Are you ready for a parade? Vesterheim welcomes you to our Syttende Mai celebration! Come for a traditional Children’s Parade, a performance by Decorah’s Nordic Dancers, and other activities. The museum and store will be open from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. There will be free admission all day.
Syttende Mai is the day Norway ratified its constitution in 1814 at Eidsvoll.
Now, Norwegians celebrate their constitution with excited crowds, especially children, marching through the streets waving flags, singing songs, and celebrating their nation’s independence. Syttende Mai is a great opportunity to celebrate freedom wherever it occurs.
Vesterheim’s schedule of events for 2018 is:
• 10:30 a.m. – Guided tour of the historic buildings in Vesterheim’s Open Air Division.
• 11:00 a.m.- Gallery talk by Zach Row-Heyveld, Vesterheim Exhibition Manager, in the exhibit, Rocks and Hard Places: Emigration through the Lens of Knud Knudsen.
• 11:45 p.m. – Begin to gather at the Winneshiek County Courthouse for the Children’s Parade.
• 12:00 p.m. – Children’s Parade through Decorah. The route starts on Main Street in Decorah at the Winneshiek County Courthouse, then travels north along Washington Street to Water Street, then west on Water Street to Mill Street. Everyone is invited to march along, or cheer from the sidewalks.
• 12:25 p.m. – Vesterheim welcome and Decorah’s Nordic Dancers performance on Mill St. at the museum. Visitors will be invited to dance, too!
• 1:30 p.m. – Guided tour of the historic buildings in Vesterheim’s Open Air Division.
In case of inclement weather, the parade and Nordic Dancers will be canceled. Check back for more details.
Syttende Mai at Vesterheim is sponsored by Jeff and Marilyn Roverud of Decorah, Iowa, and Sons of Norway Valdres Lodge #503.
Find an album of pictures from the 2016 celebration here.