University to Hold Scandinavian Festival

California Lutheran University will be offering a cultural smorgasbord of sorts as it kicks off its 25th annual Scandinavian festival with a number of exhibitions, contests, performances and food.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday and continuing Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., the college will play host to an anticipated crowd of more than 6,000 people, mostly Scandinavians, from across the state.

In addition to plates full of Swedish meatballs and salted herring, participants will be able to attend performances of traditional Nordic and Baltic dances, tour a replica of an old Swedish royal court, get acquainted with some fearsome Vikings and learn about the hardscrabble lives of Laplanders who carved out an existence among the reindeer in the frozen wastes north of the Arctic Circle.

Event organizers will also be giving away a free trip for two to Scandinavia.

There will also be a play that commemorates the life of Hans Christian Andersen and a special smorgasbord served both days.

Admission to the event is $5 for adults and $1 for children under 10 years. A special two-day pass can be purchased for $7.

For information about the festival, call Cal Lutheran at 493-3151.