Thousands gathered April 11 for the Four Brothers Mead sixth annual Sigurblot Viking Festival in downtown Festus, many in Viking garb, organizers reported.
The event inside and behind Four Brothers Mead, 124 E. Main St., featured live music, Viking-themed entertainment, vendors and other activities, and drew thousands of people, said Vince Borgmann of Four Brothers Mead.
Most of the festival’s activities took place on the city’s parking lot off of Second Street behind the meadery or on a strip of park property owned by the city on the south side of south Second Street. The event ran from noon to 9 p.m.
“It was another good year,” Borgmann said. “The weather was great.”
As with the Mead on Main – A Viking Festival held each fall, a feature of the Sigurblot spring event was demonstrations by the St. Louis Legion of Honor armored combat organization.
Borgmann said that calling them “demonstrations” is an understatement. Participants gave several 45-minute displays of fighting.
“They put on a heck of a good show,” he said. “They were using blunt swords and maces, and were fighting to win. They have some women fighters, too.”
After a year away, the Mystic Sands Belly Dance group gave several performances at the 2026 Sigurblot and were well-received, he said.
Music performers included: John Jarrett; Bella the Bard; Blight of Many; and Bad Karma on two stages at different times during the day.
Vendors, many with Viking-themed merchandise, participated in the festivities, as did food trucks, Borgmann said.
“I’d say we ended up with around 70 vendors,” he said.
Four Brothers Mead, which makes and sells mead, received a $16,000 grant from the Festus Tourism Commission to assist in publicizing the event.
“I have to tip my cap to the Festus Tourism Commission for supporting us,” Borgmann said. “We couldn’t do it without them.”
He said the use of the city’s parking lot and park area across the street from it also is greatly appreciated.
“It really is a great set-up for us,” Borgmann said. “The city has really been cooperative.”
He said the Sigurblot and Mead on Main – A Viking Festival have become established events for Four Brothers Mead and for Festus, drawing hordes of outsiders to town.
“I just want to thank everybody for coming out and letting us show them a good day and show off the city,” he said.
