I may or may not be posting here tomorrow night, contingent on circumstances. I’ll again be in beautiful, scenic Brainerd, Minnesota for the Crow Wing County Viking Festival. Last year’s local news report on the festival is posted about — though reluctantly, as their cameraman completely blew the opportunity to capture the excitement of my presence.
If you’re in the area, here’s the web site. The festival is held at the Crow Wing County fairgrounds and begins 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
Good weekend. Brainerd, Minnesota is only a 2-hour drive from my home, so road time wasn’t bad. The weather wasn’t postcard perfect, but when you’re a medieval reenactor, cool temperatures and cloudy skies are just what the barber-surgeon ordered. A high in the 70s is rare in Minnesota in August, and we appreciated it. I had a very nice host with a lovely home, who made me welcome and grilled hamburgers. And I sold almost all the books I brought.
This was, I think, the third Crow Wing Viking Festival. It was the second held at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds. I drove to the fairground site Friday night, and the young people helped me unload my tent and set it up, as some of them were planning to sleep in it. Kids these days seem to think that sort of thing is fun. Considerate man that I am, I brought a green plastic tarp for them to use as a ground sheet, at no additional charge.
Saturday morning we all set up and the public started showing up. Attendance was steady through most of the day. When I’d sold out my whole stock of Viking Legacy, I looked at the time and found it was only 1:30 p.m. I was sure it had been longer, not because I was bored, but because I’d been busy. Lots of people had questions, and the lucky ones came to me with them. Not long after, I sold out the last of my The Year of the Warrior too. It all wrapped up at 4:00 p.m.
The saddest thing, for me, was some people (whom I will not describe in detail) who came as spectators in Viking costume, hoping to fit in. Some had clearly spent serious money assembling their kits, but the costumes were purely out of their imaginations. I think they were hoping for admiration and cries of “Welcome, brother!” They were disappointed, I expect.
Here’s a tip: If you want to be a reenactor, join a group first, and learn their guidelines. Get advice. Unless you’re already a historian.
There were battles, enjoyed by enthusiastic crowds.
There were also craftspeople and vendors. Here, for instance, is a guy making wooden bowls with a pole lathe.
Thanks to all who participated in the event. I call it a success, which ought to settle the matter.
If you’re anywhere around Brainerd Minnesota on Saturday, you have the awesome opportunity to see me at the Crow Wing Viking Festival, demonstrating the ancient Viking craft of selling paperback books. And, oh yes, there’ll be some other Vikings around, doing actual Viking stuff.
It’s held at the fairgrounds. You can learn all about it at the festival web site, linked above. We did it there last year too, and it was great fun. I recall we were all champing at the bit to go back in time again, after a long two long years of Plague and Penance.
This looks to be an interesting summer for me. I may be going as far as Montana next month, and I’m scheduled to participate in an alumni author’s forum at one of my several alma maters, in Iowa, for Homecoming. I’ll keep you informed.
I’ll have a post tomorrow, in spite of being out of town — if I can figure out how to set this contraption to “post later.”
If not, you’ll see the next post right away.
The local PBS station in Brainerd, Minnesota did a report on our festival last weekend. My red Viking banner is prominently featured, and I can also be seen from a distance, at my book table beside my tent, under my awning.
It really was pretty cool.
Since I’m sure you were praying fervently for my safety this weekend, considering my age and deteriorating mental state, you’ll rejoice to know that I and my loaner car both returned intact from an intensive experience.
First, at noon Friday, a lunch meeting with the board of the Georg Sverdrup Society at a restaurant in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. That went fine, except that I have lots of work to do now on delayed projects (delayed, surprisingly, by other causes than my personal laziness).
Then on eastward to the Brainerd area, where I met my hosts for the weekend. They were an extremely gracious retired couple who fed me sumptuously and listened to my tales and anecdotes. I, for my part, actually asked some questions of them, which is not my usual way. I must have been transitioning into Public Lars mode, which is more outgoing than my true personality.
In the morning my host guided me to the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds, where some of my group were already waiting. We set up, and other Vikings from other groups showed up and set up as well. In the end the Crow Wing Viking Festival looked like the photo above.
Things were slow starting off. I suspect the weather had a lot to do with it. It had been stormy overnight (everyone was grateful for the rain after a dry summer), and some clouds and sprinkling moved through before everything lightened up. It became a beautiful day – about 70 degrees – the only problem being strong wind gusts that bludgeoned us now and then (at one point one actually knocked the post out from one corner of my sun shade awning).
And the crowds came, as we hoped, as eager as the Vikings to finally get out and do something with people under God’s sun. The fighting contingent had enough participants to form reasonable shield walls in the battle shows, and – judging by my business – people were eager and willing to spend their rapidly devaluing dollars. I took home a nice amount that had previously been in other people’s pockets.
Then, because I had a young guy carrying my impedimenta in his big vehicle, we convoyed home, stopping for burgers in St. Cloud. I was the old man in the party, and did my best to appear clueless and opinionated. Pulled in at home a little after 10:00 p.m., and unloaded. Dragged my stuff inside, and collapsed to a better night’s sleep than I’d had in a while.
Oh yes, somebody asked for a picture of my Viking chest. I forgot to take one at the festival, but here it is in its customary spot, subbing for a desk chair in my home office.
Above is a locally produced video from Brainerd, Minnesota, promoting the Crow Wing Viking Festival this Saturday. I’ll be there, God willing, selling books (God also willing). I neither endorse nor critique this video. I just found it, and haven’t had time to review it. Still have to pack tonight.
Finished my intense translating job. Tomorrow, a meeting to attend, then on to Brainerd. They had a fun festival two years ago. Last year nothing happened, it goes without saying. This weekend, with typical Viking courage, we’re getting the (rover) band back together.
Information here. Nothing from me in this space tomorrow.
As usual, my house will not be empty while I’m gone. My renter will be here. He may or may not be on his meds.