Featured entertainment:
ScanFest also announces two special performers for ‘06: Two shows of The Talisman, a play on the life of the world-famous Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen, by an ensemble from Touchstone Theatre, a professional repertoire company. Talisman tells the story of the young HCA as he leaves home, faces the world, and tries to balance his desire for fame and fortune with his hunger to be an artist. Called a "fairy-tale-ization" of Andersen’s life, it’s a show for everyone. Younger children enjoy the silliness of the actors’ play. Older youth and adults appreciate his struggle to transform from youth to adult. “HC” wrote his “wonder stories” for adults and children. This 50-minute play carries on that legacy. Also, Magnus Mårtensson, conductor of the Scandinavian Chamber Orchestra, will entertain with his hilarious one-man show that mixes comedy and classical music in the style of the late Victor Borge.

Fest ‘06 invites all to come "Be a Viking" at this 22nd annual event--billed as a smörgåsbord of family fun--where people of all backgrounds are welcome for a day of eating, dancing, listening, shopping, watching, playing, or just picnicking in the shade with family and friends.

Food is important to any heritage festival and the Fest’s vendors offer the traditional popular (and some not-so-familiar) dishes as well as those delicious Nordic desserts, plus lots more to enjoy with beer and other beverages. Of course, there's familiar American festival fare for the less adventurous.

Visitors can watch artisans’ demos and join hands-on workshops or get an early start on holiday shopping at an extensive Nordic Marketplace with over 40 specialized vendors who offer Nordic handicrafts, traditional folk and contemporary dress, and modern Nordic gifts ranging from knickknacks to lush Icelandic sweaters and elaborate decorative furnishings, artwork, and jewelry.

Because no Scandinavian festival is complete without folkdancers and accordions, Fest ‘06 offers three dance groups: the gymnastic Pillerkaar-Estonian Folk Dancers of Washington, the Swedish Folkdancers of NY, the talented Vasastjärnen juniors club children, and Smörgasbandet’s smörgasborg of accordion music.

Visitors will enjoy several more performing groups, music & dance, talks, reenactments and in total over 30 programs on three stages with entertainment and participation events for adults and children alike. There will be lots of music ranging from Norwegian folksongs and original hardanger-fiddle compositions by Karen Solgard to the Mika Pojhola Finnish modern jazz trio, the Kenote Duo, the Daughters of Scandinavia hardanger fiddlers, and the vocals of Elga Johannes, Sigrid Jaegersen Erickson, & Krista Altok Tassa, as well as the popular youth ballet troupe, the Anne Galle Dance Company.

Specifically for kids, there’s Clarence the clown, storyteller Rebecca Kelly with tales of Scandinavia, the two Talisman performances by Touchstone, an area for kids’ activities with a Nordic theme, and playground.

Demonstrators: Skilled artisans demo the traditional handcrafts of Icelandic wool spindle and wheel spinning featuring live Icelandic sheep, woodcarving techniques, Scandinavian weaving, Danish bobbin lacemaking, Norwegian Rosemaling, and hardanger embroidery throughout the day. PLUS, there are two hands-on cooking demos on preparing selected Nordic foods. Speakers will give a first-hand account of growing up in occupied Norway in WW2 and talks on the how-tos of finding your roots with Swedish & Danish geneology.

Several Nordic organizations, clubs, associations, and travel agencies will have reps and literature to discuss and review. Officials from the consulates and embassies have been invited, and Nordic groups with reps from airlines, fraternal clubs, professional organizations, publications, and associations provide literature, travel info, and more.

Admission is $14 at the gate, $13 for seniors (about 30¢ per performance). Those wearing authentic Nordic regional folkdress and children 12 and under are free. Advanced-sale tickets are available by mail for $13 with a check, return address, & phone/e-mail to: ScanFest ‘06, P.O. Box 304, Canadensis, PA 18325, or via the secure “Tickets” link from the Fest website, www.ScanFest.org.

For updated vendor and program information, the detalied performance schedule when it’s posted, advanced-sale discount tickets, and driving directions, visit the ScanFest website at www.ScanFest.org.

Getting there: ScanFest is an easy day-trip from anywhere in the region on a holiday Sunday when there’s little traffic. It’s easy to find by taking Exit 26 WESTBOUND off I-80 in NJ onto US 46 West toward Hackettstown. Simply follow US 46 WEST from I-80 three miles to the first traffic light past Budd Lake at Wolfe Road. Left onto Wolfe 1/4 mile to Vasa Park on the right.

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