Cali Byrn, 8, and the other Lawrence Nordic Dancers – who are years away from being able to drive – laughed frequently Saturday afternoon as they stepped and glided across the floor to a Danish folk number.

Dressed for the occasion, the children received a crash course on Scandinavian dances, including the line dance “Feddermikkel,” from members of the Scandinavian Folk Dancers of Kansas City.

“I try to teach them one thing about one country,” said Lynn Michaelson, of Lenexa, the children’s dance coordinator.

“They have a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm. It’s been a captive group,” he said.

The dancing was part of the all-day Nordic Heritage Festival at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, sponsored by Lawrence’s Norwegian Heritage Society.

“It’s an eye-opener for the people of Lawrence to see that there is so much of an interest in Scandinavian heritage, and it’s an eye-opener for us to see how many people in Lawrence have Scandinavian heritage,” said Robert Lindwall, of Grandview, Mo.

Ellyn Urie, Kansas City Scandinavian Folk Dance member, twirls with Stella Grove, 2, during dance instructions at the Nordic Heritage Festival at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds. The festival featured Nordic music, food and activities Saturday.

Lindwall is the technical director for the Scandinavian Folk Dancers of Kansas City.

The festival included a parade of flags that featured Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. Participants also opened 26 booths to showcase food, crafts, clothing, writing and other items of cultural interest.

The event started five years ago as a few Lawrence residents wanting to give a history lesson to their grandchildren, but the festival exceeded expectations its first year.

Now it regularly draws 300 people, said committee member Marilyn Myers, of Lawrence.

“It’s always more interesting when it’s shared from experience than to read a book about it,” she said.

Other than the demonstrations and booths, festivalgoers and organizers gathered for a potluck meal in the evening.

Later they participated in a trivia game and costume show before the dancers finished off the day with a final performance.

A majority of the festivalgoers live in Lawrence, Topeka or the Kansas City area, but others traveled from Oklahoma, Iowa and even Connecticut, Myers said.