Festivalgoers can take a step back in time at the country’s largest Viking festival October 10–11 and 17–18 at the Dakota County Fairgrounds. Photo: Viking Fest Minnesota
The country’s largest Viking festival returns to Dakota County Fairgrounds.
After a successful debut last year, Viking Fest Minnesota became the country’s largest Viking festival, drawing in 13,000 guests to the Dakota County Fairgrounds. Organizers anticipate a bigger turnout this year, hoping to greet 18,000 festivalgoers from October 10–11 and 17–18 at the immersive event, which invites guests to step into the Viking Age. “We kind of lean our focus on education and busting myths about the real Viking Age,” says Theresa Von Eschen, one of Viking Fest’s three organizers.
Theresa and her husband, Arthur Von Eschen, have had a lifelong interest in Vikings, and after martial arts training in Europe, they opened Ásfólk, a Viking martial arts school, in Eagan. They visited Viking festivals across the country, which helped with planning a large-scale event for Minnesota. They teamed up with a third owner, Sean Holt, to create an impressive ode to Viking culture.
Guests can expect educational exhibits, mead sampling, a museum showcasing authentic Viking Age artifacts, performances by the Harp Twins (a Nordic Celtic harp duo), Viking battles featuring fighters from around the world and more. Visit vikingfest.com for event details and tickets.
