Vesterheim Museum
at the 44th annual Decorah Nordic Fest
Check here for a schedule of Vesterheim Nordic Fest events.
Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum will be a center of activity during Decorah’s 44th Annual Nordic Fest, “Trekkin’with the Trolls,” which kicks off with opening ceremonies on Thursday evening, July 22, and runs through Saturday, July 24. Vesterheim will have special events all day on Friday and Saturday, July 23 and 24.
Highlights
• Vesterheim’s “National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition” will be on view July 17-24, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Visitors can enjoy this exceptional exhibition of knifemaking, rosemaling, weaving, and woodworking by some of the best contemporary American artists free-of-charge. Many of the pieces will be for sale by silent auction. The exhibition is sponsored by Kate Rattenborg of Decorah with additional support from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
• This year, the original children’s theatre production “The Secret Life of Trolls,” which is a collaboration between Vesterheim, Upstart Crow Theatreworks, and Arthaus, will an explore the much-maligned creature trolls. The program is sponsored by Sons of Norway, Valdres Lodge #1-503; T-Bocks (Mike and Dominique Bockman); Beta Sigma Phi Beta Tau; Helen Basler; Sondra and John Carver; Betty and Larry Danielson; Duane W. Fenstermann; Karen and James Gray; Jon and Mary Hart; Marilyn Wahlberg; David and Brenda Carlson; Bob and Marilyn Larson; and The Depot Outlet.
• Returning from Knox City, Missouri, is Sam Shoults and his Viking ship replica. The Viking longship called “Yrsa” is 27 feet long and six and a half feet wide. Shoults will tell visitors about his many adventures, including sailing “Yrsa” down the Mississippi River. Sponsored by Viking Bank & Trust of Decorah.
• Vesterheim welcomes back the re-enactment group, “Skjaldborg,” from Elk Horn, Iowa. “Skjaldborg” is an old Norse word that means “fortress of shields.” Come and visit their full Viking camp in the museum’s Open Air Division to see how Vikings lived. They will entertain with full combat demonstrations. Sponsored by Voltmer Inc. of Decorah.
• The museum’s Open Air Division will come to life with the Living Heritage Demonstrators from Minnesota and Wisconsin. Watch experts show their crafts of blacksmithing, figure carving, leather work, knifemaking, turning wooden plates and bowls, chair-making, and more. Sponsored by Madison TorskeKlubben of Madison, Wisconsin.
• Of course you won’t want to miss folk-art demonstrators; the exhibitions “Pieces of Self: Identity and Norwegian-American Quilts” and “2010: The International Year off the Nurse,” and special presentations!
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.