Ephraim welcomes visitors to Scandinavian Day
The annual Ephraim Scandinavian Day parade features the usual entries and some with a definite Scandinavian flare.
Awesomeness of the Norse-kind. This year marks the second annual “Vike on a Bike,” a mountain bike race for all experience levels on a course designed by Durke Gordon and Jason Stevens. The event begins at noon Saturday, May 23, in front of the Snow College Noyes Building.
The 2015 Scandinavian Heritage Festival is set for Friday and Saturday, May 22-23, Memorial weekend in Ephraim. When people arrive in Ephraim, they can come to the information booth at 150 East 100 North, to get answers to questions and pick up a printed guide to the festival.
The annual event expresses the warmth everyone, local and visitors alike, will feel. Many locals are descendants of the plucky Scandinavians who crossed ocean and plain to settle the valley. That proud past is part of the everyday lives and folks delight in sharing it with visitors.
About 650,000 Utahns trace their ancestry to Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, many who are descended from 19th Century Scandinavian converts to the LDS Church.
The festival begins at 9 a.m., May 22, in the Huntsman Library auditorium at Snow College with the Scandinavian Heritage Conference, a free educational event. The conference talks are scheduled for 9, 10 and 11 a.m.
From Friday Noon through Saturday at dusk, festival grounds on the north side of the Snow College campus and at Pioneer Park, 50 North 100 West, will buzz with costumes, dancing, storytelling, entertainment, historical tours, craft and food booths and more.
The Little Scandinavian Dinner, a gourmet Scandinavian smorgasbord, which will be served at 6 p.m., in the Snow College Greenwood Student Center. No reservations are required, but be advised to get there early, as the food goes fast and when it is gone, there is no more.
Storytelling
In the cold, dark winters of old Scandinavia, storytellers were held in high esteem because of their ability to spin tales of adventure, romance and war, providing a welcome diversion from everyday tasks. Eager listeners stared into the flames while images of magical conquests swept through their minds and inflamed their imaginations.
Over time, electronic entertainments seem to have shuffled storytellers off to the pages of history books, except for special events such as Ephraim’s Scandinavian Heritage Festival.
Drawing on the old and cherished tradition of storyteller Hans Christian Andersen, storytelling has expanded to include pioneer stories and other folktales from various tellers who love the craft.
This year, eight storytellers, Dakota Davis, Birkley Ross, Amberle Hammer, Rebecca Remmer, Hannah Valentine, Barrett Haughton and Shirley and Michael Bahlmann, will hold visitors in the palm of their hands beginning at 2 p.m., May 22.
To learn more, call the festival information line, Ephraim City at 435-283-4631.
Saturday, May 23
A Fun Run will begin the day with registration beginning at 6 a.m., at 50 East 100 North. To enliven the competition this year, the Ephraim Youth City Council is adding a vibrant twist to the Fun Run called “Color Me Viking.” Upon request, participants can be coated with powdered paint in Scandinavian colors and end the race in “rad” style.
Pre-register online at scandinavianheritagefestival.org to be guaranteed a fun run T-shirt. Registration fee includes a race number and T-shirt. If runners don’t meet the online registration deadline, they can register onsite.
All races Saturday morning with details as follows: The half marathon (13.1 miles) will start at 6:30 a.m. Registration will open at 6 a.m. in the Snow College LDS Stake Center parking lot and the race will go from Maverik through the west fields of Ephraim, behind Walmart, across U.S. 89, along the east and south side of Ephraim, and back to the festival on 100 East.
The 10K (6.2 miles), will begin at 6:30 a.m. and will run on the east side of Ephraim and end on 100 East back at the festival.
The 5K (3.1 miles) is the largest race and will start at 7 a.m., at 50 East 100 North and wind past the historical buildings of Snow College, across the eastern and southern roads of Ephraim, and end back at the festival on 100 East.
Walkers are encouraged to register and start at 7 a.m., at 50 East 100 North. Cash prizes will be given to the top male and female winners from the 5K, 10K and half marathon races.
The ever-popular Lions Club Aebleskiver breakfast will be available from 8 to 10 a.m., in a pavilion in the parking lot behind Ephraim Co-op. Don’t miss this amazing way to begin the day.
Have a good spot reserved to watch the parade at 10 a.m., on Main Street and then take time to stroll through Ephraim Co-op to view the handmade quilts displayed on the top floor.
Throughout the day, there will be entertainment, good food, bus tours and much more. Most entertainment takes place on Snow College main stage or on the Heritage Plaza stage. Following the crowds or the nose will not steer anyone astray.
Vike on a Bike
Awesomeness of the Norse-kind. This year marks the second annual “Vike on a Bike,” a mountain bike race for all experience levels on a course designed by Durke Gordon and Jason Stevens. The event begins at noon Saturday, May 23, in front of the Snow College Noyes Building.
Families are encouraged to decorate their Viking bikes for the parade at 10 a.m. and cruise past the festival for a fun ride. Registration includes a race number and T-shirt. To be guaranteed a T-shirt and number, pre-register online, or at the registration booth in the parking lot near the Co-op beginning at 6 a.m.
Viking bikers have four course options: family, beginner, novice and sport. The beginning and advanced races are seven-mile courses that begin at Snow College campus and go east along Kane Valley Road, with two loops over Black Hill for the advanced rider and an easier loop for the beginning rider. The Family Fun Ride will be out and back on Kane Valley Road. Vikes will finish back at the festival at the Noyes Building.
Sport entrants have that competitive spirit and this is not their first rodeo and consists of one 14 mile lap around Black Hill; Novice competitors are not new to mountain biking or their bike, but they ride less than four hours a week with experience on single track.
Beginners are new to their bike and inexperienced with single track riding. They are working on skills and want a good workout in the outdoors with other riders; families are looking for their little ones to have a good community experience with bikes and are eager to get out on their bikes.
Prizes will be given to the top male and female winners of the beginning and advanced races, courtesy of sponsors Farm Bureau Financial Services and Pipe Dream Adventure Sports.
All riders are encouraged to be in the Grand Parade at 10 a.m. to promote the race and warm up their muscles. Families are encouraged to decorate their Viking bikes.
For details or additional information, call Beverly Thomas at 435-340-1052.
Bus tour
The tours, which last approximately 50 minutes, will leave at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m., May 23 Tickets can be purchased at the information booth found on the southeast corner of College Ave and 100 East. The bus will be boarded across the street at the northeast corner of College Ave and 100 East.
Tour participants will receive a bus tour through parts of Ephraim, viewing historic sites, buildings and homes that highlight the early history of the town and its Scandinavian settlers.
The tour will point out sites for infamous events such as the Ephraim Massacre, when seven Ephraim settlers were killed in October of 1863 by Indians who were raiding fields west of town.
Many other interesting and historical spots will be shown including the dugout site of Ephraim’s first resident (Isaac Behunin), as well as the old pioneer cemetery, pioneer cabins and 19th century prominent homes.
Car show
This year, there will be a car show for anyone that enjoys original cars and trucks. Take a walk down memory lane and view all the vehicles at LDS Institute west parking lot, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Awards presentation will be at 4:30 p.m., with prizes given for each of the top divisions and one grand prize for best of show, courtesy of sponsors Original Side By Side, Freedom Ford, EcoLife and Roy’s Pizza.