The Nordic American

Twin Cities & Minnesota — Issue #1

Welcome to the first issue of The Nordic American — your monthly guide to Nordic events, organizations, and stories across Minnesota.

Editor's Note

Late summer is kräftskiva season in Minnesota — the Swedish crayfish party that turns the waning days of summer into a feast of red shells, snapsvisor, and memories of midnight sun. The tradition came over with Swedish immigrants and is still going strong at Nordic clubs across the state. This issue: a Sámi author's debut novel, Finland's biggest North American festival, and a Norwegian porridge tradition that only comes once a year.

Featured Story

Kräftskiva: The Swedish Crayfish Party That Refuses to Fade

How did a 19th-century excuse to drink schnapps become one of Sweden's most beloved traditions — and why is it thriving in America today? From paper hats to drinking songs, here's the story behind the party that refuses to fade.

→ Read the full story at https://thenordicamerican.com/articles/kraftskiva-swedish-crayfish-party (publishes September 6 — subscribers get it first)

Upcoming Events

Sep 3 — Sweden's Election: Who's Running and Why? American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis · Thu 6:30–8pm, $25 ($20 members) A lecture by Alexander Fooy on Sweden's eight parliamentary parties and the two blocs shaping its politics. → https://asimn.org/events-calendar/swedens-election-is-upon-us-whos-running-and-why-with-alexander-fooy/

Sep 12 — Nordic Music Festival Lions Park, Victoria, MN · Sat 10am–5pm, FREE Music, dance, food, and crafts from all five Nordic countries. Scandinavian dancers, bands, choirs, and a Nordic café with baked treats. Hosted by Nordic Heritage Club of Carver County and Sons of Norway. → https://nordicmusicfest.org/

Sep 17–20 — FinnFest USA 2026 Minneapolis, MN · Four-day Finnish and Nordic culture festival Music, art, design, language, food, lectures, and workshops. The free Tori (marketplace) is open to all — no festival ticket needed. Everyone is welcome, not just Finns. → https://finnfest.us/

Sep 17 — Elin Anna Labba: The Home of the Drowned American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis · Thu 7–8pm, pay-what-you-can ($1–$20) Sámi author Elin Anna Labba in conversation with Dr. Áila O'Laughlin about her debut novel on Sámi women fighting colonial dispossession. Books available for purchase. Mansion, FIKA Café, and Museum Store open until 8pm. → https://asimn.org/events-calendar/elin-anna-labba-book-talk-the-home-of-the-drowned/

Sep 21 — Everything Icelandic: Indigenous Peoples of the Interlake Online (Icelandic National League of North America) · Mon 7–9pm, FREE A conversation with Professor Niigaan Sinclair on the Indigenous peoples of the Interlake region and the Nýja Íslanders (New Icelanders). → https://inlofna.org/events/everything-icelandic-a-conversation-with-professor-niigaan-sinclair-on-the-indigenous-peoples-of-the-interlake-amp-the-nja-slanders

Sep 25 — Cocktails at the Castle: Speakeasy American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis · Fri 6–11pm, $40 ($35 members), 21+ ASI's signature festival of music, art, and craft. Jazz bands, make-and-take crafts, contests with prizes. Food and drink available for purchase. → https://asimn.org/events-calendar/cocktails-at-the-castle-speakeasy/

Sep 26 — Rømmegrøt Luncheon Mindekirken, Minneapolis · Sat 12–2pm, $19 (kids 10 & under free) Traditional Norwegian sour cream porridge with open-faced sandwiches, cookies, and coffee. The only chance to get rømmegrøt at Mindekirken this year — to-go pints available for $10. → https://www.mindekirken.org/event-details/rommegrot-luncheon-1-1

Sep 27 — Nordic Book Circle American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis · Sun 2pm, $15 ($10 members) Monthly literature discussion group. This year's focus: works by women authors from across the Nordic world, spanning 1912 to 2020, including two Nobel Prize winners. → https://asimn.org/events-calendar/nordic-book-circle-11/

Save the Date

Oct 2 — Midwest Viking Festival Green Bay, Wisconsin A celebration of Viking-age culture, crafts, and combat.

Nov 20 — Julefest: A Nordic Holiday Celebration Seattle, Washington Nordic holiday market at the National Nordic Museum.

Nov 27 — Solvang Julefest Solvang, California Month-long Danish Christmas celebration in America's "Little Denmark."

→ Browse all events at https://thenordicamerican.com/events

New in the Directory

A few Minnesota Nordic organizations you might not know about:

• Gammelgården Museum of Scandia — Historic Swedish immigrant museum in Scandia, MN, preserving the story of Minnesota's first Swedish settlement. → https://gammelgardenmuseum.org
• Icelandic American Association of Minnesota (IAAMN) — Icelandic heritage and cultural programming in the Twin Cities. → https://inlofna.org
• FinnSource — Minneapolis-based organization connecting Finnish Americans across Minnesota. → https://www.finnsource.org
• Sisu Heritage, Inc. — Finnish heritage preservation in Embarrass, MN, in the heart of the Iron Range Finnish community. → https://www.embarrass.org/sisu-heritage.html

→ Browse the full directory at https://thenordicamerican.com/directory

Community Spotlight

American Swedish Institute (ASI) — Minneapolis

The ASI is the cultural anchor of Swedish Minnesota. Housed in the 1908 Turnblad Mansion, it hosts exhibitions, language classes, folk music nights, and the kräftskiva that kicks off every fall season. This September alone, ASI is hosting a Swedish election lecture, a Sámi author book talk, a speakeasy-themed night of jazz and crafts, and a monthly Nordic book circle. If you're new to Nordic Minnesota, this is where you start.

→ https://asimn.org

Across the Americas

• California: Solvang Danish Days (Sep 18–20) — California's #1 Danish festival celebrates its 89th year with parades, æbleskiver, and a Viking Beer Garden. → https://www.solvangdanishdays.org
• California: Vista Viking Festival (Sep 19–20) — Southern California's premier Viking festival with live encampments, battle reenactments, and axe throwing. → https://vistavikingfestival.com
• Washington: Nordic Innovation Series at the National Nordic Museum (Sep 24, Seattle) — a conversation on the hidden value of care. → https://nordicmuseum.org/events/nordic-innovation-series-a-conversation-on-the-hidden-value-of-care

→ More Nordic-American events at https://thenordicamerican.com/events

See you next month!

Cheers, Patrick

Reply to this email with any thoughts — I read every one.

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