Every year in mid August, the Danish Canadian National Museum plays host to the Viking Days festival in Dickson, Alberta. The event is the largest annual gathering of Viking reenactors in Canada, and also celebrates the heritage of Danish people who have emigrated to the country over the past two centuries.
To find out more about the event and the Danish-Canadian community as a whole, The Viking Herald speaks to Bailey Gorman, manager of the Danish Canadian National Museum.
The Freydis Joanna: built in Roskilde, on diplay in Alberta. Source: Danish Canadian National Museum
A proud legacy
Canada today has a notable Danish population, after successive waves of immigration from the 1870s onwards. As Bailey explains, the hamlet of Dickson in the province of Alberta has over time emerged as a cultural hub dedicated to preserving the Danish-Canadian community's history and agricultural roots. Visitors to the museum can look forward to a historic dormitory alongside outdoor living history exhibits – including pioneer buildings and a replica Viking ship.
“The Danish Canadian National Museum is a repository for the history of Danish immigrants in Canada,” Bailey tells The Viking Herald. “We communicate the rich Danish-Canadian heritage and culture through special events, museum exhibits, living history and culinary experiences. Our tagline is "Step into the Saga", as we tell the story of Danes in Canada.”
“The links of Denmark to Canada goes back a very long way and has a common theme of adventurers and explorers,” Bailey points out. “These include Leif Erickson’s settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows in present-day Newfoundland. While Leif Erickson was not born in Denmark, Danes view the Viking Age as an important part of their heritage. The replica Viking ship is named the Freydis Joanna, with the first name taken from Leif's sister, who also came to L'Anse aux Meadows.
“The replica Viking ship was built with a bequest from Karen and Kresten Sommer – Joanna is Karen Sommer’s middle name,” Bailey adds. “The vessel was constructed by the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum in Denmark and completed on April 1, 2009. It is a replica of a boat found inside the Gokstad ship. The ship was taken on a tour of Canada before arriving at the museum. Her arrival was a grand event and she was carried in by a group of Viking reenactors.”
Norse skirmishes at the Viking Days festival. Source: Danish Canadian National Museum
The start of the festival
Though the Danish Canadian National Museum has largely focused on more recent history, the installation of a Viking ship appeared to signal a renewed interest in the Viking Age. “The arrival of the Freydis Joanna inspired the building of a Naust, or Viking boat house, in which to store and showcase this impressive artifact,” Bailey informs The Viking Herald.
“It was modelled after archeological finds near Harrevig and Hollenaes, was built by museum volunteers using traditional methods, and earned the museum a Heritage Conservation award.”
In the same period, the initial form of a new festival was beginning to take shape. “Viking reenactors were first invited to the museum in 2006 by a member of the Board of Directors who had a connection to the group,” Bailey adds.
“It started as a small special event and has become an annual event. Over the years, we have developed a strong partnership with the Vikings Vinland group who attend every year. They recently held their annual training day at the museum, and have done so since 2024.
Hard at work at the bellows. Source: Danish Canadian National Museum
The main attractions
This year’s Viking Days event will be taking place on August 14-16, and there is plenty to look forward to. “The entire east garden of the museum grounds is transformed into a Viking Village,” Bailey tells The Viking Herald. “There are period-appropriate structures in which the re-enactors camp for three days.
"The Viking Days events are attended by weaponry experts, fletchers, archers, and warriors. The east lawn of the museum (in front of the Naust) becomes a Viking battlefield. There are combat demonstrations and re-enactments and the children in the audience are thrilled to join the Vikings in battle with foam noodles.
“The Vinland Vikings all have a trade or skill which they showcase,” Bailey adds. “Skilled artists and tradespeople demonstrate blacksmithing, wood carving, weaving, wool preparation and leather craft.
"There are also Viking musicians demonstrating Viking era instruments. Visitors are invited to join in a game of Kubb or Hnefatafl or have runic divination cast and read. A Viking cook provides nourishment for the Vikings all weekend."
Children join the fray. Source: Danish Canadian National Museum
Fun and feasting
The mid-August weekend schedule also leaves plenty of room for merriment. “On the Friday night, Viking Days kicks off at the museum with the "Stew and Brew", where we serve a variety of stews, beer (and other beverages) and the Vikings sit with the guests,” Bailey states.
“This is a family friendly event and the Viking musicians and skalds entertain the guests. We also hold an annual steinholding competition in which the Vikings heartily participate (and have yet to win!)
“Saturday features the Viking Village, battle demonstrations and re-enactments, then Saturday evening is the Viking Feast. The museum serves a multi-course meal and the Vikings entertain again with a more formal program. This is more of an adult event, although minors are welcome and the Viking children attend. Again, the Vikings disburse themselves at the tables and dine with the guests.
“Sunday opens with a pancake breakfast and the Viking Village, battle demonstrations and re-enactments throughout the day,” Bailey adds. “There is also a large artisan market that happens on the grounds both Saturday and Sunday.”
The Viking reenactors in action. Source: Danish Canadian National Museum
The Vikings of North America
As Bailey tells us, there are plenty of Viking invaders who come to Alberta for the festival. “Vikings Vinland is the official North American branch of the Vikings Society and are our partners. This umbrella group includes The Ravens, based in Edmonton, Heimdall's Spears of Red Deer, the Company of Viking Archers from Calgary, Fjelborg from Denver, Colorado, and the Vestenfell Vikings, who are based in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
“In previous years, they have been joined by Vikings from England, across Canada and the United States,” Bailey adds. “This year's event will include Viking guests from Iran and also England (travel is still being confirmed).
"The audience is a bit harder to gauge. Most of our attendees are from Alberta. We do have national and international visitors who want to see the museum and will plan their trips around Viking Days so they can take in both.
The Vikings Vinland (mostly the Alberta groups) do an entire tour for the summer and are in festivals and events across the province. They have a following of their own that extends beyond the museum patrons. Viking Days is their largest show and attracts the most Vikings from outside the province.”
Raising a glass at Viking Days. Source: Danish Canadian National Museum
The 2026 edition
There are plenty of special moments to look forward to for Viking Days 2026. “The Viking Feast is going to kick off with a mead tasting from a local meadery,” Bailey tells The Viking Herald. “Guests will then be able to choose a mead to accompany their dinner.
“The Vikings are also planning a new re-enactment harkening back to the story of Amleth (Hamlet). This tells the story of a Danish prince recorded in Saxo Grammaticus and that is believed to have roots in the Sagas.”
“One other very special part of this year's event is going to be a Viking handfasting ceremony. The bride is a Viking re-enactor from Iran and her family will be guest re-enactors. This will certainly be an exciting event with a very international guest list.”
You can find more information about the 2026 Viking Days event on the official website of the Danish Canadian National Museum, here.
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