Fjordin Crossin & Paddle the Canal

Fjordin Crossin & Paddle the Canal

Hood Canal Events and The Hardware Distillery are excited to announce the 6th Annual Fjordin Crossin. It will take place this year on Saturday, June 17 at the Port of Hoodsport dock located at the Hoodsport Marina.

Fjordin Crossin is a fun family event that celebrates the old Linie Aquavit tradition of sending a barrel of Aquavit in a ship from Norway across the Equator and back to Norway. The rocking of the boat and the salt air is meant to improve the taste of the Aquavit spirit. The Hardware Distillery pays homage to that spirit by sending a barrel of its aquavit across the Hood Canal, (a Fjord), with a festive celebration.

Fjordin Crossin has been growing each year. The event begins with a parade from the distillery to the dock with the barrel of Aquavit. For the first year, the parade had only the distiller, the port maintenance engineer, and the barrel of aquavit. By the third year, the parade was led by Scandinavian fiddle and accordion musicians, followed by many participants.

Meanwhile under the pier, the adult Aquavit Garden serves cocktails on the beach as attendees await the arrival of the tide which will eventually send them to higher ground and move the events into the lively main street of Hoodsport. Also at the Grotto, Potlatch Brewing will be brewing a special Scandinavian Farm House Ale, using an old Scandinavian brewer’s recipe and Kviek, “kweek,” a specialty Scandinavian yeast.

The Procession arrives at the dock, and the Distillery launches a barrel of aged Dill Aquavit on Lee Geist’s boat, Twanoh. Traveling from Hoodsport's dock to Tahuya and back, when it returns, the Aquavit has been "Fjordin Crossin."

To celebrate the launch, Hood Canal Events sponsors a Paddle the Canal Challenge that follows the Twanoh in canoes, kayaks, SUPs and/or small sailboats. Registration fee is open to all ages and abilities. Paddle the Canal Challenge is $39. The Lady Alderbrook offers a 2-hour cruise, which departs from the Alderbrook Resort & Spa’s dock at noon, and travels toward Hoodsport. On board, Aquavit cocktails are served, and participants take in the day’s festivities from the center of the action. Spectators can purchase advance tickets from the Alderbrook Resort and Spa.

Along with other Scandinavian delights, Chef Patchen’s fire pork sandwiches are paired with Scandinavian potato salad and herring, and mushrooms with lingonberry.

This year the parking lot at the Hood Canal School District at the corner of Hwy 106 and Hwy 101 has been reserved for

transportation to the event. A small school bus will run continuously between the school and Hoodsport. The shuttle is free.

The activities at the Port will end at 3 PM, and move to Hoodsport, which we have named the “after-party.” Its sole purpose is to support the local businesses, by giving the participants an opportunity to visit, shop, and eat at our local establishments.

Be sure to visit all the many other businesses in Hoodsport that join in on the Fjordin Crossin celebration. The Fjord Oyster Bank and Welcome Center will be hosting live music and Scandinavian heritage culinary creations created by Chef Xinh Dwelley. The Hardware Distillery will be hosting their open house to celebrate the Aquavit Launch while the Potlatch Brewing Company will have their new Fjordin Crossin beer available.

For details on the event and schedule updates visit explorehoodcanal.com/fjordin.

Fjordin Schedule of Events

11:00 AM Food, libations, and vendors open at the Hoodsport Dock. For those not pre-registered, registration for Paddle the Canal is open.

12:40 PM Parade from the Hardware Distillery to the dock with the barrel of Aquavit. (parade led by Scandinavian musicians, followed by all who want to join).

1:00 PM Crossing the Fjord begins: barrel of aged Dill Aquavit rides across the fjord on the MV Twanoh. It travels from the Port of Hoodsport toward Tahuya and back, and when it returns, the Aquavit has been Fjordin Crossin.

The Paddle the Canal challenge begins. Canoes, kayaks, SUPs and/or small sailboats. Family friendly, prizes, entry fee $39.

The MV Lady Alderbrook arrives.

2:00 PM Award ceremony and prizes for the Paddle Challengers.

3:00 PM Tide comes into the grotto; celebration moves onshore. Visit shops

4 PM – Close Live music & Oyster Party at the Fjord Oyster Bank