“Sven” madly shovels snow, most of it landing on “Ole’s” head. Ole obliviously holds up a sign advertising the Sven & Ole World Championship Joke telling contest that will be held Feb. 20 at Sven & Ole’s pizzeria in Grand Marais at 7 p.m. “Sven” and “Ole” are actually Anton Ligaarden and Kristian Balsrod, two Norwegian filmmakers and journalism students. They are hosting the joke telling contest.
Folks who passed by Sven & Ole’s pizzeria in Grand Marais this week may have seen “Sven” madly shoveling snow, landing most of it on the head of an oblivious “Ole.” Why was the famed Scandinavian duo in front of Sven & Ole’s? They were promoting the Sven & Ole World Championship Joke telling contest that will be held Feb. 20 at Sven & Ole’s at 7 p.m.
“Sven” and “Ole” are actually Anton Ligaarden and Kristian Balsrod, two Norwegian filmmakers and journalism students. They are hosting the joke-telling contest.
First prize is a $50 gift certificate to Sven & Ole’s and a $25 gift certificate will be given to the person judged to have the best Scandinavian accent.
All contestants (ages 3 to 103) will get a prize. There is no entry fee, but the jokes must remain family friendly—however, lighthearted Norwegian, Swedish and Danish rivalry is acceptable.
Ligaarden (Sven) and Balsrod (Ole) first came to Cook County last summer to begin filming and photographing Americans with Nordic roots, hoping to find traditions and culture that remain from the “old country.” They returned in late January to finish gathering more information for their interactive documentary, which they hope to complete in August 2013. A short, beautiful preview of their work can be seen at www.Lutefiskhotel.com.
Come and tell your best Sven & Ole joke and you might just wind up in their documentary as well!
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