Norse-focused fun will return to Festus on Saturday with the seventh annual Mead on Main – A Viking Festival.
The event, put on by Four Brothers Mead, runs from noon to 9 p.m. inside and behind the meadery, 124 E. Main St., and features music, Viking-themed entertainment, vendors and other activities. There is no admission fee.
Mead on Main – A Viking Festival and a related event Four Brothers puts on each spring called Sigurblot, have continued to draw thousands of people each time, noted Dan Luck, an event organizer and an owner of Four Brothers Mead.
He said there was no way of knowing how popular the Viking-themed events would be when the first one was held in 2020.
“When we first started, I just wanted to provide a fun Renaissance-type environment,” he said. “I didn’t think it would be this successful. We’ve had a lot of support from the community. It’s gained a lot of traction. People look forward to it.
“I’ve had people say it’s drawn 7,000 (for the festival). It’s hard to get a count. We get people from Texas and Minnesota, from all over the place.”
He said attendees can expect the same types of entertainment and atmosphere the event has offered in past years.
“We’ll have several bands on two stages,” Luck said. “The St. Louis Legion of Honor has participated in our Viking events and will put on their battle demonstrations.
“We’ll have the fire and belly dancers. It’s one group that does it. It’s belly dancing that incorporates fire into it.”
Dozens of vendors, many with Viking-themed items to sell, will be on hand again, he said.
“We’ll have food trucks and vendors from across the region,” he said. “The count is about 50 vendors.
“The Scottish St. Andrew Society of St. Louis will be doing a booth. That’s new for us.”
And, of course, mead (honey wine) will be available for purchase, Luck said.
“We’ll have all your favorite meads,” he said. “We’ll also have our VIP tent for Mead Club members. It’s an exclusive tent with the front row view of the Legion of Honor demonstrations and with discounted prices on mead.”
Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to dress in Viking garb, he said.
The Festus Tourism Commission awarded a $15,000 grant to Four Brothers Mead for the event.
“I want to thank the city for allowing us to continue with this event,” Luck said.
Visit fourbrothersmead.com or the Four Brothers Mead page on Facebook.