TITTI SJÖBLOM & EHRLING ELIASSON

Titti and Ehrling are from Sweden. Titti is the daughter of Alice Babs, one of Sweden’s most famous vocalists from the era of the 1940s to the 1970s. Titti started singing at the age of two with her mother and made records and appearances on radio and television throughout her childhood. Her first stage appearance was at Johanneshov in Stockholm where she sang “Droppen Dripp” in the same gala as Sammy Davis Jr. and Ingrid Bergman. Her second appearance was at “Scandinavium” in Gothenburg as Maria Magdalena in “Jesus Christ Super Star.”

Titti’s musicality and versatility as an artist have led to performances of everything from children’s songs to jazz, gospel, ballads, and pop music. Together with her husband, guitarist and vocalist Ehrling Eliasson, she has been  touring throughout Sweden and abroad, often in collaboration with choirs, orchestras, brass, and string bands. Most of the time it is their two voices and the guitar that performs at many different venues such as churches, concert halls, stadiums, business conventions, festivals, and more.

Ehrling is a true Norlander, from  Ångermanland. He is a brilliant guitarist who plays everything from jazz and ballads to pop and rock. Sometimes he appears solo as a toastmaster and entertainer, and combines his own songs with well known melodies. They will be singing in both English and Swedish.

Daughters of Scandinavia

Susan Olsen Maren and Annelie Fahlstedt, the Daughters of Scandinavia, play Hardanger Fiddle, the eight-stringed folk instrument unique to Norway.  There are over twenty different tunings of the strings and the music is highly ornamented.  Tunes may tell a story and are for marching and dancing as well as for listening.  The duo has performed at the Scandinavian Fest in New Jersey since 1991 and has also performed at the New Jersey Folk Festival at Rutgers University, The Noreg Viking Fest, Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island, and the Scandinavian Music Festival at Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan.  Solo performances include Brooklyn College, The Barge, Weill Recital Hall, Scandinavia House, The New York Public Library, and CBS TV.  Dressed in bunads (national costumes), they perform authentic folk music of Norway.  Both Susan and Annelie are also  professional classical violinists and music educators

Rebecca Kelly: Storytelling Artist

Tales of Scandinavia for children and adults.

Rebecca Kelly’s Storytelling Creations brings storytelling, art and nature to schools, libraries, museums and festivals. A former member of Manhattan Punchline’s Comedy Corps, Rebecca makes a tale come alive with high energy, humor, audience participation and improvisation. Rebecca is a teaching artist with Young Audiences of New Jersey and teaches Early Childhood Education at Bucks County Community College. She has been featured at the Heritage Trail Storytelling Festival, the Please Touch Museum and the NJ Teen Arts Festival. Contact Rebecca at: kellyre@bucks.edu

The SAHS Band

SAHS BAND under the direction of Erik Johansson, featuring Erik and Bert Stromholm on the accordion, violinist Jeanette Baker, Walter Eriksson Jr.on drums and nyckelharpa, and Roy Johnson on guitar.

They are one of the leading Scandinavian bands on the East Coast.

Children's Club Skansen

Children's Club Skansen #147 was chartered in the summer of 1959 and included children from 5 to 13 years old. Membership has averaged from 15-40 children, many of who continue on to Vasastjarnan Junior Club. The club meets once a month at Viking Hall at Vasa Park.

Rolf Stang – Showman and Storyteller

Mr. Stang is an actor, singer, writer, translator, repertoire coach, and lecturer based in New York City. In addition to appearing in many musicals and singing Lieder recitals throughout the U.S. and around the world, he regularly brings to life historical figures such as Edvard Grieg, H.C. Andersen, Leif Eriksson, and Henrik Ibsen. Mr. Stang was knighted by the Norwegian Crown in 1997, and in 1998 he was inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame.

Mr. Stang is an actor, singer, writer, translator, repertoire coach, and lecturer based in New York City.

This year, Mr. Stang will join us as Erik the Red, a Wandering Minstrel.

Vasastjärnan Junior Folkdancers

Vasastjärnan Junior Club was chartered by the Vasa Order of America in 1952, and is the only teenage group in NJ District 6. The club has been continuously active for 55 years. Accordionist, Eric Johansson has been the leader, teacher and musician of the fine group of young people for many, many years and should be complimented for his dedication.

