SPANISH FORK — Staying true to their ancestors' tradition, the descendants of the first Icelanders who came to America and Spanish Fork more than 150 years ago will hold their annual midwinter celebration.

Spanish Fork is the site of the oldest continuous settlement of Icelanders in North America, spokesman Jack Tobiasson said. Members of the Icelandic Association of Utah prize their Icelandic heritage through traditional events.

The annual Thorrablot on Saturday includes a hearty meal of traditional Icelandic food, some of it imported from Iceland for Westerners to sample, Tobiasson said.

Other events include:

Drawings for prizes, including artifacts from Iceland.

Booths and activities centered on Icelandic culture and heritage.

Entertainment, including group singing of Icelandic folk songs.

View Comments

The public is invited. The celebration begins at 6 p.m. Icelandic heritage booths will be set up. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the door for $7 for children 12 and younger and $15 per adult.

Proceeds from Thorrablot go into the Icelandic Association's education fund used to award a scholarship to someone of Icelandic descent between the ages of 18 and 25. The scholarship winner also gets to spend six weeks in Iceland with common-ancestry relatives.

The event is held at the Veterans Memorial Building, 400 N. Main in Spanish Fork.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.