In 1924, the tradition of selecting a woman to be the Fjallkona began. The Fjallkona (Maid of the Mountain) is Iceland, and the Icelanders are her children. Mrs. Sigrun Lindal became the first Fjallkona of Islendingadagurinn. At the festival, the selected woman sits on her elevated throne, clad in the beautiful and dignified formal Icelandic costume of a white gown, green robe with ermine, golden belt, high-crowned headdress and white veil falling over the shoulders to the waist. Two maids of honour, formerly clad in plain Icelandic costume with tasseled skullcaps, are now dressed in white. In former years, these maids of honour were known as Miss Canada and Miss America.

Our dear friends at Annríki have offered the festival the incredible gift to restore our Fjallkona costume in celebration of 150 years since Icelanders settled in New Iceland. You can follow along with their progress here

2024 was an incredibly special year as we honoured our 100th Fjallkona. We have produced a printed commemorative booklet to honour this milestone. Click here to purchase online or at the Festival Gift Shop in Gimli. 

Download the Fjallkona Nomination Form
Learn more about the Fjallkona Walkway in Viking Park

Maria Bear 2026-2027 Fjallkona

Born in Gimli into a proud Icelandic family, she has spent much of her life supporting her community through volunteer work, cultural involvement, leadership, and mentorship.

From a young age, she was involved in 4-H, where she spent several years developing and mentoring youth in public speaking, leadership, and conducting meetings.

She served for seventeen years on the board of the Betel Home Foundation and the personal care homes in Gimli and Selkirk, helping support the care and wellbeing of elders in our communities.

Her commitment to Icelandic culture has been especially evident through more than twenty years with the Icelandic National League of North America and the Selkirk Bruin Chapter, where she has served as president.

She played a leading role in the chapter’s annual Sumardagurinn Fyrsti celebration each April and helped sustain our traditions through music, community building, hospitality, cultural events, raffles, and of course Icelandic baking.

She has sung with the Selkirk Bruin choir in both Icelandic and English, supported the Icelandic Language Camp for many years, and continued her own Icelandic language studies throughout her life.

Fjallkona Attendants

Kamryn Einarson 

Khloe Einarson 

Flower Presenters