S EPTEMBER 30, 2015 ❘ Oktoberfest ❘ 7 Skandia Leikarringen is a Scandinavian folk dance group located in Junction City. Al- though they dance primarily at the Junction City Scandi- navian Festival each August, they are returning to Florence for the annual Oktoberfest. In addition, they have performed at the ScanFair in Portland, the Astoria Midsummer Festival and Lane County Fair. Currently made up of 10 to 12 couples, their dances are from the countries of Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. They also do German folk dancing and perform their lively dances in colorful regional cos- tumes. Skandia Leikarringen performs their routine from from 3-3:30 p.m. and again from 4:30-5 p.m. Sam’s Polka Gems, or Sam Pecorilla, is a man whose musical experience goes beyond what most musicians can do in two lifetimes. Since 1947, he’s been playing festi- vals, lodges and dance clubs. He started accor- dion lessons at No Matter the Season, There’s a Reason to Shop at Oktoberfest 75 Stores Throughout the Northwest Florence • 4310 Hwy. 101 • 541-997-2499 www.bimart.com age 8, learn- ing Scandi- navian music and classical style. By age 15 he was working as a professional performer in Montana with a country-and-western band. Sam recently released a CD that has 17 “best of” polkas and waltzes, including “Checkersville Polka,” “Hot Tamale,” “Somewhere My Love Waltz,” “Mozart’s Polka” and 13 more. It’s just a sampling of his versatile musi- cal ability. Sam’s Polka Gems performs from 11 a.m. to noon, 2-3 p.m., and then closing the event from 6-7 p.m. Oktoberfest 2015 Underwriters: Three Rivers Casino Resort Distinguished Sponsors: 101 Things to Do Banner Bank Bi-Mart Burns’s Riverside Chapel Driftwood Shores Resort Florence Heating & Sheet Metal Fred Meyer Stores KCST/Coast Radio Oregon Pacific Bank PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center Sea Lion Caves Shippin’ Shack/Siuslaw Signs & Graphics Siuslaw News Spruce Point Assisted Living TR Hunter Real Estate