HANCOCK — Reports of a Viking invasion in Hancock on Oct. 5 have proven true, but locals don’t need to worry – the Finns invited them.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day, a living history event, dubbed “Balagard,” will take place at Quincy Green on the Finlandia University campus. Featuring live reenactments, demonstrations and plenty of family-friendly interaction, Balagard is the culmination of the Festival Ruska programming brought to Hancock by the Finnish American Folk School.

Events taking place all day include children’s activities, crafting and axe throwing; merchants will be selling their wares throughout the day as well. Balagard will also include re-enactments, presentations in Viking-age foodways, storytelling, leatherworking, fiber production, iron smelting, blacksmithing, wood carving, and even the games and pastimes of the folks who lived during this intriguing era in Nordic history. Presenters from the Upper Midwest will be joined by friends from the UK and Sweden to provide attendees with a Viking experience that’s never been seen before in the Copper Country.

Balagard is made possible by several supporting partners, including Viking Connection, Vikingar Austmarar, the Historical and Cultural Society of Dane County, the University of Wisconsin Green Bay Viking House, and the Finnish American Heritage Center and Finnish American Folk School at Finlandia University.

For further information, find Balagard on Facebook or email tobias.dawson@finlandia.edu.