Vesterheim Events at the 47th annual Decorah Nordic Fest
July 26-27
Vesterheim Museum’s Main Building
Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission to the Main Building is $10 adults, $8 seniors 65+, and $5 children ages 7-18; free on Thursday. Family rate of $25 for up to 2 adults and all of their children during Nordic Fest.
Bruening Visitor Centerin the Westby-Torgerson Education Center
Buy museum admission tickets here, where there is a computerized catalog of objects, touch-screen access to video presentations and virtual galleries, and commissioned paintings by Norwegian artist Sigmund Aarseth.
Vesterheim’s Open Air Division
Open Friday and Saturday, noon-4 p.m., tour on your own, no admission fee. Guided tours of the Open Air Division on Thursday (free) and Sunday (with admission ticket) at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
Demonstrations, Displays, and Sales
All open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, unless otherwise noted.
Schedule subject to change.
Museum’s Main Building (With museum admission fee.)
Demonstrations:
Richard Enstad (Eagan, Minn.) Ropemaking (periodically Friday and Saturday)
Beatrice Hole (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Floyd Foslien (Hudson, Wis.) Psalmodikon
Marta Kløve Juuhl (Indre Arna, Norway) Weaving
Oneota Weavers and Spinners Guild (Decorah, Ia.) Spinning and Weaving
Westby-Torgerson Education Center
(All free.) Museum Store (First Floor):
Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Sweaters, jewelry, folk art, cooking supplies, books, and more.
• Howard Amundson (Hopkins, Minn.) Demonstrations of rosemaling with acrylic paints (periodically Friday and Saturday)
• Experiment rosemaling yourself. There will be a rosemaling flower design pattern for beginners to paint on their choice of either circular or oval wooden ornaments.
Bruening Visitor Center (First Floor):
Demonstrations:
Hans Sandom (Minnetonka, Minn.) Acanthus Carving (Friday)
Harley Refsal (Decorah, Iowa) Figure Carving (Friday)
Gerald Trocinski (La Crescent, Minn.) Chip Carving (Friday and Saturday)
Morton Håkonsen (Skien, Norway) Knifemaking (1-3 p.m. Friday and Saturday)
Fred Cogelow (Willmar, Minn.) Wood Carving (periodically Friday and Saturday)
Jock Holmen (Burnesville, Minn.) Incised Lettering (periodically Friday and Saturday)
Becky Lusk (Coon Valley, Wis.) Wood Carving (Saturday)
Library (Second Floor):
Norwegian American Genealogical Center (Open 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday):
Jerry Paulson, Director, Madison, Wis., will answer questions and offer direction with family history. Jerry has been researching genealogy for over 40 years. Publications will be available to purchase.
Lila Nelson Weaving Classroom (Third Floor):
Oneota Weavers and Spinners Guild Sales Shop, staffed by guild members (Decorah, Ia.)
Open Air Division and Museum Lawn
(Free, unless noted.)
• Skjaldborg (Elk Horn, Ia.) Viking encampment and entertainment with full Viking combat demonstrations. Skjaldborg means “fortress of shields.” Sponsored by Hacker Nelson & Co. PC and Hagen & Kallevang PC.
• Sam Shoults (Knox City, Mo.) “Yrsa” Viking Ship Replica, with which Shoults has had many adventures, including sailing down the Mississippi River. Sponsored by Viking State Bank & Trust, Decorah.
• Doug Lais (Peoria, Ill.) Leather helmets
• Carl Homstad (Decorah, Ia.) Woodcut Prints
• Kelly Ludeking (Decorah, Ia.) Aluminum Pour. Free demonstrations. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. create a pattern for your own 4 x 4 inch tile (cost $25). Come and see molten cast aluminum at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. You can pick up your castings two hours after they are poured.
• Living Heritage Demonstrators Sponsored by members of the Winneshiek Bar Association; Magnuson Consulting; H & R Block of Decorah; and Sons of Norway, Valdres Lodge #1-503 of Decorah:
Jasper Bond (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) Pottery
Tom Dengler (St. Paul, Minn.) Norwegian Woodenware
John Drewes (Red Wing, Minn.) Leather Crafts and Knives
Kjetil Groven (Clarks Hill, Ind.) Blacksmithing knives and tools
William Jaeger (Nowthen, Minn.) Figure Carving
David Johnson (La Crescent, Minn.) Dovetailed Chests
Tom Latané (Pepin, Wis.) Blacksmithing
Fred Livesay (West St. Paul, Minn.) Birchbark Weaving
Jim Van Hoven (Scandia, Minn.) Chair Making
Performances and Presentations (All free admission.)
Vesterheim’s Bethania Lutheran Church, 113 N. Mill St. (upper level)
• Friday at 3:00 and 3:45 p.m. and Saturday at 3:00, 3:45, and 4:30 p.m. East o’ the Sun & West o’ the Moon—Theatre performance by Decorah-area young people inspired by the lives and writings of Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, who collected and published traditional Norwegian tales and legends during the nineteenth century. A collaboration of Upstart Crow Theatreworks, ArtHaus, and Vesterheim. Written and directed by theatre professional Lindsey Harman. Sponsored through anonymous gifts and by Joan Losen and Gemini Inc.-Decorah.
Vesterheim’s Amdal-Odland Heritage Center, 523 W. Water. St.
• Friday at 11:30 a.m.The Significance of Ole Rølvaag for Today—Glenn Borreson (Holmen, Wis.), will present episodes from Ole Rølvaag’s literary trilogy of Norwegian immigrant life, illustrating themes that still resonate in America today. • Friday and Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Old Home Remedies—Howard Amundson (Hopkins, Minn.), born in a poor area of Northern Minnesota after the Depression, entertains with his memories of home medical remedies and how they dealt with pain.
• Friday and Saturday at 2:00 p.m.The Hammer of Thor—Viking storyteller Dag Rossman (Decorah, Ia.) will tell exciting tales about the Viking thunder god. Following his presentations each day, Dag will sign his own books on Norse myth at Vesterheim’s Bruening Visitor Center until 5:00 p.m.
Folk Art Banquet
Everyone is invited to Vesterheim’s Folk-Art Banquet on Friday, July 26, in Luther College’s Peace Dining Room. During the banquet, we will honor the Ribbon Winners in this year’s National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition and new Gold Medalists will receive their pins. Whether you are an artist, art enthusiast, or interested in learning more about Norwegian folk art, please feel welcome to attend! There will be a social hour with a cash bar at 6:00 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner at 6:45 p.m. The cost is $25 per person. Reservations are due July 19. Contact info@vesterheim.org or 563-382-9681 to reserve your spot.
Folk Art Raffle
Be sure to order your raffle tickets for a beautiful plate, hand-turned by Paul Loftness, carved by Becky Lusk, and painted by Jean Simonson Giese. The drawing will be held on Saturday, July 27 at 3:00 p.m. See the plate here.
Viking River Cruises Raffle
A romantic 8-day Danube cruise for two aboard Viking Longships from Budapest to Nuremberg (or reverse). Tickets are $10 each, 3 for $25, 15 for $100 and are on sale in the museum’s Main Building, Bruening Visitor Center, and Museum Store. Drawing at 3 p.m. on Saturday in the Main Building. Need not be present to win.
Decorah's Nordic Fest
Nordic Fest is a celebration of the spirit of Scandinavia, and includes fun activities for the whole family. Traditions, new and old, abound throughout the weekend. There will be lively dancing, challenging sporting events, delicious food, and lots of other entertainment. To learn more about other aspects of the fest, call the “troll-free” hotline at 1-800-382-FEST, or check out the Nordic Fest website at www.nordicfest.com.
