---

The Kichi Saga Swedish Club hosts the Dalarna Femund Traildrivers at 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 17, at Chisago Lakes Lutheran Church, Center City. The program is open to everyone for a donation of $2 at the door.

In 2003, this group of 10 Swedish and Norwegian traildrivers traveled an ancient wintertime trade route from Falum, Sweden, to Röros, Norway, using only horse and sleigh. In the 1600s, traildrivers traveled through snowy woods and across frozen lakes to move iron ingots and goods from the mines in Dalarna to the ice free port of Trondheim, Norway. They traveled from village to village bringing in goods, music and news of the outside world. At the height of the trade in the 1700s, the route saw up to 80,000 trips back and forth each winter.

The traildrivers have come to Minnesota to share their stories, experiences and music. Along with film and slides, the group performs in traditional clothing from the 1800s and play the fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Most of the music is hundreds of years old, but many new songs came about during the 2003 journey.

This is a great program and you won’t want to miss it. Besides Center City, the group will perform at the American Swedish Institute, Mora and on MPR’s Prairie Home Companion. More information about the group can be found at www.caner aq.com. For local information, call Jocelyn at 651-257-9231 or Marian at 651-464-3594.

---