SMALL BEGINNINGS
What is known today as the Ephraim Utah Scandinavian Heritage Festival began as a small community fundraiser to gather money to restore the roofs on 2 pioneer buildings, the Ephraim Co-op and the Old Mill.
The first celebration, the “Scandinavian Jubilee,” was held on July 24th, Pioneer Day at the Old Mill site. Activities included a pancake breakfast, folk-dancing, a flea market, storytelling, a Danish Miss contest and a family picnic.
Sanpete Community Theater president, Shirley Lauritzen and Vice President, Molly McBride, were the visionaries behind the creation of this cultural celebration that has now become a beloved tradition for 50 years.
FESTIVAL TIMELINE
1976- Scandinavian Festival Began as the “Scandinavian Jubilee,” a community effort to raise funds to restore the roof of the Pioneer Cooperative building and Old Mill/Granary Building
1993- Ephraim Stampede Rodeo joined the festival
1995-Library Used Book Sale, Bread Baking Competition and Silent Auction were added
1995-First Special Newspaper Insert was published in the Messenger newspaper; Governor
Mike Leavitt issued a Proclamation proclaiming Memorial Weekend Scandinavian
Festival weekend in Sanpete County
1999-The festival grew, with 8,000-10,000 visitors in attendance
2001-First Festival Magazine was printed & first Classic Car Show joined the festival
2002-FastPitch Softball Tournament was added to the festival events
2003-First Festival Commemorative Pin was made
2004-Ephraim Celebrated its Sesquicentennial (1854-2004)
2005- Golf Tournament held at Palisades Golf Course and a Community Street Dance was held in conjunction with the festival. Festival celebrated 200 years of Hans Christian Anderson
2006- 30th Anniversary Festival
2008- Festival adopted the Viking Ship Logo
2009- Basketball & Softball Tournaments joined the festival as well as a Rubber Duck Race
2010- Festival Buttons were made. The festival partnered with Utah Heritage
2014- A Festival Committee was formed; Elder Russel M. Nelson, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints spoke at the Festival Conference. Vike on a Bike was instituted as a festival attraction.
2015- 40th Anniversary Festival
2016- Ephraim Co-op and Trade Association built the Scandinavian Crafter’s Village
2017- Pickleball, Tennis and Cornhole Tournaments became part of the festival competition
2018- Marked 35 years of the Historical Bus Tours; Fireworks celebrated Ephraim’s 100 year Birthday
2020- Scandinavian Festival was held “at a distance” with activities families could do on their own to continue the tradition of celebrating our Scandinavian Heritage
2021-Spillingsskattan Treasure Hunt became a fun festival feature
2022- Movie in the Park and Wife Carrying Competition were added to the Festival Event Lineup
2023- The Viking Beard Contest was added
2025- 50th Anniversary Festival
PHOTO GALLERY
