Calendar of Events

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

The first Thursday of every month Vesterheim offers free admission to the museum and a special event.

February 2, 2012

Free First Thursday

2:45-5:00 p.m. — learn to snowshoe in the museum's Open Air Division!
Join Vesterheim and the Winneshiek County Conservation Board to explore this fun winter activity. All ages welcome and refreshments will be provided in the museum's Lilly Jensen for Winneshiek County Conservation Board will present historical background on snowshoeing in the galleries in the museum’s Main Building at 2:45 p.m. The snowshoe activity will begin at 3:15 p.m., meeting at Vesterheim's Bethania Church at 113 N. Mill Street.

March 1 , 2012

Free First Thursday

11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Behind-the-Scenes tours with Vesterheim curators. Check out Vesterheim's state-of-the-art storage facilities and see an array of fine art and folk-art not currently on display.

March 30 and 31 , 2012

Decorah's Spring Getaway

Enjoy a taste of Norway with free delicious food samples in the Museum Store, plus a 20% discount in the Museum Store and discounted museum admission.

Plus, on Saturday, March 31, 1:00 p.m. in Vesterheim’s Bruening Visitor Center:
Joan Peterson presents "Eat Smart in Norway." Joan Peterson, from Madison, Wisconsin, writes and publishes the award-winning EAT SMART series of guidebooks for travelers and cookbook lovers, who want to get to the heart of a country's culture through its cuisine. To date she has covered the cuisines of Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Morocco, India, Peru, Sicily, and Norway. “Eat Smart in Norway” offers an upbeat and fascinating look at the culinary history and regional recipes of Norway for vacation goers, business travelers, and backpackers alike.

Followed by: David Peterson presents “Folklore Fights the Nazis.” David Peterson, a retired UW Professor of Theatre and Music, gives a lively account of the way Norwegians used humor to combat the Nazi occupation during WWII. The presentation is based on Luther Professor Kathleen Stokker's marvelous book, "Folklore Fights The Nazis."

Nordic Marketplace and Luncheon

Celebrate Scandinavian heritage at the Park Ridge Country Club in Park Ridge, Illinois. The Marketplace will be from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the luncheon will begin at 12:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $50. More information coming soon!
Be ready for a toe tappin’ good time because Chicago area’s “home-town” Scandinavian Folk Band, "Chicago Spelmanslag,” is scheduled to perform traditional Norwegian folk tunes.
Hosted by the Chicago Friends of Vesterheim. Contact Stephanie Johnson at 563-382-9681 or snjohnson@veserheim.org for more information or to make reservations.

April 5 , 2012

Free First Thursday

Gallery Talks
Last chance to view the exhibitions Norwegian-American Lutheran Colleges and The Peale Collection: Furniture from Hill Farm. Curators will talk about the exhibitions and answer questions from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Refreshments will be served.

39th Annual Nordic Brunch

A day of Scandinavian heritage with food, folk art, music, and more at the Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota. More information coming soon!
Hosted by the Twin Cities Area Friends of Vesterheim. Contact Stephanie Johnson at 563-382-9681 or snjohnson@veserheim.org for more information or to make reservations.

May 3, 2012

Free First Thursday

"From Norway to American and Back Again"
Explore the ongoing connections between Norway and American with presentations by Norwegian-Americans who have traveled to Norway, tours of the museum's Open Air Division, and the movie Crown Princess Martha: The American Story. More information coming soon.

Syttende Mai

Celebrate Norway’s “Constitution Day,” on May 17 with a children’s parade through Decorah, Decorah’s Nordic Dancers, museum tours, gallery talks, and crafts. Watch for more information. In case of inclement weather, the parade and Nordic Dancers may be canceled.

June 7, 2012

Free First Thursday

Opening of the National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition.

July 5, 2012

July , 2012

July , 2012

August 2, 2012

Free First Thursday

"Iowa's Martyr Regiment: The Story of the Thirty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry"
A presentation and book signing by author David Wildman.

September 6, 2012

October 4, 2012

October 19 , 2012

Benefit Auction

A lively gala dinner and auction featuring folk art donated by award winning artists. Auction items can be viewed online beginning October 1 at the Hotel Winneshiek on the 19th.

November 1, 2012

November 9 and 10 , 2012

Deck the Tables

Celebrate the season with fantastic decorations, music, and food at the Hotel Winneshiek in Decorah, hosted by Decorah Friends of Vesterheim.

December , 2012

Norwegian Christmas Weekend

This festive celebration features holiday traditions with a variety of music, demonstrations, folk art, stories, food, and hands-on experiences.

December 6, 2012