What sets Iceland apart from the rest of the world? One hundred per cent literacy? That it holds a third of the world's lava? That the first parliament was established there in 930AD? That Icelanders elected the first openly gay Prime Minister? That the air and water in Iceland is the purest in the world? That the most popular restaurant in the nation is a hot dog stand? That these brilliant people have learned to harness their natural resources? That this frozen sizzling piece of rock perched near the top of the world is currently the hottest travel destination on earth? That they are the most tenacious people on our planet who grapple with the forces of nature each day and exist in quite literally a land free of major crime? What’s not to love? Celebrate all that is Iceland at the Winchester Grange Hall and Winchester Center Green for a little festival with a lot of heart.

Gerri Griswold has been bringing a slice of Iceland to Connecticut each year for the past six years. Iceland Affair is a one day event which showcases the food, nature, and culture of Iceland. This sixth edition is the biggest yet with presenters like Iceland’s most acclaimed nature artist, Jon Baldur Hlíðberg who will discuss “Life on the Rocks”. Critically acclaimed author Nancy Marie Brown returns for the third consecutive year to discuss her hot as all get out new book, “Ivory Vikings". Geologist and meteorologist Tom Alena addresses one of Iceland’s most coveted phenomena, the Northern Lights, over a backdrop of jaw dropping images provided by Icelandic photographer and Keeper of the Northern Lights, Olgeir Andresson. Iceland’s most noted expert on Elves and Hidden People, Ragnhildur Jónsdóttir will make you a believer. Iceland is protected not by a militia but by 15,000 extraordinary volunteers that make up ICE-SAR (Iceland Search and Rescue) and Svanur Sævar Lárusson is one of them! Learn about the work this incredible group of individuals do in Iceland and abroad! The only native land mammal in Iceland is the Arctic Fox. Iceland’s Arctic Fox expert, mammologist Ester Rut Unnsteinsdóttir will discuss this beautiful animal and its place in Iceland’s landscape. For the second year, Iceland’s national bird, the Gyrfalcon, will be presented by Master Falconer Brian Bradley of New Paltz, New York. Bradley will unleash beautiful Daredevil over the fields of Winchester Center.

From noon until 3:00 P.M., downstairs in the Grange Hall, samples of Icelandic foods will be offered at no charge. Hot dogs, smoked and dried fish, chocolate, Icelandic Skyr, Icelandic water, cheeses, butter, and much more will be tempting taste buds. A silent auction offering Icelandic items will help raise funds to defray the cost of Iceland’s Affair’s monumental price tag. On the Winchester Center Green the public will meet and greet Iceland’s biologically pure animals including Icelandic Horses, Icelandic Sheep, and Icelandic Sheep Dogs. Vendors selling Icelandic themed items from sweaters to jewelry, paper products, sweaters, and more will also be on hand. The day part of this festival is free to the public!

The evening brings an extraordinary event, the “Fire and Ice Music Festival”, to Infinity Hall in Norfolk. World class Icelandic recording artists Svavar Knutur, Myrra Ros, Bjorn Thoroddsen, Soley, and Kristjana Stefansdottir will perform at 8:00 P.M. Griswold has been shipping great Icelandic musicians to her event for the past five years. This is the greatest ensemble of Icelandic musicians anywhere in the USA. Surprises are in store for every guest attending and the artists! Tickets for the “Fire & Ice Music Festival” can be purchased directly through Infinity Hall www.infinityhall.com.

About Gerri Griswold Gerri Griswold is the owner of Krummi Travel LLC, www.krummitravel.com and the creator and of Iceland Affair. Her mantra is “Anything worth doing is worth over-doing!” She fell hopelessly in love with Iceland on her first trip in May 2002 and has since traveled there 38 times. In 2010 she launched Krummi Travel, LLC which specializes in small group trips where guests who are not crybabies, cranks, or pantywaists, will experience Iceland through Griswold’s very passionate heart by introducing them to the people, natural wonders, animals, and culture which define our closest European neighbor.

To learn more about the event or to schedule an interview, email Griswold at mailto:gerri@icelandaffair.com, visit Iceland Affair’s website www.icelandaffair.com or call 860-307-6144.