Scandinavian Festival at the New Orleans Norwegian Seamen"s Church
The Scandinavian Festival at the New Orleans Norwegian Seaman's Church evolved into a full-fledged festival from it's beginnings as a Christmas sale of home-made and imported items by the ladies auxiliary of the church. In recent years, the event, also known as Scan Fest, includes Norway's neighbors such as Sweden and Denmark. The festivities now spill out of church itself.
UNIQUE SHOPPING The Women's Auxiliary of the church started the November tradition with their annual Christmas sale of unique Norwegian and hand-made items.
That unique Christmas Sale remains a main attraction of this Scandinavian Festival.
There are a wide variety of unique Christmas decorations, toys,crafts, art, pewter, silver, jewelry, knitted sweaters (Back in the day, the ladies themselves knitted the sweaters on sale.)and other clothing and more on sale, with many items imported from Norway and other Scandinavian countries. There's also sure to be a selection of strange and wonderful Norwegian Trolls. .
FOOD The annual boutique soon also became a food destination for some, thanks to the culinary specialties of the ladies. I know I've always planned my visits there for lunchtime and try to eat outside in the courtyard.
There are always a variety of traditional Norwegian open-face sandwiches among other Scandinavian selections. The famed Norwegian smoked salmon will be in the mix.
Also expect about a dozen different cakes including both local favorites and traditional Scandinavian selections like Norwegian Layer Cream Cake and Stacked Ground Almond Ring Cake.
You can buy by the slice or bring a whole cake home.
Other fantastic sweets will include krumkakes, a rolled wafer cookies that somes with or without whipped cream filling, and a various Christmas cookies. Don't miss a visit to the waffle booth for Norway's traditional heart-shaped waffles. They are smaller, softer, and sweeter than American waffles and are usually served for dessert or a treat, not breakfast.
MUSIC
The event has always been charming, with the volunteers dressed in the traditional Norwegian outfits. Since becoming a full-fledged festival, it's also jazzy. Music is another features of the Scan Fest.
You may be surprised to learn that jazz has long played a big role at the Norwegian Church in New Orleans. In fact, the church is nicknamed "The Little Jazz Church". Local jazz musicians often perform at the services and special events held at the church. Norwegian jazz musicians also play at the church and can then go back to Europe having played jazz in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz.
Scheduled musicians at the 2011 Scan Fest include Lars Edegran, Sharon Navonne, and the Storyville String Band with Seva Venet, as well as several choirs direct from Norway and the Scandinavian Church All Star Band.
Kid Activities
fairy tales, games, face painting, and ornament crafts.
2011 Scan Fest Schedule:
The 2011 New Orleans Scandinavian Festival will be held on Nov. 4-6. Although the Scan Fest is sometimes advertised as continuing Friday through Sunday, in fact Sunday's events are different. Sunday's main event is a jazz church service, followed by a Norwegian dinner. Note that the open-face sandwiches will not be available on Sunday.
Friday
10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Opening music by the Norwegian choir Lostrupane
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Storyville String Band led by Seva Venet
Saturday
11:00 am - 4:00 pm: Fun for kids, including Scandinavian folk tales, face painting,treasure hunt
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Music by the choir from Skogn Folk
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm: Jazz Concert Lars Edegran and gospel singer Sharon Navonne with The Norwegian Seamen's Church All Star Band
Sunday
11:00 am - 2:00 pm: Jazz Worship by pastor Erland Groetberg. Music by Leroy Jones and band, followed by Scandinavian lunch and cake. No open faced sandwiches will be for sale on Sunday. Not a full festival day.
The Church
The New Orleans Norwegian Seaman's Church, now at 1772 Prytania St., uptown New Orleans, has been in the city for over 100 year started with the mission of serving the many Norwegian seamen - hence the name - on vessels since the sailing shops. Norwegian Seaman Churches can be found across the United States and in over 30 countries in the world.
