Mt. Jewett Swedish Festival
Mt. Jewett Swedish Festival
A Viking ship, meatball contest, maypole dancing and all things Swedish
Välkommen! The village of Mount Jewett, Pennsylvania welcomes all to join in the fun as they honor their Swedish Heritage at the 5lst Annual Mount Jewett Swedish Festival, a three-day community-wide celebration. The festival will take place August 12-14th and this year’s theme is “Swedish Roots - American Grown.”
The festival officially kicks off Friday with the opening ceremony at 6:00pm. One of the major attractions of the festival is the opportunity to see the life-size, Leif Ericson Viking Ship, “Norseman.” A little-known fact in our history is Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer, was the first known European to set foot on continental North America. A visit to the ship will include learning about the legendary tales of the Viking’s past power on the seas. The ship will be on display throughout the festival on the Saint Matthews Lutheran Church Lawn. Axe throwing with Forest Carlson on Friday and Saturday will give all the chance to practice their Viking skills, as will the Viking Challenge games held on Saturday.
Saturday is the major day of the festival. Foodies will enjoy Alberta’s pie contest, the Swedish Meatball contest, and the Swedish American Smorgasbord. Plus, Eric Jones, a finalist on the Food Network’s Halloween Wars, who is known for his pumpkin, snow, and sand carvings, will be demonstrating his talents.
The Patrick J. Moffett Memorial Car & Bike Show, also a Saturday event, will open registration from 10:00am-12:00pm. The show will run from noon-4:00pm in the Mt. Jewett Fire Hall’s lower parking lot. Registrants may also drive their car in the parade! For more information on how to register for the car show and/or the parade please call 814-558-9801.
A traditional Maypole Dance will be held at 12:30pm. Entertainment includes live music at various locations throughout the festival. New this year are the tethered hot air balloon rides. Children will enjoy the two bounce houses, the inflatable obstacle course, and the rock wall for climbing. The parade will start at 5:00pm on Main Street, which will be cheerfully decorated with American and Swedish flags, with fireworks scheduled to begin at 9:30pm.
Artisans and vendors will be lining the streets with Swedish and Scandinavian items, crafts, maple products, chocolates, Kinzua Sky Walk items, and books by local authors. A caricature artist will be on hand, and Swedish ornaments, Swedish t-shirts, and other apparel items will be on sale at the Mount Jewett Heritage Coalition booth.
Sunday, the fun continues with the Kinzua Bridge Challenge - a 10K-5K, a 2-mile walk, and a 1-mile walk. Sign up at wolfcreektrackclub.com. The pet and bike parade begins at noon and Viking ship races begin at 1:00pm. The Family Feud will take place in front of the Center Street Stage, followed by the J.I.M. Band. For the full list of events please go to the Mount Jewett Swedish Festival’s Facebook page.
During the Swedish Festival, all are welcome to join in the fun by wearing the colors of the Swedish Flag, blue and yellow. Hope to see you there - Hoppas vi ses där!
LICK N SIP
A new restaurant to Mt. Jewett, Lick N Sip, will be hosting the ice cream eating contest at 2:00pm on Sunday. Purchased as a Tasty Freeze in late 2021, the new owners are trying something different. The “Lick” portion is in reference to the traditional Perry’s ice cream treats including sundaes, milkshakes, flurries and floats, along with a variety of sizes of scooped ice cream cones. Menu items include homemade “Big Foot Burgers” - big and messy, along with a variety of finger foods such as mini tacos, chicken bites, onion rings and deep-fried pickles. Outdoor seating is offered under their attached pavilion which faces scenic Rt. 6.
With a focus on providing additional local foods to the public, the restaurant will also feature local honey from Maze Bee, White Cane Coffee, Richard’s VT Made Sauces, and local maple syrup for purchase.
The “sip” portion refers to the addition of Bear Creek Wines, Logyard Brews, and CJ Spirits which will be offered in the near future. Lick N Sip is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon-8:00pm and is located at 38 East Main Street, Mt. Jewett, PA.
MT. JEWETT’S YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES
The Knox & Kane Rail Trail, an 8-mile linear trail from Lantz Corners to the Kinzua Bridge State Park, has their major trail head in Mt. Jewett. This rail trail is suitable for families and is open for biking, hiking, equestrian, and cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling in the winter. Parking is at the trailhead behind the Mt. Jewett Borough Office building.
The area’s single most visited attraction, the world famous Kinzua Sky Walk, is in the nearby Kinzua Bridge State Park. Open from 8:00am-dusk daily, the skywalk is free to visit. The Kinzua Visitors Center at the park is open from 8:00am-6:00pm daily. The park is located at 296 Viaduct Road, Mt. Jewett, PA.
For more information on the attractions listed, lodging and other things to see and do in the area, please go to www.VisitANF.com.