What began as a humble effort to patch up a couple of pioneer rooftops has grown into one of Utah’s most cherished cultural celebrations. The Ephraim Utah Scandinavian Heritage Festival started in 1976 with a simple goal: raise enough money to restore the roofs on two historic landmarks—the Ephraim Co-op and the Old Mill. From that small beginning, a legacy was born.
The first “Scandinavian Jubilee,” held on Pioneer Day at the Old Mill, was a heartfelt community affair—complete with a pancake breakfast, folk dancing, storytelling, a Danish Miss contest, and a good old-fashioned family picnic. Behind it all were two local visionaries, Shirley Lauritzen and Molly McBride, whose love for heritage and community spirit launched what would become a beloved annual tradition.
Today, nearly 50 years later, the Ephraim Scandinavian Festival draws thousands of visitors to Central Utah to celebrate the rich Scandinavian roots that helped build this region. From Viking contests and storytelling to dancing, music, and modern competitions like cornhole and wife-carrying races (yes, seriously), the festival continues to honor the past while keeping things refreshingly weird and wildly fun.
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.
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
Stewards of Tradition, Champions of Community
Behind every folk dance, parade float, and krumkake stand is a dedicated team of volunteers who make the magic happen. Our festival board is made up of locals who love their town and its history—and aren’t afraid to wear a Viking helmet or judge a beard contest to prove it.
They’re organizers, storytellers, historians, and community members who believe in honoring the past while creating a welcoming space for new generations to learn, laugh, and connect. The Scandinavian Festival isn’t just about looking back—it’s about coming together.
Board Vice-Chair
Pioneer Village Coordinator
Board Member
Marketing & Public Relations Committee Chair
Board Member
Entertainment Co-Chair
Board Member
Education & Culture Co-Chair
Board Member
Fundraising & Sponsorships Committee Chair
Board Secretary
Snow College Liaison
Board Member
Athletic Events Committee Chair
Board Chair
Entertainment Committee Co-Chair
Ex-Officio Board Member
Festival Director/Director of Culture & Heritage
Ex-Officio Board Member
City Council Representative
Many of the pioneer settlers who came to the Sanpete Valley were from Scandinavia—particularly Denmark. In fact, Sanpete has been affectionately called “Utah’s Little Denmark” for decades. The community’s rich Scandinavian roots continue to influence local traditions and culture. You can learn more about this history on our Festival History page or by visiting Ephraim’s local museums.
The Scandinavian Heritage Festival began in 1976, when a small group of community volunteers organized an event to raise funds to replace the damaged roof on the Pioneer Co-op Building on Main Street. What began as a modest local fundraiser has since grown into one of Ephraim’s most beloved annual traditions.
No. The festival was originally hosted at the Pioneer Co-op Building on Main Street. As attendance grew, the event moved to the Snow College Campus to better accommodate the increasing number of visitors who come to celebrate each year.
No. Thanks to financial support from Ephraim City, the festival is a free community celebration. Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy the festivities.
There are many ways to participate! From setup to event sponsorship, volunteers play an essential role in making the festival possible. The event is coordinated by a volunteer board and several committees, all dedicated to preserving this cherished tradition.
To volunteer, please contact Ephraim City for more information. Businesses and individuals can also support the festival through sponsorships or donations—details are available on our Sponsorship Page. Vendors are invited to apply through our Festival Website (linked on ephraim.gov). Applications typically open in October and close on January 1st.
Standard booth spaces are $125 per 10×10 space. Vendors requiring larger or non-standard booth sizes may contact the Festival Director for a custom rate. Registered nonprofit organizations may request a free vendor space, as a limited number are reserved for nonprofits each year.
Due to the high number of applications received each year, not all vendors can be accepted. A committee carefully reviews submissions based on established selection criteria. Full details are available on our Vendor Page.
No business license is required. However, all vendors must provide a Tax ID (EIN, SSN, TIN, etc.) as required by the Utah State Tax Commission, including nonprofit organizations.
Most events—such as live entertainment, the parade, and the movie in the park—are free of charge. However, some events such as the Wife-Carrying Race, Tennis Tournament, and 5K Fun Run require a small registration fee to cover event costs, prizes, and t-shirts. Details and registration links are available on our website.
While the festival does not provide wheelchairs, we offer handicap-accessible parking and ADA-compliant restrooms. Visitors who require mobility aids are encouraged to bring their own.
Tickets for the Historic Bus Tour are available during festival hours at the Information Booth, located on the corner of 100 East and 100 North.
We’re always looking for new performers! If you’re interested in joining our lineup, please contact Ephraim City and connect with our Entertainment Chair to submit an audition video or sample of your work.
All festival parking is free.Street parking is available around Snow College, as well as in college parking lots and the LDS Institute parking lot (off 100 East). Additional free parking can be found at Pioneer Park (42 N. 100 W.) and at the LDS Church on 400 East.
