be on offer all day.

Gorgeous handicrafts from the Lodge’s Norna ladies will be available for purchase including their fabulous embroidered dish towels. A variety of activities and raffles are set to entertain the whole family including Tombola in the Karnival Kroner and a raffle with a grand prize of a trip on Iceland Air.

Gently loved previously owned items at the Ditt og Datt booth are a bargain hunter’s dream come true and the Book Nook just received six boxes from a cookbook collection with books from around the world. Unique items can also be bid on hourly at the silent auction of Norwegian antiques, crafts, glassware, dishes, collectibles, and more.

Select vendors will be selling items at the event including Desiree of Sweden with items from the Nordic countries including woven rugs, sterling, Yule lights, Christmas misse and tomta; Judy’s Painted Treasures of traditional Norwegian rose painting; Handmade by Hanson with hand knit children’s sweaters and letter art; Sewing by Heart clothes for American Girl dolls; traditional Norwegian sweaters; and Around the Sound t-shirts with a Norwegian theme!

The first bazaar was held way back in 1906 to raise funds to construct the Leif Erickson building, now the historical Norway Hall on Boren Ave, which is home to the Cornish College of the Arts. In 1986, Leif Erikson Hall was opened after being built mostly by volunteer labor.

One of the missions of Sons of Norway, an international nonprofit organization, is to promote and preserve the heritage and culture of Norway. Throughout the year they sponsor Norwegian cooking classes; our Tastes of Norway in March featuring Norwegian food, crafts, lectures, and demonstrations; Norwegian language classes; Nordic heritage day camps for children; performing dance groups for children and adults; Norna a social and craft group for the women of the lodge; and visiting Norwegian entertainers which come often to the Seattle area.

The Sons of Norway also offers scholarships for those interested in attending youth camps sponsored by District 2 Sons of Norway; university students who are counselors and instructors for the youth camps, a leadership scholarship for those attending colleges or universities, and the Doug Warne Vocational Scholarship.

Admission to the event is free and some free parking will be available at local area businesses. Check with the parking attendants on the days of the event.