he Manassas Viking Festival Viking - To leave one’sT homeland for profi t abroad. (Merriam- be on display this year with more period tents and displays. Webster Dictionary) Living historians will demonstrate combat skills, including a shield wall and how people lived 1,000 years ago. The Vikings As we all see every day, our region has become vastly more will host an “Althing,” the fi rst form of a modern-day parliament, diverse. People from around the country and the world now and the general public is invited to participate. The Norwegian call Virginia home thanks to the growth of horse and the Icelandic horses that were such Northern Virginia. Here in Manassas, we a big crowd pleaser least year will be back. celebrate a host of annual events that highlight The lively Crossjacks musical band from our respective ancestral roots. There is a Tennessee was a huge hit and will be back, Greek Festival, (September), Latino Festival, as will the Nordic Dancers of Washington, (also in September, more on this next month), DC, and the Phoenix Irish Dancers. St. Patrick’s Parade (March) and the Viking Festival in May. The Icelandic Roots Genealogy Ancestry Database will be back. For those who have The Manassas Viking Festival is the Icelandic heritage, the group recommends brainchild of Erna Hákonardóttir Pomrenke The Crossjacks signing up for free on “Cousins Across the and Susie Fosaaen. Erna was born and Ocean” via Icelandicroots.com prior to the raised in Iceland but has lived in Manassas for 30 years and Viking Festival to be able to utilize their service. sits on the boards of the Icelandic Association of Washington D.C. and the Icelandic National League of North America. New this year is the “Val-Howl-A Hall,” a Viking breed dog Susie Fosaaen is a board member of The Sons of Norway show. Jo-Ann Secondino of Fox Meadow Icelandic Sheepdogs in Fairfax, and her paternal grandparents emigrated from and one Crazy Cute Chinook is organizing this fun event. Here Norway. The two ladies met at a social gathering between the you will get to meet and two Nordic clubs, and by the end of the day, the Manassas greet the Nordic dogs the Viking Festival was born. They chose Manassas as the place Vikings used, including to host this event and the inaugural event, held May 12, 2018, Icelandic Sheepdog and exceeded everyone’s wildest dreams! the Norwegian Buhund. Both are all-around farm An estimated crowd of more than 4,000 people came to and herding dogs and Manassas on a picture-perfect day last May to learn, explore, family pets often seen and shop for all things Scandinavian. The festival is a family- accompanying their friendly event that teaches about the Norse Vikings in an horse-riding owners. entertaining and educational way. People who went off raiding Also featured will be in ships were said to be “going Viking,” but the Vikings were so the Swedish Valhund, much more. They were skilled seafaring explorers, craftsman, a rugged cattle dog, poets, and writers. Their ships were the fastest of their time. the Norbottenspets, Iris, purebred Iclandic Sheep Dog small hunting dogs from The coup de grace of last year’s event was the arrival of the Sweden and Finland, and the Norwegian Elkhound, used for Viking Ship replica “The Norseman,” and we are happy to hunting and herding. The Lundehund or Puffi n dog is a small announce it will be back. The ship is owned by Leif Ericson Viking breed and is used, as the name indicates, to assist with hunting Ship, Inc. of Philadelphia, and The Norseman travels around for puffi ns, a small bird that is part of Iceland’s national diet. the country to events such as Scanfest in NJ, Scandinavian Festival of Yorktown, NY, and the This year’s event on Saturday, May 11, in Historic Downtown Ashville Viking Festival in Ohio promises to be even bigger and better. There will be lots of to allow people to activity from the Harris Pavilion to the Manassas Museum imagine what it Lawn and everywhere in between. The Viking Festival is very was like sailing choosy about its vendors, who must produce or bring authentic the diffi cult seas Viking-era or Scandinavian-themed items, which makes this with the sleekest event so unique and fresh. Vendors come from up technology of and down the Atlantic seaboard and as far away its time. The as New Mexico and Colorado. As the Manassas Norseman Viking Viking Festival will take place the day before Ship will be loaded Mother’s Day, it would only be appropriate to on a trailer and host a “Wife Carrying Race.” The lucky winners once again travel will win a nice bouquet of fl owers. down I-95 from Philadelphia to Please come out to Manassas and celebrate Manassas for your real (or imaginary) Viking heritage and the event. enhance the mood by dressing as a Viking. A larger Viking SKOL! The Norseman. Owned by Leif Ericson reenactment presence will Viking Ship Inc. Doug Horhota.