Help Build Thinglund: Ontario’s Viking Village & Festival Destination

My fascination with Norse history, mythology, and Viking-age culture has been a lifelong passion. It started with saga literature, Renaissance fairs, Pagan gatherings, historical crafts, music, storytelling, and the feeling of stepping into another world, even if only for a weekend.

That passion has grown into a much larger vision: Thinglund, a permanent Viking village, gathering grove, and event destination in Northern Ontario.

Thinglund is being designed as a living-history inspired village and flexible event site where people can gather for Heathen, Pagan, and Norse-rooted seasonal celebrations, Renaissance-style fairs, craft markets, music festivals, workshops, community events, and immersive cultural experiences.

At the heart of the plan is a fully enclosed Viking-style village compound with a longhouse entrance, a central gathering area, a ceremonial bonfire, a performance stage, merchant rows, craft and demonstration areas, smaller Viking-style buildings, and a ring of Viking cabins around the outer village grounds.

Outside the main village, the broader site plan includes space for visitor parking, RVs, fifth wheels, campers, tent camping, access roads, and future expansion.

This is not just a single event idea. The goal is to build a lasting destination where history, craft, music, community, and celebration can come together year after year.

What We’ve Done So Far

We have already begun turning the idea of Thinglund into a real plan.

So far, we have:

Developed the core concept for Thinglund as a permanent Viking village and multi-use event destination in Northern Ontario.

Created a working site layout with a walled village compound, longhouse entrance, central bonfire, stage, vendor rows, craft areas, and cabin zones.

Planned space for large gatherings, seasonal festivals, craft markets, concerts, workshops, camping, RV/camper areas, and visitor parking.

Built the early online presence for Thinglund, including the website and social media pages on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X.

Launched this GoFundMe to begin raising funds for land, infrastructure, and the first build phase.

Started developing a phased business model: land acquisition, site access, pilot events, core infrastructure, and permanent structures.

Begun reaching out to heritage groups, craft communities, Pagan and Heathen groups, vendors, performers, influencers, and supporters who may want to be part of the project.

The Vision for the Village

Thinglund is being designed as a place people can truly experience.

The main village concept includes:

A longhouse-style entrance forming the gateway into the event grounds.

A walled Viking village compound for an immersive festival atmosphere.

A central bonfire and gathering circle for ceremonies, storytelling, music, and community.

A stage facing the central gathering area for live music, performances, talks, and ceremonies.

Merchant booths and market rows surrounding the central area.

Craft and demonstration spaces for blacksmithing, weaving, carving, leatherwork, cooking, and other traditional skills.

Smaller Viking-style buildings and activity areas for workshops, games, axe throwing, archery, and educational experiences.

Fourteen Viking cabins, seven per side, planned around the outer village ring — with twelve designated as exclusive donor cabins and two retained for Thinglund operations, owner use, guest hosting, or future site needs.

Dedicated areas outside the village for parking, RVs, campers, fifth wheels, and tent camping.

The goal is to make Thinglund both practical and magical: a place that can host real events while still feeling like visitors have stepped into a Viking village in the northern wilderness.

How Donations Will Move Thinglund Forward

Every dollar raised will go toward making Thinglund buildable, functional, and ready for events.

Land Acquisition — $100,000

This covers the down payment and closing costs for approximately 20 to 50 acres suitable for events, camping, future expansion, and long-term development.

Core Infrastructure — $50,000

This includes well and septic planning, gravel access roads, basic site preparation, fencing, temporary power and water, and the infrastructure needed to safely host the first pilot events.

Event-Ready Village Core — $50,000

This covers the first stage of the village build, including timber, roofing materials, doors, basic vendor stall furnishings, gathering spaces, stage components, and the first permanent village structures.

Camping, Parking & Site Access — $20,000

This covers dedicated visitor parking, RV/camper access areas, tent camping zones, internal road connections, entry routes, signage, basic grading, and safe traffic flow for events.

Launch & Outreach — $20,000

This helps cover pilot-event essentials such as tents, portable washrooms, sound, lighting, signage, marketing, website costs, promotional materials, and GoFundMe fees.

