RUN LIKE A VIKING 5K kicks off Viking Days on Saturday, August 16, 2014 in Seattle

Inaugural Run Like a Viking 5K to kick off Viking Days 2014

Brand new this year, the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle, Washington will host the Run Like a Viking 5K at Golden Gardens Park. The run kicks off the 31st Viking Days, the Nordic Heritage Museum’s annual summer festival.

Registration is now open for the Run Like a Viking 5K. Viking-inspired costumes are encouraged for runners. On-leash dogs are welcome to run with their owners, and are encouraged to wear costumes as well. Gun time for the race is 9:00 am on Saturday, August 16. The run will be chip timed and the field is limited to 500 participants.

Registration is $40.00 per runner and can be completed online at viking5k.eventbrite.com. Packet Pick-Up is Friday, August 15, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A performance t-shirt, goodie bag, and Inaugural Run Like a Viking 5K Finisher’s Medal are included with registration. In addition to marked completion times, prizes will be awarded for best costume and best dog costume. After the run, all 5K participants are encouraged to attend Viking Days at the Nordic Heritage Museum.

Viking Days is a mark of summer in Ballard, and this year is no exception. The festival is at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard will feature Nordic entertainment, food, activities, and lots of Vikings. Entrance to Viking Days is free, and there is free admission to the Museum during the festival.

Both Saturday and Sunday will begin with a traditional Swedish pancake breakfast at 9:00 a.m., and the rest of the festival will be open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Saturday night’s Salmon BBQ runs from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and features alder-smoked salmon and live music.

To experience a little of Viking life first hand, Viking Days attendees need only look to the Viking Encampment. All day and into the evening, there will be demonstrations in everything from cooking, weaving, and woodcarving to weapon forging and a battle re-enactment, in which visitors are invited to participate.

Throughout the festival, delicacies from each of the five Nordic countries will be available for purchase, including Swedish meatballs, Norwegian lefse, Danish aebleskiver, Finnish voileipä (open-faced sandwiches), and Icelandic sweets like vinarterta, a delicious layer cake. At the Valhalla Beer Garden, there will be grilled sausages and beer from Carlsberg and Odin Brewing Company on sale.

As always, music will be a major competent of the festival weekend. Dozens of groups, ranging from traditional folk to rock, will be playing on multiple stages around the Museum. In addition, local merchants will sell Nordic, local, and hand-crafted items. The family-friendly event will also include low-cost craft projects for kids and the Nordic Spirit ship will be set up for close inspection and photos.

Admission to both Viking Days and the Museum is free for all ages. Viking Days is a great chance to view the exhibition Danish Modern: Design for Living in its final two weeks on display.

Visit http://www.nordicmuseum.org/events.aspx#VikingDays for all the details.

The Museum is located at 3014 NW 67th Street, Seattle, WA 98117.

The Run Like A Viking 5K and Viking Days receive support from IKEA, Scan|Design Foundation, as well as ArtsFund, 4Culture, SOAC and Osher.

Photos by Jason Brooks.

ABOUT THE NORDIC HERITAGE MUSEUM: With over 55,000 visitors annually, the Nordic Heritage Museum is a cultural treasure in the Pacific Northwest. It is the only museum in the United States that represents the cultural heritage of all five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The Museum’s mission is to share Nordic culture with people of all ages and backgrounds by exhibiting art and objects, preserving collections, providing educational and cultural experiences and serving as a community gathering place. The Nordic Heritage Museum presents a wide range of vibrant programs including contemporary art exhibitions, outstanding concerts, lectures and films and a variety of special events throughout the year.

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