Before this festival ...Atlanta had become an important international city and plans were underway for the 1996 Olympics. A group of interested Scandinavians in the Atlanta area began discussing ways to make others aware of the unique nature of their countries. The first Scandinavian festival in the South was the selected method and plans began in earnest.

The primary purpose of the festival is to foster, promote and increase appreciation and understanding of the diversity, similarity and richness of the heritage of Scandinavia. Nine Scandinavian clubs in Atlanta participated in arranging the Festival to be held on Memorial Day weekend, May 27 & 28, 1995 at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta, GA.

Jorgen Conradsen was the first President of the Festival and he continued in that capacity until 1999. Paul Conradsen replaced him for the 2000 Festival and Karla Olterman for 2001 and 2002. George Lane took the reins for the 2003 and 2004 Festivals. Keld Nielsen is president for 2005.