By TR Robertson Photos by Brian Robertson
The 24th annual Vista Viking Festival returned for another weekend in September bigger and better than ever, once again held at Vista’s Antique Gar & Steam Engine Museum. This year’s theme was the Year of Loki. Loki is the trickster, clever, unpredictable and always stirring the pot. It is said his stories combine chaos and creativity, some of which were shown at this year’s festival. Proceeds from the Vista Viking Festival support the Norway Hall Foundation along with numerous local schools, youth programs, and charitable organizations. The Norwegian Fish Club Odin also supports the Vista Viking Festival Walk MS Team.
The Festival opened on the Bragi Stage with True Thomas the Storyteller welcoming everyone and introducing the Damekor Choir who sang the National Anthem. Damekor, a women’s ensemble, sang Scandinavian choral music after the opening. Following the National Anthem, a large group of people, all dressed in Viking wear, paraded leading the people who had paid for entrance into the Viking Festival and had arrived early, leading them into the entrance of the festival. In front of the group Loki walked chased by a large representation of Jormungandr, the dragon that hunted Thor as Viking drummers provided a drumbeat. With this the 24th Annual Vista Viking Festival was officially open.
The Festival features a number of areas to wander, shop, watch authentic recreations of a Viking Village, watch a showing of strength, see demonstrations of combat, an area to try bow and arrow shooting or ax or spear throwing, listen to bands or folk music, and perhaps the most popular thing to do, eat a variety of Norse/Scandinavian food as well as purchase Ale or Meads. There is a myriad of things to do at the Festival.
At the Viking Encampments a number of Guilds set up authentic representations of how life might have been in a Viking village. These Guilds were the Celtic Norse, The Red Hand, Drafn, The Vesterfolk, The Wolves of Odin, House Vineland, Stormborn-Resiende, and The Wolf & The Serpent. Close to this area was the Culture Tent where Norwegian arts were on full display and people could purchase many of the items being made. Here Viking weaving and Spinning Norwegian Knitting, Rosemaling, Folk Woodcarving, and Viking & Scandinavian books by Olaf Engvig were seen. Odin’s Forge from the Norway Hall Foundation demonstrated how metal items were made. You could also explore your Scandinavian Genealogy in the Culture Tent.
At Ymir’s Sports Field The International Highland Games Federation Stone Lifting Competition was being held. Men and women were competing for entry into the 2027 World Games in Norway. For the stone putting event the stones weighed from 16 to 26 lbs. for men and 8 to 16 lbs. for women. The lifting and carrying stones are much heavier and can weigh as much as 300 lbs. depending on the event. Later in the day Odin’s Chosen one-of-a-kind strength competitions were held for men and women who had signed up to compete. Other competitions people could sign up for included Viking Log Toss, Viking Battle Cry and Beard contests. Adults could also go to the Vapnhus Weapons Range and do spear throwing, archery and axe throwing.
After Damekor Choral sang at the Bragi Stage and the band Beautiful Dudes performed at the Loki Stage, Stepwise Celtic folk group performed at Bragi Stage and Occupier took the stage at Loki. At noon the popular Highland Way Celtic band went on at the Bragi Stage before a packed house and the punk rock bluegrass band Water Tower performed on the Loki Stage. Entertainment went into the early evening. At both stages, between groups and bands the MCs would tell the audience about Viking Norse mythology. Performing later would be Ploughboys, Silk Button Butchers, Nordic Daughter and Blindfold Monks.
At Ullr’s Lyst Field demonstrations of Armored Combat were held as well as many other competitions. Viking combat fight demonstrations also went on at various other locations around the Festival. Lots of people like to shop at the many vendor’s tents. For Viking Goods & Drinking Horns and Weapons – Ghettocrafts44, Govann’s Forge, Northmen Traders, Valkyrie Mailleworks, Viking Festival Merchandise Booth. For Leather Goods & Woodworking – Nordmark Designs, RDurant Workshop, Lykos Leather, Swifthammer Leather LLC, Tressheihk and Fabuloous Foxie Fabrications. For Art and Decorations – Almost All Things Celtic, LL Nelson, Will-O-Wicks Candles, Dana Edwards Art, Hero Waves and Supplies, Norse-Gael Books, Plot Twist San Diego, Twister Heart Rune Works and Avery Battle Scars. For Scandinavian Goods/Culture – Daughters of Norway, Norrdesign, Spellbound, San Diego Scottish Highland Games, House of Scotland Balboa Park, Clan of the Highlands. For Garb & Headdresses – Braided Bellas, Clotho Cloaks and Thyme Traveller. For Jewelry – Two Butterflies, Unicornicopia, Bohemian Dreamin and Lupie Rock Carver. For Personal & Grooming Items – Wildschweien Grooming, Surley Herbalist, Anastasia’s Accents, Gear Oils, Shorebreak Honey, Swedish Falls and Salty Provisions. Most of these businesses have web sites. Go to Google and type the name of the business to see if they have web sites and to see what items they sell.
Most people attending the Viking Festival will get something to eat and drink while there. For food offered was Frigg’n God Flatbread & Lefse selling Scandinavian flatbread pizzas, The Viking Grill with a festival favorite “Berserker Dogs” ¼ grilled sausage with beer cheese and onions, The Viking Kitchen by Redtail Catering selling Swedish meatballs and other items, Viking Vittle Meat Pies and Elixir Drinks and Ice Cream.
For alcoholic beverages, most were selling mead drinks. At this year’s Festival was Twisted Horn Mead & Cider, Viking Spirits, Meadiocrity, Raging Cider & Mead Co., Golden Coast Mead, Prey Brewery, Barley & Sword Brewing Company, Chubby Cheeks Meadery, Hidden Hive, Battle Mage Brewing Company, The Lost Abbey, Blue Honey Wines & Mead, Saber Springs Wine & Meadery, and Norse Legend Mead.
Just outside of the entrance of the Viking Festival the Youth Pavilion provided a number of activities for kids under the age of 18. There was Kids Axe Throwing and Archery, Sword-Axe-Shield decorating, and a number of Art activities in the Craft House. There were also a bounce house and storytelling.
The Vista Viking Festival is one of the most popular events taking place in Vista and one lots of people look forward to it. Hundreds of people dress in Viking costumes, even if some of what they wear stretches the definition of Viking dress. It is still a fun, enjoyable, tasty way to spend the day. Go to www.vistavikingfestival.com for more information.
