On the first weekend of December, the small town of Knife River, Minnesota holds its Julebyen Festival, full of Scandinavian Christmas crafts, food, music, and games. The North Shore Scenic Railroad runs a special train to and from Duluth for both days of the festival, plus offers all festival-goers "Troll Train" rides from the Knife River depot to the scenic bridge south of town and back. The tickets sold for those rides, as well as the money raised by the festival, helps the community in their efforts to preserve their local history. The weather was beautiful this year, and a couple of festival-goers, including one in traditional Scandinavian dress, cross the tracks as the NSSR train prepares to make its 2:00 p.m. departure back to Duluth. Our family would board shortly and enjoy some more lefse and krumkake along the way.
