Calendar of Events

For information about Vesterheim's education programs and a folk-art class list go to Vesterheim Lifelong Learning.

 

January 17, 2008
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center, free.

 

February 2, 2008
Barneløpet
A children's noncompetitive ski/walk event at the Decorah Prairie. Sponsored by Sons of Norway.

February 21, 2008
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center, free.

 

March 20, 2008
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center, free.

March 28, 2008
Opening reception for new exhibitions Fire and Wood and Kubbestol: From Seating to Symbol
 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the museum's main building, free.
Exhibitions will be on view until March 29, 2009

 

April 5, 2008
Nordic Luncheon & Marketplace
Sponsored by Chicago Area Friends of Vesterheim
At the Park Ridge Country Club, Park Ridge, Illinois, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

April 6, 2008
1825-1925: The First Century of Norwegian Immigration
At 2:00 p.m. Ann Gesme, author of Between Rocks and Hard Places (1993) and member of Vesterheim’s Founders Council, presents a slide show on the historic contexts and experiences of Norwegian immigration.
Gathering Room of the Amdal-Odland Heritage Center. Refreshments will be served.

April 6-9, 2008
Guide Training Week
Full schedule available upon request. Contact Martha Griesheimer.

April 7, 2008
Museum Tour with Folk Art Emphasis
From 10:30-11:30 a.m. Curator Tova Brandt gives a 45-minute tour of the museum’s exhibitions, highlighting the extensive collections of folk art.
Meet in the lobby of the museum’s main building.

April 16, 2008
Open Air Division Tour
From 1:00-3:00 p.m. Tour the buildings of the Open Air Division with a team of volunteer guides. Meet in the lobby of the museum’s main building. Refreshments will be served.

April 17, 2008
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center, free.

April 18-20, 2008
Coming Out of the Woodwork: A Vesterheim Symposium on Norwegian Folk Art
Check this link for information about the symposium schedule, classes, and registration.

April 19, 2008
Town Square in conjunction with Coming Out of the Woodwork: A Vesterheim Symposium on Norwegian Folk Art.
From 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center, free.
The public is invited to meet the artists and enjoy their artwork.

April 22, 2008
Vesterheim’s Deep Collections: The Storage Facilities Tour
From 9:00 a.m.-noon. Curatorial staff offer a close-up look at the storage areas that house the majority of Vesterheim’s collections, including the Bauder-Landsgard Collections Study Center.
Meet in the Hauge Gallery, first floor of the Westby-Torgerson Education Center. Refreshments will be served.

April 26, 2008
35th Annual Nordic Brunch
Sponsored by the Twin Cities Friends of Vesterheim.
At the Interlachen Country Club, Edina, Minnesota, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

May 1, 2008
Open Air Division Opens—Museum Hours Change
Summer museum hours: Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

May 3-4, 2008
Outreach Event—Vesterheim at Norway Day Festival San Francisco.
For more information, check the festival’s website, www.norwayday.org.

May 12-17, 2008
Exhibition—Vesterheim’s Featherlite Pioneer Immersion Program Projects Westby-Torgerson Education Center, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. daily, free. Exhibit Open House on Thursday, May 15, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

May 17, 2008
Syttende Mai Children's Parade and Celebration
Free museum admission all day.

 

June 5, 2008
Woodworking Traditions in the Old World and the New
At 7:00 p.m. Curator Tova Brandt gives an overview of woodworking traditions in Norwegian and Norwegian-American culture. This presentation highlights the Fire and Wood and Kubbestol: From Seating to Symbol exhibitions on view in the museum’s main building through March 29, 2009.
Gathering Room of the Amdal-Odland Heritage Center. Refreshments will be served.

June 21, 2008
Original Sites Tour
From 9:00 a.m.-noon. This is a driving tour of the rural neighborhood south and east of Decorah and the original sites of three buildings in the Open Air Division. A visit to the Jacobson Farmstead is also included. All volunteers and guests are welcome. If there is sufficient interest, a Northeast Iowa Regional Transit Bus will be available for transportation. Otherwise, carpooling will be arranged. Maps will be provided. RSVP to Martha Griesheimer by June 20.

June 21, 2008
Outreach Event—Vesterheim at the Norskedalen Nature and Heritage Center, Coon Valley, Wisconsin.

June 27-29, 2008
Outreach Event—Vesterheim at the Hjemkomst Festival Moorehead, Minnesota.
For more information, check the festival’s website, www.scandinavianhjemkomstfestival.org.

 

July 19-26, 2008
Exhibition—National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition
A competition and sale of works by contemporary artists in the Norwegian tradition.
Hauge Gallery, Westby-Torgerson Education Center.

July 25, 2008
Folk-Art Banquet
Celebrate Norwegian folk art at the Hotel Winneshiek. Reservations required, contact Katie Lawless at Vesterheim, 563-382-9681, for more information.

July 25-26, 2008
Vesterheim events at Decorah's 42nd Annual Nordic Fest
One of America's premier ethnic festivals, featuring Scandinavia's finest foods, music, arts, crafts, and a great deal more. Special Vesterheim events include the National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, Viking Encampment, Living Heritage Demonstrators, storytelling, an original children's theatre production, live music, and more. Opening ceremonies 7:00 p.m., July 24. Check the festivals website www.nordicfest.com.

 

September 16, 2008
Scandinavian Smørgåsbord
Sponsored by the Rochester Friends of Vesterheim, at the Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minnesota.

September 18, 2008
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center, free.

September 28-October 3, 2008
Elderhostel—The Migration of a Tradition

 

October 16, 2008
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center, free.

October 25, 2008
Vesterheim Benefit Auction
A lively gala dinner and auction featuring folk art donated by award winning artists. Auction items can be viewed online and in the gallery beginning September 29.

 

November 1, 2008
Open Air Division Closes—Museum Hours Change
Winter museum hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

November 20, 2008
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center, free.

 

December 6-7, 2008
Norwegian Christmas Weekend
This festive celebration features a variety of music, demonstrations, food, and hands-on experiences.

December 18, 2008
Barnetimen (Children's Hour)
From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center, free.