Bay Ridge will host its annual celebration of Scandinavian heritage this year on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17.Viking Fest
On Saturday, May 16, the Scandinavian East Coast Museum will host Viking Fest 2009 at Owl's Head (Bliss) Park at 68th Street and Colonial Road from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Admission is free.
Activities will include two Viking reenactment groups, the Viking ship "Norseman" and crew, rides, and Scandanavian foods and crafts.
Musical entertainment will be provided by a Norwegian band, bagpipers, step dancers, and Turkish drummers.
The event is co-sponsored by the Norwegian Consulate & Greg Ahl.
For more information, contact Victoria Hofmo at 718-748-5950.
Norwegian Constitution Day Parade
The 58th Annual Norwegian Constitution Day Parade will kick off at 1:30 PM on Sunday, May 17 on 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge.
This year's parade theme is “Salute to Norse Mythology”.
Approximately 100,000 people are expected to turn out for the parade, which will feature, in addition to many local bands, the Norwegian band Stavanger Musikkorps.
An expected 10,000 marchers will begin cueing at 12:30 p.m. on Fifth Avenue at 88th and 89th Streets. The parade will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. rain or shine, moving north along Fifth Avenue to 67th Street, and turning right up 67th Street, past the grandstand, which will be on the south side of Leif Erikson Park between 6th and 7th Avenues.
There will be a short program at the reviewing stand at around 3:30 PM, at which the guest speaker, Norwegian Consul General Sissel Breie, will formally crown Miss Norway 2009.
The official parade Website: http://www.may17paradeny.com/.
17th of May Church Rally
In the leadup to the parade, on Saturday, May 2 at 6:30 PM, the Church Group of the 17th of May Committee will hold its annual 17th of May Church Rally at the Norwegian Christian Home at 1270 67th Street in Bay Ridge.
Pastor Paul Knudsen, of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, will be guest speaker, and the Nansen Chorus will provide musical selections. Refreshments will be served after.
For more information about the parade and related events, contact Evald Olson at (718) 745-6653 or Victoria Hofmo at (718) 748-5950.
