On the Sunday before Labor Day, the woods of Budd Lake, New Jersey, will fill with the sound of accordions, the clang of steel on steel, and the smell of traditional Scandinavian food. The 39th Scandinavian Fest, known to its devoted following as ScanFest, returns to NJ Vasa Park on September 6, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., bringing together the cultures of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Estonia for a full day of music, food, craft, and living history.
What visitors will experience this year is the product of nearly four decades of growth, a journey that began in 1985 when three local lodges of New Jersey District 6 of the Vasa Order of America decided to host a small picnic. As one organizer recalled in 2016, someone suggested they might sell a few craft items, and from that modest seed, an institution was born. The Vasa Order itself has deep roots in the Scandinavian-American experience: founded more than a century ago to help Scandinavian immigrants learn English and provide help in sickness and death, the order's lodges today are pledged to promote the rich heritage of the Scandinavian region. Vasa Park, owned by the New Jersey Vasa order, remains the festival's home.
The festival's path back to Vasa Park was not a straight one. In its first decade, ScanFest was held on the park's grounds, but lacking space for expansion, the event moved to Waterloo Village in Byram for the next ten years, followed by two years at an indoor exposition center. In 2005, additional space became available at Vasa Park to handle parking for the ever-expanding crowds, and the festival returned to the place where it all began. The ScanFest corporation, a not-for-profit entity established in 1995, now operates the event with a small volunteer committee.
Attendance figures tell the story of the festival's rise. Carl Anderson, president of ScanFest, told the New Jersey Herald in 2016 that the festival draws between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors when the weather cooperates, and even on a rainy day, about a thousand dedicated souls show up. The event is advertised as rain or shine, a promise that has held through the decades. Anderson also noted the festival's broad appeal, observing with a laugh that many attendees bear names like Santorelli or O'Reilly, but that there was likely someone from Scandinavia somewhere in their heritage. At the gate, visitors of Scandinavian descent can receive a sticker bearing the flag of their family's country of origin, a small gesture that connects the present to the past.
This year's festival promises a rich tapestry of entertainment and demonstration. The grounds will feature Viking combat and demonstrations by the Barony of Settmour Swamp, while the Leif Ericson Viking Ship will be on display. Blacksmiths will demonstrate implements from the age of the Vikings, and artisans will showcase Hardanger embroidery, Scandinavian weaving, lace making, and cooking demonstrations.
Musical entertainment spans the breadth of Nordic tradition, with live Scandinavian entertainment throughout the day. Families can enjoy children's music and activities inside the dedicated Kids Tent.
One of ScanFest's most beloved and entertaining traditions returns for its 16th year: the Wife-Carrying Competition. Competitors take on an obstacle course while carrying their partners, with festivalgoers cheering them on. The event has become a signature attraction, blending athleticism, humor, and a nod to the playful side of Nordic heritage.
Food is, of course, central to the experience. The festival's food vendors serve both traditional and Scandinavian-inspired fare, with several Vasa lodges operating booths throughout the grounds.
Nordic-inspired craft vendors and cultural organizations will line the grounds, and historical lectures will explore topics related to Viking history and heritage.
Admission is $17 for general entry, $15 for seniors 65 and up, and free for children 12 and under. Tickets are available in advance at ScanFest.org, with a dedicated entry line for online purchasers at the front gate, or at the gate on the day of the festival. A cash bar will be available on site; outside alcohol and pets are not permitted. The festival runs rain or shine.
For nearly four decades, ScanFest has served as a bridge between the old world and the new, a place where Scandinavian Americans can reconnect with their roots and where everyone else can discover the traditions of the Nordic countries. It is, as the festival's own materials describe it, an event custom-designed to be both family-friendly and for individuals to enjoy. On September 6, the woods of Budd Lake will once again echo with the sounds of a culture that has made its home in New Jersey, and thousands of visitors will gather to celebrate, educate, and enjoy everything Scandinavian.