Saturday, May 16, 2026
When you play the video, turn your volume up.
A Gateway to the North through art, music, and - the kitchen.
Nordic Gateway LA is a one-day cultural experience showcasing the most exciting of today’s Nordic art, music, entertainment, and food in Los Angeles.
Interactive Activities for All Ages
Entertainment and Performances
Music, Food, Drinks, and Prizes
Hosted by Peer Gynt LA, this event is designed to connect communities, celebrate traditions and highlight innovations that define the North.
From live music and performances to food, storytelling, family-friendly and competitive activities with a chance to win prizes - Nordic Gateway LA offers something for everyone - whether you have Scandinavian or Nordic roots, or are simply curious about the culture.
This is more than an event. It’s a meeting point.
A place where heritage meets modern Los Angeles.
Where new connections are made across industries, generations, and cultures.
Nordic Gateway LA and other Peer Gynt LA events are to be considered private, not public. Entrance and access to our events is at our sole discretion.
2026 PROGRAM
What to Expect
A day focused on showcasing the best Los Angeles has to offer of Norwegian, Scandinavian and Nordic culture.
Live Performances – Music and storytelling from Nordic and LA-based artists
Nordic Cuisine – Traditional flavors and modern interpretations
Family & Kids Activities – Including crafts and interactive experiences
Cultural Showcases – Art, design, and Nordic-inspired experiences
Community & Networking – Meet fellow Nordics, creatives, and internationally minded Angelenos
All ages; singles, couples, families young and up
May 16, 2026
11:00am - 3:00pm followed by a live concert with select Nordic artists and a Very Special Guest
Location:
4783 W. 130th. St.
Hawthorne, CA 90250
Parking on 130th Street.
Talent
Thor Knai
Actor and Storyteller
A special Viking Reading from Snorri Sturlason’s Norse King Sagas
12:30PM and 2:30PM
Take a Picture with a Real Viking
1:00PM
Originally from Norway, Thor Knai served in Afghanistan with NATO forces in 2005, before modeling in Europe and Asia and eventually moving to Hollywood. Over the years, he has built a steady career in film and television, most recently appearing in Netflix's Rebel Moon Parts 1 & 2, directed by Zack Snyder, and Vince Gilligan's Pluribus series on Apple TV.
Thor has made guest appearances on plenty of popular TV shows, including Reign, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, and Bones. Thor's upcoming projects include the films Street Smart, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, and The Wrong Girls, a comedy starring Kristen Stewart.
Beyond acting, Thor is an avid gamer. He runs professional Dungeons & Dragons sessions at castles in the U.K. and for some of Hollywood's most influential players. He created and published his own official Dungeons & Dragons board game in 2023.
The Knai name is pre-Viking Norse, from a region of Norway long associated with the Kings of old, and even mentioned in the collected folk-tales of Norway (Asbjørnsen & Moe) as a family with Hulder-blood (fey-blood).
Concert Headliner:
A Very Special Music Guest
Recording Artist & Songwriter
Concert @ 3:00PM
More details to be announced soon.
Harald Austad
Fine Artist & DJ
Spinnin’ Nordic hits while showcasing Supergraphic art
12:00PM to 3:00PM
Harald Austad (b. 1984) is a Norwegian artist and music producer who lives and works in Los Angeles. He began his creative career as a producer and songwriter in Norway, working with artists such as Karpe, Madcon, OnklP, Cezinando, and Bernhoft. The songs he has created have won Spellemann Awards (Norwegian Grammy Awards), led to Gullruten nominations (Norwegian Emmy Awards), achieved gold and platinum sales, and have been streamed over 100 million times.
As an artist, he is currently presenting the solo exhibition Power Portraits at Corey Helford Gallery in LA until May 9th. His most recent exhibition in Norway was a collaboration with Unni Askeland, where he showcased works from his Norwegian Heritage Collection.
He is known for his “Supergraphic” style and paints under the philosophy “minimal forms, maximum colors.” You can see him on MTV in the program The West Coast Hustle or on social media @harald.austad, where he shares his art process in viral videos.
Aiida
Singer & Songwriter
Concert @ 3:00PM
What would it sound like if Amelia Moore, Ashnikko, and Banks had a Norwegian-Albanian powerhouse baby? It would sound exactly like Aiida.
