The 12th annual Norwegian Festival in Central Park, NYC, drew thousands of spectators on October 1. It was a day of running, walking, food and entertainment, facepainting and fun for the kids! Eivind Opsvik and friends played jazz for the crowd, and nine-time New York City Marathon winner, Grete Waitz, cheered on the runners.
The 12th annual Norwegian Festival in Central Park included all the traditional elements and lots of fun for kids.
A variety of Norwegian institutions and cultural organizations in New York were represented: the Norwegian Seamen's Church, Lillehammer Lodge (Sons of Norway), Edvard Grieg Society, Norwegian Immigration association, Innovation Norway, Norwegian Costal Voyage, and the Consulate General.
The race winners received round-trip tickets to Norway. Raffle prizes included a round-trip ticket to Norway, tickets to see "Peer Gynt" in Central Park and "The Wild Duck" at BAM (see links to the right), and dinner for two at a Smörgås Chef restaurant.
A presentation of Thomas Stanghelle's opera-musical "Some Sunny Night" took place at the Bandshell. The production is based upon the true and dramatic story of one Norwegian and one Chinese physically disabled "marathon hero", Ketil Moe and Mark Wang, and their great inspirator and helper Grete Waitz.
For more information please click HERE.
Paul Morrissett performed with the traditional Norwegian instrument Hardanger fiddle, 'lur' and 'bukkehorn' (reindeer horn) and Catherine Springer joined him in the folk costume 'beltestakk' from Telemark.
We would like to thank our generous sponsors for making the 12th Norwegian Festival in Central Park possible: Norseland, Inc., Scandinavian Airlines, Nordic Group, Inc., Kon-Tiki Travel, Inc., and Smörgås Chef restaurants.
PROGRAM:
“Norway Run” 1.7M at 8:15 am and “Grete’s Great Gallop” 13.1M at 8:45 am. “Troll Stroll” (ages 2-10) at 10:45 am.
WHEN: Sunday, October 1st.
WHERE: The Bandshell in Central Park (just south of the 72nd Street Transverse)
Subway: C to 72nd Street, 6 to 68th Street
INFO: Information: New York Road Runners