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Uff da! Cobber Fest and the Lefse Bowl are a match made in Scandinavian heaven!

A hideous trophy, a tasty treat, and a historic rivalry between Norwegian-American colleges will raise the stakes and the fun at Concordia College’s second annual Cobber Fest on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The Cobber football team will take on St. Olaf at 7 p.m. that day with a “Gold Rush” theme for Concordia fans, under the lights of the Jake Christiansen Stadium, in a matchup known as the Lefse Bowl. The winners earn the rights to what is considered the ugliest traveling trophy in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — The Troll Trophy.

Football isn’t all that’s on the menu, though. Scandinavians and lefse lovers will be pleased to learn that Dining Services at Concordia will be open with a special menu item from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and, during the game, the concession stand will also be rolling up sweet treats in honor of the 2026 Lefse Bowl.

“Cobber Fest shows the warmth and spirit that makes Concordia unique,” said Erica Johnsrud, director of alumni and family engagement at Concordia. “There’s truly something for everyone. Current students, proud parents, excited alumni, and neighbors and friends can experience a great day creating memories together.” 

Before the game starts, most of the Cobber Fest activities will be near the bell tower on the main Concordia campus from 3 to 5 p.m. That includes the ice cream social, temporary tattoos and glitter face paint, games from Games to Go, outdoor yard games, bracelet and button making, Science Academy and student art demonstrations, tours of Concordia’s greenhouse and animal spaces, a Concordia Language Villages activity, and faculty lectures.

The main stage will feature student bands from 3 to 3:45 p.m. and 4:15 to 5 p.m., plus plant bingo from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. The Cobber Bookstore will be open from 1 to 7 p.m., offering a special 20% discount and some Cobber Fest promotions.

Four food trucks, the beer garden, and the concession stand open at the Jake at 4:30 p.m., and the Concordia Drumline will lead attendees from campus to the Jake starting at 5 p.m.

During the Lefse Bowl itself, the Moorhead High Band and the Concordia Pep Band will unite to play “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the halftime show will feature a performance by the Concordia Drumline, followed by a competition between four youth football teams from Fargo-Moorhead Athletics.

“This will be my first Cobber Fest, and I’m really looking forward to hearing the student bands on stage, seeing the Cobber community come together on campus to have fun together, and cheering on the Cobber Football team under the stadium lights to bring the troll trophy back to Concordia,” Johnsrud said.

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