Events

Sunday 5/19/2024 2pm  Let's celebrate Syttende Mai (17th of May) like the Norwegians do!  The Constitution Day Celebration will include a children's parade, patriotic singing and a special video viewing of Norway's King's Guard marching band & drill team.  We'll enjoy traditional hot dogs - bring a cold dish to pass (think picnic). All are also encouraged to bring a donation for one of our local food banks.

Saturday 6/15/2024  VASA Swedish-American Club has invited us to their traditional midsommar celebration, which will be held in Holly Jensen's garden in Kalamazoo.  Decorating the celebration pole and traditional lawn games start at noon, and a potluck follows at 2pm. Bring a summer dish to pass and a friend! See the June newsletter for details.  

Sunday 8/11/2024  2pm    Ice cream, ice cream, we all scream for ice cream! We're invited to Jeff & Diane Andert's lovely lakeside home near Battle Creek for our annual ice cream social. See our upcoming August newsletter for details.

Sunday 9/8/2024  2pm    Our fall kickoff meeting & potluck will be at Trinity Lutheran.  Askeladden Lodge youth member Alice Kraatz will Zoom in from Svalbard, Norway (above the Arctic Circle !) to share about her folkehøgskole first impressions.

Wednesday 9/11/2024  10:30am    Norwegian language learning group resumes at Marshall District Library, Marshall, MI. Join in-person or by ZOOM (link to be e-mailled to all lodge members, non-members contact Askeladden.Lodge@gmail.com) 

Sunday 10/6/2024  2pm:  We'll enjoy a  potluck at Trinity Lutheran Church, followed by a brief business meeting.  We will wrap up early, so interested parties can attend the Early Music Michigan fall-focused chamber concert hosted by TLC at 4pm (see https://earlymusicmichigan.org/events/ for tickets & details).

Wednesday 10/9/2024  10:30am    Norwegian language learning group meets and enjoys treats at Marshall District Library, Marshall, MI. Join in-person or by ZOOM (link to be e-mailled to all lodge members, non-members contact Askeladden.Lodge@gmail.com)  

Saturday 10/12/2024  Lunchtime   Enjoy a lunch adventure at Longship Brewing Co. in Lawton. RSVP to Jeff Andert (see Oct newsletter for details).

Sunday 11/10/2024 2pm   Bring your aprons and brush off your baking skills for our lefse-making party! Lefse dough will be provided, but bring lefse making tools or grills if you have them. We'll have a simple potluck-  cold items only-  dessert will be the yummy lefse we make (plus butter, sugar and jam of course). Also consider bringing non-perishable food and/or monetary donations for our food pantry drive.

Wednesday 11/13/2024 10:30am   The Norwegian language study group  and other Lodge members are invited to the Battle Creek home of Joanna Phelps for class followed by a luncheon (see Nov newsletter for details). 

Saturday 11/23/2024  Get into the holiday spirit with the Kalamazoo Maple Hill Holiday Parade, which kicks off at 11am (marchers meeting earlier).  If you'd like to march, contact Kris Spence to sign up and get a costume.

Saturday 12/14/2024 2pm  We are invited to join our VASA Swedish American friends for the Santa Lucia and Jul holiday celebration at Trinity Lutheran!  We'll start upstairs in the sanctuary with the traditional procession. We'll then gather downstairs for appetizers, cookies, & gløgg to await a visit from Father Christmas. Bring cookies to share (extra credit for Scandinavian baking)! If you know a young person who would like to participate in costume, contact Holly Jensen (see Nov newsletter).

12/7/2024- 1/2/2025   If you're in need of some holiday friluftsliv ("outdoor life"), take a stroll and check out the giant  holiday card by Askeladden Lodge in Portage's Celery Flats Park (7328 Garden Lane).  Each year Portage families, businesses and civic organizations help create a festive atmosphere with 8 foot-tall cards and themed Christmas trees. Celery Flats is part of a lovely walking/ biking trail that is kept plowed in the winter time.

Sunday 1/12/2025  2 p.m.   We will meet virtually by ZOOM (link e-mailed) to hear about the Sloopers from Dave Johnson of the Norsk Museum near Norway, Illinois. This intrepid group sailed from Norway 200 years ago to establish the first Norwegian-American settlement in the United States.  

 Thurs 1/16/2025  10:30 a.m.    NOTE NEW DATE  Norwegian language learning group resumes at Marshall District Library, Marshall, MI. We will be using our new textbook "Sett i Gang" 3rd edition (see Dec newsletter). The Jan meeting was changed to Thursday 1/16 due a meeting room conflict.

Sunday 2/9/2025 2 p.m.  Bring a dish to pass and join us at Trinity Lutheran! At 3 p.m. Bob Erlandson will join us by ZOOM and we'll hear how visionary Norwegian scientist Kristian Birkeland solved the scientific mystery of the northern lights.

 Wed 2/12/2025  10:30 a.m.  Norwegian language learning group  meets at Marshall District Library, Marshall, MI. We will continue using our new textbook Sett i Gang 3rd edition (see Dec newsletter).

Friday 2/21-Sun 2/23/25  Michigan Nordic Fire Festival in Charlotte, MI. The Friday kickoff to this annual event is a big Viking long boat bonfire! There are events all weekend long for families and kids: Viking life demonstrations, performers, food, vendors and more!   https://www.michigannordicfirefestival.com/   

Sunday 3/9/2025 2 p.m.  We'll gather first at Trinity for a yummy potluck and quick business meeting. Afterwards, our cultural program is a 4 p.m. concert at the Kalamazoo Ladies' Library Association ($30, advanced purchase required). The concert by music duo Gingkoh Salon celebrating International Women's Day includes compositions by Askeladden Lodge Golden Member Margery Selden.  Refreshments will be served after the concert.

• 1. Click here to purchase tickets. Askeladden Lodge members will be reimbursed up to $15 for each ticket.  

  2. To spread the word, here is a poster, with more details in the press release.

Wednesday 3/12/2025  10:30 a.m. Norwegian language learning group meets at Marshall District Library, Marshall, MI. Join in-person or by ZOOM (link to be e-mailed to all lodge members, non-members contact Askeladden.Lodge@gmail.com)  

Saturday 3/15/2025 11 a.m.   Be a Viking at the St. Patrick's Day Parade, hosted by  Irish-American Club of Kalamazoo!  Contact Joan O'Bryan (joanobryan@wmich.edu) if you would like to march (costumes provided; see Mar newsletter for details).