The trickster comes to Vista! The Vista Viking Festival returns for its 24th year as Southern California’s premier celebration of Viking and Nordic culture. Join us the third weekend in September at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista for a weekend of history, myth, battle, music, food, and community.

Each year of the festival carries a theme drawn from the legends of the North. After honoring the strength and legacy of the Valkyries, 2026 brings us the Year of Loki.

In Norse mythology, Loki is the trickster—clever, unpredictable, and always stirring the pot. His stories remind us that chaos and creativity often walk hand in hand. This year’s festival will embrace that mischievous spirit with surprises, laughter, and a few unexpected twists along the way.

 

Visitors can expect everything that has made the Vista Viking Festival a beloved community tradition for over two decades:

 

The festival is more than a cultural gathering—it is also a community celebration. Proceeds from the Vista Viking Festival support the Norway Hall Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, along with numerous local schools, youth programs, and charitable organizations.

 

Whether you come as a berserker, a shieldmaiden, a skald, or simply a wanderer seeking adventure, all are welcome! Mark your calendars and gather your raiders young and old. The trickster is loose in Vista!