Icelandic Festival of Manitoba
icelandic festival manitoba also known islendingadagurinn icelandic icelander day annual festival icelandic culture held gimli manitoba canada thought oldest icelandic festival north america held three day first weekend august ie terry fox day long weekend celebrated since held gimli since organizer festival believe second oldest continuous ethnic festival north america irish festival held annually montreal quebec year older festival visited several thousand tourist year community gimli part broader region new iceland home largest concentration icelander outside iceland first icelandic festival north america held milwaukee wisconsin first manitoba icelandic festival parade held august nena street sherbrooke street winnipeg south first lutheran church led infantry school band followed men teenager child woman however rode rented carriage avoid muddy road caused large rainstorm day parade would finish around followed game sport event actual celebration beginning pm first president festival wilhelm paulson though first parade held august manitoba icelandic community could agree official date name festival future celebration july debated good date day icelandic explorer reached winnipeg however date significance icelander iceland organizer want alienate celebration meeting may northwest hall organizer chose august date festival due historical significance north america iceland day first icelandic celebration north america taken place iceland new constitution granted tradition selecting woman fjallkona maid mountain began wherein fjallkona iceland child icelander woman named sigrun lindal became first fjallkona islendingadagurinn nd year festival moved gimli manitoba though originally experimental move community evidently became permanent location festival one main benefit relocation brought festival closer icelandic community gimli home largest concentration icelander outside iceland also selkirk arborg hnausa another benefit gimli park offered outdoor space shelter park winnipeg initially major issue arose relocation arranging transportation gimli winnipeg festival committee arranged winnipeg electric co supply large bus ca additional bus transportation festival canadian pacific railway also agreed offering return fare cost per person metre ft fibreglass statue viking erected gimli canadian centennial statue unveiled thenpresident iceland ásgeir ásgeirsson fifty year later recognition icelandic festival th anniversary honour canada th birthday new viking park around statue unveiled august artwork jewellery painting displayed art museum well along pier wall extends downtown gimli lake traditional icelandic dish offered reenactment norse shield wall battle also held day accompanied interactive norse village reenactor perform task blacksmithing crafting sewing festival tradition selecting woman fjallkona maid mountain wherein fjallkona iceland child icelander festival selected woman sits elevated throne clad formal icelandic costume white gown green robe ermine golden belt highcrowned headdress white veil falling shoulder waist two maid honour formerly clad plain icelandic costume tasseled skullcap dressed white former year maid honour known miss canada miss america icelandic canadian thór jónas saga islendingadagsins islendingadagurinn illustrated history icelandic festival manitoba