Aiida’s music is a loud, proud exploration of "female rage," her queer identity, and her mixed Albanian-Norwegian heritage. Originally from Oslo, Norway, and now based in Los Angeles, Aiida is a dark-pop force of nature. A lifelong performer, her career began with a Platinum-certified vocal performance on the Norwegian Grammy-nominated (Spellemann) album Barnas Superjul. Today, she has evolved into a pop architect with a massive vocal range and a sickening pen-game,
Beyond the stage, Aiida is a prolific songwriter and viral force. Her music has achieved A-list rotation on NRK P1, with multiple singles earning heavy rotation across NRK P3 and NRK mp3. She also frequents Spotify’s New Music Friday editorials. Her creative reach is global; a pop-cover collaboration of "Landslide" with Primary Wave Publishing exploded online, surpassing 700k views in just two weeks.
She has also had performances at Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL, Oslo Pride in Norway, and Washashore Music Festival, the LGBTQ+ music festival in Provincetown, MA.
Songwriting credits include: “Tik Tik” – Bollywood superstar Jacqueline Fernandez “Bet” – Percy Jackson star Dior Goodjohn “Hate It in Here” – TikTok phenomenon Jenny Baker.
Oda Victoria Reitan
Fine Artist & Writer
We Create a Unique Nordic-Inspired Artwork Together
1:30PM to 2:30PM
Oda Victoria Reitan (b. 1992) is a Norwegian artist working across painting, performance, and prose. Based between Norway and Los Angeles, her work is shaped by contrasts and created in response to classical music, translating rhythm into movement and tension between calm and intensity, darkness and light.
Marit Bakkan
Fine Artist
We Create a Unique Nordic-Inspired Artwork Together
1:30PM to 2:30PM
Marit S. Bakkan is a Norwegian artist based in Los Angeles, originally from Vest-Telemark, Norway. Her work is shaped by a lifelong attentiveness to nature - it's textures, silences, and organic rhythms - and a deep affinity for Japanese aesthetics, a sensibility she describes as Japandi: still, soft, and rooted in the natural world.
Marit works primarily in sumi ink and acrylic on raw cotton, creating nude portraits and organic compositions that explore the body, stillness, and the beauty found in simplicity. Her palette is gentle and her forms unhurried - each piece an invitation to pause.
Through her practice, Marit seeks to make art that feels warm and quietly expressive ~ bringing softness, beauty, and connection into a space.
Olivia Junholm
Singer & Songwriter
Concert @ 3:00PM
Olivia Junholm is a Swedish singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, that’s been making waves with her unique blend of soulful vocals, dreamy pop melodies, and jazzy undertones. Her voice carries both warmth and presence, earning recognition from Rolling Stone France & RockNBold as a force to be reckoned with. Her music has been featured on European radio, and her live performances - ranging from global platforms like Sofar Sounds to local LA venues such as The Baked Potato Jazz Club, The Peppermint Club, and Hotel Café - captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression with her soulful delivery.
Linn Holmes
Singer & Songwriter
Concert @ 3:00PM
Linn Holmstedt p/k/a Linn Holmes is a Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter originally from Sweden. Known as both an artist and sought-after session singer, she has performed and recorded background vocals for a wide range of bands and artists, becoming a recognizable presence in the LA rock scene. Her sound blends gospel roots with classic rock influences, drawing inspiration from artists like Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, and Fleetwood Mac.
She began performing at an early age in Sweden, including a TV appearance on Allsång på Skansen, and later built her career in Los Angeles as both a session vocalist and artist. In 2024, she launched her solo project under the name Linn Holmes, releasing singles and an EP that gained international radio play and press coverage.
Linn is also a member of the vintage rock band Harry Katz and the Pistachios and serves as vocal ensemble director for Ultimate Jam Night at Whisky a Go Go. She has performed at iconic venues including The Viper Room and The Troubadour, and continues to release new music while performing across California and beyond.
Where to Find Us
Our event takes place at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawthorne, Los Angeles. There will be street parking and parking at the school across from the church on the side street.
4783 W.130th. St.
Hawthorne CA 90250
Parking on 130th Street.