First Meetup of 2026! Nordic Vikings: Myth vs Reality. Weds Jan 21 @ 6:30pm!

Vikings are everywhere in the Nordic countries—and not just in museums behind glass. You’ll spot them in street names, café décor, local legends, and especially in Nordic countries like Iceland, Denmark, and Norway, where the medieval past still feels weirdly… present.

Adam Bierstedt, Curator at the Museum of Danish America, will be joining the Travel & Culture Group to provide a lively history of the Vikings and the sagas that tell their stories. Interwoven with our event will be stories from his time living in Iceland and Denmark, accompanied by a couple objects from his and MoDA’s collections.

This talk is a lively, story-filled look at how Viking history shows up in modern Scandinavia—and why the Vikings remain ridiculously fascinating: bold explorers, master shipbuilders, traders, storytellers, and yes… occasional problem-solvers via axe.

Schedule:

6:30 PM: Social time – Grab a drink, mingle, and meet fellow travelers
7 PM: Adams presentation on Vikings!
8 PM-ish: Event finishes

If your 2026 needs more adventure, epic sagas, and “wait… that’s real?!” moments... this is your night. Happy New Year, and looking forward to seeing all you lovely travelers on the 21st!