THOUSAND OAKS, CA. – The Scandinavian Festival will provide affordable family fun when it returns to California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks on April 16 and 17, 2011.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 16 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17 with food, entertainment and demonstrations highlighting the Nordic cultures of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. A “Gammal Dans” (old-time dance) will be held 5 to 8 p.m. April 16 under a big tent.

The festival opens on April 16 with a colorful parade of flags featuring Scandinavian dignitaries and Old World costumes and continues with music, dancing and lectures.

The event offers something for everyone. Children will be given passports that they can have stamped at various craft booths representing the Scandinavian countries. Adults can try their hands at crafts such as Hardanger and bobbin lace.

Each afternoon, adults and children dance around a Maypole with music provided by Ross Sutter. A Scandinavian worship service will be held on April 17. Visitors can also explore Viking and Sami villages, and exhibits on the Nobel and Kavli prizes. Shoppers can choose from a variety of Scandinavian handicrafts and a smorgasbord of Nordic delicacies.

A Swedish-American professor and Norwegian-American administrator started the festival 37 years ago to showcase Scandinavian culture and the CLU campus. The university, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, was the dream of Scandinavian immigrants and it was built on land provided by the son of Norwegian pioneers. The cultural celebration has expanded from 600 participants at the inaugural event to more than 6,000 visitors a year today.

The festival is free to children 11 and younger. General admission is $7.

For more information, visit http://www.scandinaviancenter.org or e-mail Sandra Grunewald at sgrunewa@callutheran.edu.