May 5th - 6th, 2012: Norway Day, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California

Time: 8:00 AM (setup) until 6:00 PM Saturday.  8:00 am until 5:00 PM Sunday.

Address: Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason, CA

Norway Day in San Francisco is the major event of the year for those of Norwegian descent in Northern California. It fills one of the large pier buildings at Fort Mason. Bjornstad will display our arts, crafts and weaponry. This is inside the pier, but we'll still put up our tent and set up our display as well. The event showcases the best of Norwegian food, music, crafts and Nordic fashion at Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason Center. Included is a fashion show of the latest designs from Norway. Some of the exhibits feature Norwegian art, history and innovations including an exhibit of rarely seen photographs and artifacts from Roald Amundsen’s polar expeditions on loan from the Royal Norwegian Consul General.

I plan to arrive at 8:00 AM to unload and set up. The event opens at 10:00 AM and closes at 6:00 PM on Saturday and 5:00 PM on Sunday. Arriving early, it has been easy in the past to park within fifty yards to unload - and usually to remain parked. It's in the Festival Pavilion pier: the farthest east of the three Fort Mason piers. I've provided them with a gate list, so check in at the door. You'll probably need to pay for parking each day ($10 a day last year.)

The only tricky thing about unloading is that it's inside a long, narrow pier building and there is only a narrow roadway (more of a walkway) along the outside. I'll bring a dolly to transport the tent frame and canvas into the building. We'll set up the tent - just as a show piece, since the weather in the building is perfect :-). According to the coordinator, we'll be about mid-way along the pier on the left side. Just across from the stage, but everything in the building is within hearing of the stage. It's just the way it is. The downside is that the noise level is pretty high.

So far, The Viking Art of War isn't on the schedule. It would be a challenge; if there's a stage act going on, it's nearly futile. And there isn't a lot of room. We've even tried it on the stage, but it's awkward to get combative while holding a microphone. There's plenty of food and drink available at the event and it's very good. Bring something to eat only if you want to display it or snack without leaving the "encampment". On the cool side, it's a fun event and it's interesting to hear Norwegian spoken. Some of the visitors know a good deal about Vikings and that has led to fun conversations. Usually very bright and interested/interesting people. And, sometimes the Norwegian consular officials come by for a visit.