Nowadays, more non-seamen are involved in the New Orleans Church and it serves students, Au-pairs, embassy workers, business people, residents, and travelers who are from Norway or other Scandinavian countries. And the local church's mission now includes exposing and educating New Orleanians about Norway and other Scandinavian countries and their cultures. For more information, visit on-line or call 504.525.3602
UNIQUE SHOPPING The Women's Auxiliary of the church started the November tradition with their annual Christmas sale of unique Norwegian and hand-made items.
That unique Christmas Sale remains a main attraction of this Scandinavian Festival.
There are a wide variety of unique Christmas decorations, toys,crafts, art, pewter, silver, jewelry, knitted sweaters (Back in the day, the ladies themselves knitted the sweaters on sale.)and other clothing and more on sale, with many items imported from Norway and other Scandinavian countries. There's also sure to be a selection of strange and wonderful Norwegian Trolls. .
FOOD The annual boutique soon also became a food destination for some, thanks to the culinary specialties of the ladies. I know I've always planned my visits there for lunchtime and try to eat outside in the courtyard.
There are always a variety of traditional Norwegian open-face sandwiches among other Scandinavian selections. The famed Norwegian smoked salmon will be in the mix.
Also expect about a dozen different cakes including both local favorites and traditional Scandinavian selections like Norwegian Layer Cream Cake and Stacked Ground Almond Ring Cake.
You can buy by the slice or bring a whole cake home.
Other fantastic sweets will include krumkakes, a rolled wafer cookies that somes with or without whipped cream filling, and a various Christmas cookies. Don't miss a visit to the waffle booth for Norway's traditional heart-shaped waffles. They are smaller, softer, and sweeter than American waffles and are usually served for dessert or a treat, not breakfast.
MUSIC
The event has always been charming, with the volunteers dressed in the traditional Norwegian outfits. Since becoming a full-fledged festival, it's also jazzy. Music is another features of the Scan Fest.
You may be surprised to learn that jazz has long played a big role at the Norwegian Church in New Orleans. In fact, the church is nicknamed "The Little Jazz Church". Local jazz musicians often perform at the services and special events held at the church. Norwegian jazz musicians also play at the church and can then go back to Europe having played jazz in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz.
Scheduled musicians at the 2011 Scan Fest include Lars Edegran, Sharon Navonne, and the Storyville String Band with Seva Venet, as well as several choirs direct from Norway and the Scandinavian Church All Star Band.
Kid Activities
fairy tales, games, face painting, and ornament crafts.
2011 Scan Fest Schedule:
The 2011 New Orleans Scandinavian Festival will be held on Nov. 4-6. Although the Scan Fest is sometimes advertised as continuing Friday through Sunday, in fact Sunday's events are different. Sunday's main event is a jazz church service, followed by a Norwegian dinner. Note that the open-face sandwiches will not be available on Sunday.
Friday
10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Opening music by the Norwegian choir Lostrupane
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Storyville String Band led by Seva Venet
Saturday
11:00 am - 4:00 pm: Fun for kids, including Scandinavian folk tales, face painting,treasure hunt
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Music by the choir from Skogn Folk
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm: Jazz Concert Lars Edegran and gospel singer Sharon Navonne with The Norwegian Seamen's Church All Star Band
Sunday
11:00 am - 2:00 pm: Jazz Worship by pastor Erland Groetberg. Music by Leroy Jones and band, followed by Scandinavian lunch and cake. No open faced sandwiches will be for sale on Sunday. Not a full festival day.
The Church
The New Orleans Norwegian Seaman's Church, now at 1772 Prytania St., uptown New Orleans, has been in the city for over 100 year started with the mission of serving the many Norwegian seamen - hence the name - on vessels since the sailing shops. Norwegian Seaman Churches can be found across the United States and in over 30 countries in the world.
Nowadays, more non-seamen are involved in the New Orleans Church and it serves students, Au-pairs, embassy workers, business people, residents, and travelers who are from Norway or other Scandinavian countries. And the local church's mission now includes exposing and educating New Orleanians about Norway and other Scandinavian countries and their cultures. For more information, visit on-line or call 504.525.3602
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