The Scandinavian Dinner & Bake Sale restarted in 1996. Normally held the first Friday in November it features a Scandinavian menu and a bake sale with plenty of variety.
The event celebrates our community and church history. The church was founded in 1886 as the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Services were held in the Norwegian language until 1924, when it was decided to use Norwegian and English on alternating Sundays. In the late 1940’s Norwegian services began to be phased out. We have transitioned from an immigrant church to today’s community-based congregation. Now in addition to our Lutheran services we host a variety of community-based activities including this dinner honoring our Scandinavian heritage and fellowship.
• The Menu: Lutefisk remains a popular item and this is one of the few times people can enjoy this treat. In addition there is Dag Hammarskjold’s Swedish meatballs, Rutabaga/Carrot Casserole, Peas, Red Potatoes, Cranberry Orange Relish, Pickled Beets, Pickled Herring, Lefse, Rice Pudding with Lingonberries, Swedish Rye Bread, and Krumkake. All served buffet-style.
• The logistics of making this meal: Months of planning go into making the event happen. For example, we make over 1,400 meatballs and 800 rounds of lefse days before the event. Bakers will be pulling out their favorite Scandinavian recipes to make for the bake sale. The day before the event we have dozens of people peeling potatoes, carrots, and rutabagas.
• Bake Sale: We have over 30 bakers who regularly contribute to a wide variety of treats. Just to name a few: Christmas cake, almond cake, fall pies, bars and muffins of all types, yeast breads and rolls, cheesecake, Christmas bread, stollen, kringle, krumkake, cookies of all types, rosettes AND lefse! Lefse is made fresh on site just before the dinner by our members. Prices for bakery items range from $3 to $20. Traditional Scandinavian holiday items sell out the fastest; however, the sale is restocked throughout the evening so choices remain the same as much as possible.
• This important outreach for First Lutheran not only keeps traditions alive but supports local organizations and beyond. All the profits go to what we call Love Gifts. Over the years the event has raised over $110,000, with about half staying in Sawyer County going to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Regional Hospice, Senior Resource Center, and outreach for the church. The other half goes to projects around the country and world for supporting efforts such as disaster relief, food security, and children’s programs. The gifts to these organizations continues to be a driving factor in holding the event.