- Credibility:
ANDERSONVILLE — Over 200 people dressed as Vikings will descend on Andersonville Saturday as part of the neighborhood’s celebration of a traditional Swedish holiday.
The third annual Andersonville Viking Pub Crawl will kick off at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St. Participants — many dressed as Vikings — will then visit as many as 15 participating bars and local businesses.
The bar crawl is part of Andersonville’s take on the traditional Swedish religious holiday celebration of St. Martin’s Day. The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce has been celebrating their version of St. Martin’s Day since 2005, and the Viking Pub Crawl replaced a “goose parade” three years ago, said Laura Austin, the chamber’s events manager. (Goose is traditionally eaten on St. Martin’s Day.)
“We were surprised by the number of people who showed up in full-on Viking costumes for the event, and it has grown ever since,” Austin said in a statement.
This year’s bar crawl will include “Viking challenges,” including getting a photo of the traditional Swedish wooden Dala Horse. A Viking costume contest will also be held.
Orange Shoe Personal Fitness, 5609 N. Clark St., will even hold a free, 45-minute Viking Work Out. Participants are encouraged to come in costume. RSVP for the workout here.
Tickets to the event cost $20 per person and can be bought here. The ticket includes a lanyard offering discounts at 10 participating business, a free appetizer and an event beer glass.
Do stories like this matter to you? Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Want to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation? Thanks to NewsMatch 2019, your donation will be doubled through Dec. 31. Donate here.
