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Free event at Newport City Park Sept. 14
NEWPORT – Let’s Vike It is coming to Newport City Park Saturday, Sept. 14.
Organizers asked what could be more fun than spending a day learning about the Viking Age in a family friendly and free atmosphere?
Aasveig, a local non-profit group of experimental historians have gathered to create a day of historical Scandinavian fun right here in our own backyard.
Aasveig means ‘a sacred place’ in Old Norse.
“We wanted to do something fun for our community, with an educational slant that was entertaining, engaging, motivating and most of all, free! What is exciting about this is, we are creating history with this event because there are NO Viking Age events locally,” Faire founder and coordinator Hrafn Songr said.
Let’s Vike It has historical vendors offering items for sale. During the event people will be able to watch fighters demonstrate combat, walk through a Norse museum complete with artifacts dating back to the 8th century, walk through a Viking Village, learn to make copper jewelry the Old Norse way, meet an authentic blacksmith and try their hand at tossing a coin to win a Norse cup, among other activities.
Songr wanted this to be something everyone would remember and kick off the beginning of the school year with a fun day of learning and playing all rolled up into one event.
“We (Aasveig) get together as a group and do crafting, archery, axe throwing, and dress up in our historical garb like the people of the Viking Age, but we wanted to share our fun with everyone,” he said.
Aasveig will be teaching kids how to make mini shields that they can take with them. There is a medieval/Norse beekeeper who will be talking about the importance of bees in the Viking Age. The Pend Oreille Weed Corp. has been gathering information on medieval weeds and will be doing classes and crafting for everyone during the day as well and there will be an area set up just for Viking Age games for everyone to try, even safe axe throwing.
Let’s Vike It is for everyone to enjoy.
“A Faire like this gives people the opportunity to have fun, learn things, participate in a community rich experience, and do it all in a wholesome, safe environment, geared for families,” Songr said.
There is a schedule of events starting at 10:30 a.m. after a traditional Norse welcoming, with different Norse/Viking activities happening throughout the day.
“We have a couple of surprises also, but you have to come and see for yourself just what those are!” Songr said.
For more information please Hrafn Songr at [email protected]
