The first Mead on Main Viking festival drew a large crowd in its debut a year ago, and organizers expect the upcoming second annual version to bring even more visitors to Festus.
The 2021 event is set for noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, in and around Four Brothers Meadery, 124 Main St.
Admission is free.
Dan Luck, an owner of the business, estimated that 1,500 people attended the festival in 2020.
“I think we’ll easily have more this year,” Luck said. “We’ll have people from all over come in for the Viking festival.”
He said visitors from Illinois, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee are expected to turn out, along with those from Jefferson County and the St. Louis area.
Once again, the festival will feature Viking-themed entertainment and refreshments, including mead, often referred to as honey wine.
“There will be regular snow cones for kids and mead-flavored snow cones for adults (among the refreshments offered for purchase),” Luck said.
A new activity will be archery on a grassy area across from the parking lot behind the Four Brothers Mead building.
“South County Archers will teach safe archery,” Luck said. “It’s actually for all ages. It’s just single-string bows. The archery will end when it gets dark. We’ll also have the fire pits going if it’s cold outside.”
A bellydance group will perform, another new activity for the festival.
“The Na’ava Sands Bellydance Troupe do different dances, and they incorporate fire into some of the dances,” Luck said. “They also incorporate swords and poles.”
Nearly 40 vendors, many selling Norse-themed items, as well as at least one vendor with a military connection, will be at the event.
“We have a guy coming from Virginia who will bring a couple of alpacas,” Luck said. “It will be like a little petting zoo. It’s called Freedom Fleece Alpacas, alpaca apparel. It’s a veteran-owned business.”
Other returning activities include blacksmithing, ax-throwing and Viking re-enactments. Attendees are encouraged to dress in Viking garb.
Musical acts also will perform, including Cahill and Co. from noon to 3 p.m.; John Littlefield, 3-6 p.m.; and The Rockwood Boys, 6-9 p.m.
A food truck also will be on hand.
“It will be a fantastic event,” Luck said.
Luck received a $6,000 grant from the Festus Tourism Commission to help cover advertising for the festival.
For more information, go to
fourbrothersmead.com or visit the Four Brothers Mead Facebook page.