Our members are of Scandinavian descent, and between the ages of 12 and 21. We rehearse at Vasa Park several times a month, depending on our performance schedule.

KALEVALA (Finnish National Epic) will be shown as a 30 minute DVD, shortly to be released.

The short DVD, Kalevala for Young People "Tuohitorvi soi'' was filmed by Singing Strings tyoryhma with a large cultural grant received from Alfred Kordelin Foundation  in 2008. The film is almost finished and will be donated to  all Finnish  schools around the world and shown at Finn Grandfest 2010. The film is three segments from poems and stories from Kalevala; Birth of Vainamoinen; Snatching of Kyllikki, and Forging of Sampo, the magic mill.  It uses  song; poetry; dance; beautiful and breathtaking landscapes from Finland, and music specifically written for the film, as its medium to bring Kalevala alive.

Two instructors from Singing Strings Institute in Minnesota will briefly play music before the movie: Helina Leino-Pakola, concert violinist and twin sister Hilpi Leino-Kantola, a concert pianist. The instructors run a Singing Strings performance group, which was founded in 1984, and has since performed folk and classical music all over the world. They also will be performing for us during the day.

Throughout the Day...

SWEA Maypole

Scandinavian Food and Marketplace

Children's Activities

Swedish Folkdancing

SAHS Cabaret

Raffles

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Directions to Vasa Park

From New York:
Take I-80 West to Exit 26, Budd Lake and Route 46 West. Follow Route 46 West to the first stop light after the lake (Wolfe Road). Make a left onto Wolfe Road and Vasa Park is 1/8 mile on your right.

From Allentown, PA:
Take Route 22 East to Route 57 into Hackettstown. From Hackettstown, take Route 46 East for 2 mile to Wolfe Road. Make right onto Wolfe Road, go 1/8 mile to Vasa Park on your right.

From South Jersey:
Take the Garden State Parkway to Route 287 North to Route 206 North (or Route 78 West to Route 206 North). Take Route 206 North to I-80 West. Take I-80 West to Exit 26, Budd Lake and Route 46 West to the first stop light after the lake (Wolfe Road). Make a left onto Wolfe Road and Vasa Park is 1/8 mile on your right.

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Vendor Information

We welcome vendors!

Vendors are welcome to participate at the Scandinavian Midsummer Celebration. Please click here for a vendor application and reserve your space by June 10.
10 X 10 Vendor space $TBD.
Non Profits FREE- bring own table

Food vendors, please telephone us at 973-216-2242.

Details: Setup: 7am - 10:30 a.m. Celebration lasts until dusk with traditional Bonfire. Bring own tables, chairs, tent (recommended). Vendors get 3 free wristbands; Add'l are $5 (Free if in costume)
After unloading, park behind pavilion up along treeline. Vendors are to stay open until 6 pm and are welcome to remain open until dusk. "Non Food Vendors" include arts, handicrafts, gift items, packaged goods, and nonperishable goods (baked goods included). If you are a "Non-profit" booth, it must be a recognized Scandinavian organization, fraternal order, church, lodge, or museum.
Celebration is rain or shine. No refunds. SAHS donations are tax deductible.
Bring your friends!

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Hotels Near Vasa Park

Please call these hotels directly for more information and directions to Budd Lake.

Whistling Swan Inn *Voted Top Ten B&B by Inn Traveler Magazine*
110 Main St
Stanhope, NJ 07874
(973) 347-6369
www.whistlingswaninn.com

Holiday Inn Express & Suites
176 Howard Blvd
Mt Arlington, NJ 07856
(973) 770-7880

Kennedy's Budd Lake Motel
110 Us Highway 46
Budd Lake, NJ 07828
(973) 691-9616

Comfort Suites
102 Route 46
Budd Lake, NJ 07828
(973) 448-7500

Wyndham Garden Hotel
1000 International Drive North
Mount Olive, NJ 07828
(973) 448-1100

Days Inn
Route 46
Netcong/Stanhope
(973) 347-5100

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