MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On New Year's Eve, more than 100 people honored their Swedish heritage and welcomed in the year the Scandinavian way. 

"The first Swedish community settled in 1846 right outside of Waukesha," said Mike Walker, Lakefront Brewery on-site business development.

Milwaukee's Swedish community came together for the second annual Swedish New Year event at Lakefront Brewery.

"There's a healthy Swedish community in Milwaukee and we wanted to give them a chance to celebrate their culture, traditions and eat their food that they might not be able to find very often," said Walker. 

Authentic food that Executive Chef Kristin Hueneke says took months to perfect.

"A lot of pickled fish, chubs, smoked salmon, potato pancakes a ton of pickled items in general," said Hueneke. "We have met with people from the Swedish community center. We did a ton of research and there are quite a few Swedish who work here."

Hueneke says she wanted to bring a sense of nostalgia for people with Swedish roots.

"Start to finish it is that feeling of home that whether your from Sweden or you grew up with Swedish grandparents and you were always eating this food it will hopefully take you back 

Birgit Moxon's parents immigrated from Sweden she says she takes pride in celebrating her roots

"It's something exciting; it's something different. I like to live in the past, and this is my past," said Moxon. 

Along with the countdown, and champagne toast Lakefront added in some friendly competition this year. An IKEA build-a-shelf contest.

"The winning team will take home the beer and everyone will take home their one shelf.

It took that winning team only 16 minutes to put that shelf together.

Walker says they plan on bringing the event for a third year and continue to grow the event.