The Junction City Scandinavian Festival celebrates the town’s history every August. The event was originally created in 1961 to stimulate economy for the local businesses. Over time, the town has formed a reputation as the home of the Scandinavian Festival and this identity has become a part of the community. From the beginning two things lent a hand in making this identity take root, lending to the success of the festival. First, the effort made by vendors to transform their booths into an old-world Scandinavian appearance. Second, the vendors, volunteers, performers, etc. transform themselves into the part of the villagers by wearing traditional looking costumes. The atmosphere is the element that most sets the event apart from other festivals, fairs and markets. We acknowledge these guidelines can be challenging for those newly involved in the event.

The organizers of the Junction City Scandinavian Festival desire to make the costume requirements of the event more accessible for those in need. We have decided to launch a rental program for costumes. This costume closet was created to support new vendors so they can meet the costume requirements in their first two years of vending at the festival. Our hope is new vendors evolve into experienced vendors and make an investment towards their own costume.

The Rental Closet is a cost-effective option for individuals to rent pieces of costuming. A small rental fee plus a deposit would be placed on an article of clothing. Upon returning the laundered and ironed item, the deposit would be returned to the renter.