Celebrate the Opening of Viking Park at the 128th Icelandic Festival Of Manitoba - Islendingadagurinn
BRAND NEW VIKING PARK OPENS TO PUBLIC
Gimli, MB – On Saturday, August 5, the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba – Islendingadagurinn and their partners Betel Home Foundation and the R.M. of Gimli invite the public to celebrate the opening of Viking Park, a beautiful space created around the famous Viking statue in Gimli.
In 2014, Islendingadagurinn commemorated 125 years of celebrating Icelandic history, culture, and its contribution to life in Manitoba. In honour of this milestone anniversary, they have worked with the community to design a space that is accessible for people with disabilities and created a uniquely Icelandic experience.
"We worked with the community every step of the way and are proud to have created an authentic and magical Icelandic experience that is unlike any other park in Canada,” says Grant Stefanson, Co-Chair of the Viking Park campaign and the 1st Vice-President of the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba.
“A visit to the park will provide a diverse, accessible and memorable visitor experience to 200,000 locals and tourists who come to see the Viking and view the inland sea every year,” says Kathi Thorarinson Neal, Co-Chair of the Viking Park campaign and past President of the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba.
The pathways around the park are paved with stones inscribed with commemorative messages and greetings from people in the community who donated to making this dream a reality. Local schools contributed stones with special inscriptions, which celebrate Canada’s 150th and the Icelandic and Indigenous peoples to whom many of the students and staff have descended from. Nearly $1 million has been raised so far, and there is still opportunity to share your story in Viking Park.
The pathways take visitors through three different gardens filled with indigenous plants, grasses and flowers – the Troll Storm Garden, the Elf Garden, and the Breakwater Garden – designed by HTFC Planning & Design.
Each section of the park highlights a different element of Norse mythology. Troll-like faces carved into stones around the garden pay tribute to the Norse legend in which trolls turn to stone if they are touched by sunshine. Tiny elf houses are placed along the pathways to provide shelter for the elves, who are highly regarded in Icelandic culture.
The Viking Statue was erected in 1967, Canada's 100th year of confederation, by the Gimli Chamber of Commerce, so it's only fitting that the statue's new surroundings be opened to the public in celebration of Canada's 150th.
Join us for the 128th Icelandic Festival of Manitoba – Islendingadagurinn, from August 4 – 7, 2017, in Gimli, MB, and for the opening of Viking Park on Saturday, August 5, from noon to 2:00 PM.
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About Icelandic Festival of Manitoba:
The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba is a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting and sustaining interest in Icelandic culture and descent, primarily through the presentation of an annual family oriented celebration, held every August long weekend in beautiful Gimli, Manitoba.
The 2017 Icelandic Festival dates are August 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th.
Join us and enjoy food, music, entertainment, events/activities, Icelandic culture, and of course, Vikings! With the support of our sponsors, donors and volunteers we offer many festival events for free or low cost.
For more information, please contact:
Angie Lamirande
POP Entertainment & Management
Angie@TalkToPOP.com
(204) 510-5892