Contingency / Permits — $10,000

This covers legal review, permit-related costs, design approvals, architectural or planning support, and unforeseen site work.

Total Fundraising Goal: $250,000

These estimates are based on the current early-stage plan and may change slightly as the land, design, and build requirements are finalized. Every dollar will be directed toward moving Thinglund from concept to reality.

Progress updates, milestones, and major steps forward will be posted on our website and shared across our social media pages. Where possible, we also plan to livestream important parts of the journey so supporters can follow the build as it happens.

Donor Recognition and Reward Levels

Thinglund is being built as a community-supported project, and we want to permanently recognize those who help make it possible.

Higher-level donors will have their names recorded on permanent recognition boards within the grove for visitors to see.

The Longhouse Tome

Every person who donates to Thinglund, no matter the amount, will have their name recorded in the Great Tome of Thinglund — a large permanent book kept within the longhouse.

This tome will serve as a lasting record of the people who helped bring Thinglund from dream to reality. From the earliest supporters to the largest contributors, every donor will be remembered as part of the founding story of the village.

While higher-level donors will also receive permanent recognition on the boards within the grove, all donors will be recorded in the Longhouse Tome as part of Thinglund’s legacy. It will stand as a symbol of gratitude, community, and the shared effort it took to build a place where history, craft, celebration, and the Viking spirit can live on in Northern Ontario.

Shield-Maidens / Warriors Board

$500 – $2,499

Donors at this level will have their names permanently recognized on the Shield-Maidens / Warriors Board within the grove.

Valkyries / Einherjar Board

$2,500 – $4,999

Donors at this level will have their names permanently recognized on the Valkyries / Einherjar Board within the grove.

Demigoddesses / Demigods Board

$5,000+

Donors at this level will have their names permanently recognized on the Demigoddesses / Demigods Board within the grove.

Legacy Cabin Founder

$50,000+

For any donation of $50,000 or more, the donor will receive permanent reserved access to one of 12 exclusive donor Viking cabins planned around the outer village ring.

The full cabin ring is planned to include 14 cabins total, with 12 available for Legacy Cabin Founders and 2 retained by Thinglund for operations, owner use, guest hosting, or future site needs.

This includes free admission for the donor and up to three guests to any and all future public events held at Thinglund, subject to reasonable site rules, safety requirements, and event capacity limits.

Legacy Cabin Founders will also be included in the design direction of their cabin, making their contribution a permanent part of the village itself.

The Impact

Thinglund has the potential to become something truly meaningful for Northern Ontario and the communities it will serve.

Cultural and Educational Hub

Thinglund will provide a permanent site where Norse Pagan, Heathen, broader Pagan, reenactment, heritage, and historical-interest communities can gather for celebrations, workshops, storytelling, demonstrations, and seasonal events.

Economic Catalyst

The project can create opportunities for local builders, artisans, food vendors, performers, service providers, and tourism-related businesses. Events at Thinglund could bring visitors into nearby communities and support the local economy.

Flexible Event Destination

Thinglund will be designed to host many kinds of gatherings, including seasonal festivals, Renaissance-style fairs, craft markets, concerts, weddings, private events, workshops, community markets, and cultural weekends.

Community-Built Legacy

By involving donors, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, performers, and local partners from the beginning, Thinglund can become a shared place that reflects the people who helped build it.

How You Can Help

Donate

Every contribution helps bring us closer to securing land, building the first infrastructure, and laying the foundations for the village.

Share

Sharing this campaign makes a huge difference. Post it on social media, send it to friends, or share it with Norse-history, Pagan, Heathen, reenactment, Renaissance fair, craft, music, camping, and event-planning communities.

Get Involved

If you have experience with carpentry, construction, event planning, landscaping, marketing, fundraising, vending, traditional crafts, music, historical interpretation, or simply want to volunteer your time, we would love to hear from you.

Thank You

Thank you for believing in a place where the past can be experienced, the present can be celebrated, and the future can be built together.

With your support, Thinglund can become more than a dream. It can become a thriving Viking village, gathering grove, cultural destination, and event space where stories are told, crafts are shared, music is played, fires are lit, and community is built in Northern Ontario.